This election season, California voters approved a number of measures that are intended to combat crimes including auto theft and retail theft.
In addition to other related legislation that will go into effect in the new year, Prop 36, which includes higher punishments for some drug and larceny crimes, is currently in place.
Some business owners on both sides of the Bay are eager for a break from the high rate of street crime.
“So they hit the whole front,” Adel Alsharay of 4M Market in Oakland said. “We had to replace the movable doors and the entire window. They pushed things all the way over there, including the counter. All the way over there was the shelf. The entire counter has to be pushed back. It was necessary to refurbish the ice cream counter as well.
After criminals crashed their car through the front of Alsharay’s store, he has spent the last week rebuilding it. It’s the kind of expense and setback that he and his neighbors find difficult to bear, he told CBS News Bay Area.
“We’ve been here since 1998,” reported Alsharay. “Yes. There are many elderly folks here. The store is necessary for them. It takes a lot of effort.
California will implement over half a dozen new rules targeted exclusively at retail crime beginning on Wednesday.For instance, AB 1960 lengthens the prison sentence for those who steal or damage goods valued at more than $50,000. Others toughen penalties for both having a lot of stolen goods and committing widespread organized retail theft. Another enables entrepreneurs to request restraining orders against those who attack, steal, or damage an employee.
Then there are auto thefts.According to Senate Bill 905, which was written by state senator Scott Wiener, victims will no longer need to provide evidence that their vehicles were locked. For years, many people in San Francisco wanted to close this loophole. When the bill was signed, Weiner discussed the change in perspective with CBS News Bay Area.
“When it comes to public safety and criminal justice, there are always swings in the pendulum,” Wiener stated in August.
Prop 36, which was approved by almost 70% of California voters and is currently in effect in San Francisco, is another example of this change.
“We are going to be adding to that a layer that is reinforcing what the California voters have said, which is that for repeat offenders,” San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins told CBS News Bay Area earlier in December. “We have to be doing more.”
More accountability has been requested by the public in an effort to curb the plague of egregious retail crimes. Alsharay and other business owners may be wondering if the new laws would be beneficial.
In his own words, “I think so,” “I believe that if they face consequences, they might cease their behavior. I hope it turns out well and benefits Oakland’s other small businesses.
District attorneys will be able to stack cases against defendants and prosecute retail theft in numerous counties under another new statute. Multiple thefts under $950 may be prosecuted as felonies by the prosecutor under Prop 36.
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Eliot Pierce is a dedicated writer for ChiefsFocus.com, covering local crime and finance news. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for storytelling, Eliot aims to provide his readers with clear and insightful analysis, helping them navigate the complexities of their financial lives while staying informed about important local events. His commitment to delivering accurate and engaging content makes him a valuable resource for the community.