A package of laws aimed at combating escalating property and retail crimes in California took effect on January 1. These measures are expected to strengthen law enforcement’s ability to penalize offenders and protect retail businesses from related crimes. Passed in August last year by a bipartisan state legislature, the laws provide powerful tools to hold perpetrators of retail theft, robbery, property crimes, and auto theft accountable. This package is regarded as one of the most significant in California’s history for addressing such crimes.

Aggregate Sentencing
Assembly Bill (AB) 2943, introduced by Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur (D), allows the value of stolen property across multiple victims or counties to be aggregated to meet the $950 threshold for grand theft. Similarly, Senate Bill (SB) 905 by Senator Scott Wiener (D) permits the combined value of stolen property from multiple vehicles to be aggregated to charge individuals with resale-related offenses.

Enhanced Enforcement for Petty Theft
AB 2943 also grants law enforcement the authority to arrest suspects for theft even if the act wasn’t witnessed by an officer. It doubles the probation period for shoplifting and petty theft offenders from one year to two years and permits defendants under 25 to be referred to rehabilitation programs.

AB 3209, authored by Assemblymember Marc Berman (D), allows courts to issue “retail theft prohibition orders” against individuals convicted of organized retail theft, shoplifting, vandalism, or assaulting retail employees, banning them from entering affected businesses.

Retail and Cargo Theft
Under AB 2943, possession of stolen goods valued at over $950 for purposes of sale, exchange, or return can result in up to three years of imprisonment. Prosecutors no longer need to prove that defendants were aware the items were stolen, simplifying the prosecution process.

AB 1802 by Assemblymember Reggie Jones-Sawyer (D) eliminates the statute of limitations for prosecuting organized theft crimes. Additionally, AB 2943 extends laws preventing the release of organized retail theft suspects on written promises to appear in court until January 1, 2031.

SB 1416, introduced by Senator Josh Newman (D), seeks harsher penalties for large-scale stolen goods resale operations. AB 1972 by Assemblymember Juan Alanis (R) includes cargo theft in the list of crimes handled by regional property crime task forces.

Tougher Penalties for Organized Retail Theft
SB 1242 by Senator Dave Min (now U.S. Congressman) mandates stricter penalties for offenders who commit arson during organized retail theft. AB 1960 by Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas (D) requires enhanced sentencing for crimes involving the theft or damage of property exceeding $50,000 during the commission of a felony.

Auto Theft and Online Sales
SB 905 by Senator Scott Wiener (D) removes the requirement to prove that a vehicle was locked to establish theft of items inside. SB 1144 by Senator Nancy Skinner (D) requires online platforms to collect information about all “high-volume third-party sellers” to prevent the resale of stolen goods.

Government Response
AB 1779 by Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin (D) permits theft charges and related crimes occurring across multiple counties to be consolidated into a single criminal case. AB 2943 protects retailers from being penalized or fined for repeatedly reporting theft incidents.

These laws aim to equip law enforcement and prosecutors with new tools to combat organized theft and protect local businesses. By closing loopholes in existing laws and maintaining effective enforcement programs, authorities now have greater power to hold offenders accountable. This is especially critical when dealing with organized retail crime rings operating across city and county lines.

<Sehee Roh>