Suspected shoplifters in California shocked to be taught theft is now a criminal offense

Police in California launched a video of a trio of suspected shoplifters who had been shocked to be taught the sentence for his or her crime had just lately modified.

In viral surveillance video shared Sunday by the Seal Seaside Police Division, three girls will be seen coming into an Ulta Magnificence retailer, looking the cabinets, then casually leaving the enterprise with what police stated had been near $650. value of the stolen goods.

“…a pleasant reminder that Proposition 36, which will increase penalties for sure retail theft and drug possession offenses, took impact Wednesday morning in California,” Seal Beach Police Department »wrote within the caption of the video on his Instagram account.

The video exhibits the ladies coming into a Kohls retailer and stealing different merchandise, totaling almost $1,000 in stolen items.

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A suspected shoplifter was shocked to be taught that some shoplifting offenses are actually thought-about a felony in California. (Seal Seaside Police Division)

The Bodycam video then exhibits cops chasing the ladies and ultimately arresting them.

“Is that this a criminal offense?” » one of many girls asks the opposite behind the patrol automobile.

“G—h new legal guidelines,” the girl responds. “Stealing is a criminal offense and that bitch from Orange County. They ain’t enjoying.”

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The ladies had been filmed stealing merchandise from a number of California companies, police stated. (Seal Seaside Police Division)

The ladies had been later recognized by police as Future Bender, 24, and Deanna Hines, 24, each of Lengthy Seaside, and Michelle Pitts, 26, of Sign Hill.

All three people had been booked into the Orange County Jail on prices of theft, conspiracy to commit a felony, and resisting arrest.

Police shared a pleasant reminder with the video.

“This reverses among the adjustments voters made in a 2014 poll measure that upgraded some nonviolent crimes to misdemeanors, thereby lowering jail sentences and resulting in a rise in theft and retail crime,” police stated. “Right here in Seal Seaside, now we have by no means believed within the cite and launch program, however this new proposal solely strengthens our dedication to preventing organized retail theft. Bear in mind, my buddies, do not Do not steal from Seal.”

Proposition 36, the Homelessness, Drug Abuse and Theft Discount Act, sought to undo elements of Proposition 47 by rising penalties for sure crimes. It handed overwhelmingly in California, reversing some tough-on-crime insurance policies backed by billionaire George Soros.

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The alleged thieves had been shocked to be taught they might be charged with a theft crime. (Seal Seaside Police Division)

When Proposition 47 handed in 2014, it downgraded most thefts from felonies to misdemeanors if the quantity stolen was lower than $950, “except the defendant has beforehand been convicted of homicide, rape , sure sexual offenses or sure crimes committed with firearms. »

Progressive Los Angeles County District Lawyer Georges Gascon, backed by Soros, helped write Proposition 47 and misplaced his seat to challenger Nathan Hochman in November.

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California Governor Gavin Newsom has remained adamantly against efforts to overturn elements of Proposition 47, saying it “takes us again to the Nineteen Eighties, to mass incarceration.”

Jamie Joseph of Fox Information Digital contributed to this report.

Stepheny Value is a author for Fox Information Digital and Fox Enterprise. Ideas and story concepts will be despatched to stepheny.value@fox.com