An incident in California where a shoplifter faced the possibility of a felony charge under new laws that crack down on low-level theft was captured in a police video.
The Seal Beach Police Department in Orange County shared a compilation of security, dash, and body camera footage showing three women allegedly stealing over $600 in merchandise from an Ulta Beauty store before being apprehended by officers, handcuffed, and placed in a police car.
During the arrest, one of the suspects inquires about the potential felony charge, to which her accomplice responds, “New laws. Stealing is a felony.”
“This is Orange County, they don’t mess around,” lamented the alleged thief.
The new laws mentioned refer to Proposition 36, a ballot initiative that recently went into effect and reversed lenient policies on law enforcement’s response to minor crimes like shoplifting.
Previously, a law from 2014 only allowed theft to be charged as a misdemeanor if the stolen items were valued at less than $950.
However, the previous law led to a rise in retail theft, causing concern among residents and businesses, ultimately prompting lawmakers to make a change.
Almost 70% of voters supported Prop 36.
“In Seal Beach, we never agreed with the cite and release program, and this new proposition further strengthens our commitment to combating Organized Retail Theft,” wrote the Seal Beach PD in the video’s caption, set to the tune of Nancy Sinatra’s “These Boots are Made for Walkin’.”
“Remember folks, Don’t Steal in Seal,” the caption added.
