Learn how your local Chamber is combatting retail theft, and how you can qualify for a grant to get professionally installed security cameras in your business. Email us!

Politicians in California are finally taking the retail theft issue head on. There has been a series of bills moving through the California legislature this session targeting retail theft and some of the controversial provisions of Prop 47 and other past legislative actions. This marked change in policy is a tardy response to retail business flight and declining quality of life in a broad range of communities. It also has come in tandem with an increase in efforts to combat the wave of organized retail crime in California.  

The three cities with the highest reported inventory losses nationally in 2022 were Los Angeles, Oakland, and San Fransisco, according to a report conducted by the National Retail Federation. Sacramento was ranked seventh. In that same report, 81% of the 97,000 locations reported an escalation in violence among offenders involved in organized retail crime. Over two-thirds said there was an increase in the level of violence and aggression over the prior year.

A package of legislation, centered around the California Retail Theft Reduction Act (AB 2943) introduced by Assemblymember Rick Zbur (D-L.A.), was passed on Monday.
Here are some of the legislative package highlights:

• AB-2943: This multi-faceted law creates a new crime classification for possessing stolen goods worth over $950 with the intent to resell, carrying a prison sentence of up to three years. The law also allows separate thefts to be aggregated to meet the felony threshold and holds online marketplaces accountable by requiring sellers to prove the legality of their goods. Additionally, larger retail businesses must provide data to law enforcement to help prevent the sale of stolen items online.
• AB-3209: Permits courts to issue restraining orders against individuals who have stolen from, vandalized, or assaulted employees at retail businesses.

Other bills in the package include AB-1779, allowing prosecutors to handle theft cases across multiple jurisdictions; AB-1802, which makes the California Highway Patrol's organized retail crime task force permanent; AB-1972, expanding the task force to include cargo theft; SB 1144, requiring online marketplaces to prevent the sale of stolen goods; SB 1242, imposing harsher sentences for those setting fires to commit retail crime; SB 1416, increasing penalties for selling or returning stolen goods; and SB 982, removing the statute of limitations for prosecuting organized retail theft.

This all comes at the same time as Prop 36 is making its way to the polls. The main difference with Prop 36 versus the package passed this week is the revision of Prop 47, making theft of items worth $950 or less a felony if the offender has two or more prior theft convictions. This provision prohibited a deal being struck between advocates of Prop 36 and legislators. Many proponents of Prop 36 may still recommend a ‘Yes’ vote to see this revision implemented into law, despite this legislative package being passed. 

Here in San Joaquin County, our District Attorney Ron Freitas has been more proactive in prosecuting retail theft, and now has the support of this new legislation to do so. The Greater Stockton Chamber of Commerce has also created an initiative where small businesses can apply for a grant to have professionally installed security cameras and have developed a phone app that makes reporting retail theft incidents easy and provides the DA’s office with the evidence they need in order to prosecute.

Email us to learn more about the Chamber’s anti-retail theft program and the security camera grant program.