A California bike mob targeted three 7-Eleven stores in under 20 minutes
Just hours after Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a new package to crack down on retail thefts, a group of approximately 20 biking thieves ransacked three separate 7-Eleven stores in the Hollywood area, as reported by NBC Los Angeles.
The incidents occurred on Friday night, with the thieves breaking into each store, stealing food and drink items, and causing damage along the way. The spree began at 8 p.m. at the 7-Eleven on West Sunset Boulevard and continued at two other locations in the vicinity.
These brazen actions come amidst a rise in smash-and-grab incidents across California, with a recent increase in shoplifting, burglary, and robbery, according to the Public Policy Institute of California.
Local and state politicians have been grappling with these challenges, culminating in the signing of new legislation by Gov. Newsom to impose stricter penalties on serial shoplifters and thieves. The law also allows for the aggregation of stolen goods to meet the threshold for felony grand theft.
Gov. Newsom emphasized the significance of these laws in addressing property crime and improving community safety. He stated, “While some try to take us back to ineffective and costly policies of the past, these new laws present a better way forward — making our communities safer and providing meaningful tools to help law enforcement arrest criminals and hold them accountable.”
The incidents on Friday night serve as a stark reminder of the challenges posed by retail theft and the ongoing efforts to combat such criminal activities in California.
