Epoch Times - Is Shoplifting Becoming Legal in California? #californiainsider #communitysafety  #leavingcalifornia
Aired: 2023-10-28
Duration: 00:54

[00:00:00]  There's a number of factors that are responsible for the declining rate of arrest and prosecution of shoplifting.
[00:00:06]  The first is that we're a very progressive state in California.
[00:00:09]  We have very progressive judges, very progressive district attorneys.
[00:00:12]  There's just been a decline of a willingness to prosecute those crimes.
[00:00:15]  But more significantly, since the year 2014, which is the year that California voters passed Proposition 47, decriminalized theft below $950.
[00:00:25]  What we've seen is the absolute ransacking of Walgreens and the like.
[00:00:31]  Thieves going in and stealing large quantities of goods.
[00:00:35]  So you sometimes hear people say, police don't prevent crimes.
[00:00:38]  Well, that's ridiculous.
[00:00:40]  I mean, we have incredibly good information and data that the presence of police reduces homicides and it reduces other crimes.
[00:00:47]  I mean, of course it does.
[00:00:48]  It's common sense.
[00:00:49]  If would-be criminals don't think that they're going to be caught, we know that they're much more comfortable committing those crimes.