California's Theft Penalties, Bail Policies in Spotlight Amid Crime Wave
Summary from the AllSides News Team
Amid an outbreak of organized looting in California, critics are honing in on state laws regarding bail for criminals and property theft.
Coverage across the political spectrum highlighted a series of robberies at California retail stores in recent weeks. California Proposition 47, which was passed in 2014 and branded by supporters as a way to reduce jail overcrowding, makes theft of property valued under $950 a misdemeanor instead of a felony. In March, California's Supreme Court ruled that judges must consider a suspect’s ability to pay when setting bail prices. Reports on all sides cite critics who say these rules encourage smash-and-grab robberies since they lower the punishments for theft and the likelihood that looting will be prosecuted. Amid a similar crime wave in Illinois this September, Attorney General Kwame Raoul said crime rings cost retailers nationwide roughly $45 billion in annual losses. California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) called on local leaders to "step up" and said "we want people prosecuted and we want people to feel safe this holiday season."
Right-rated outlets have reported on the crime wave more consistently. Outlets across the spectrum cite Proposition 47, low law enforcement resources and dwindling police morale amid the Defund the Police movement as reasons for the widespread looting. The right often focuses on the "zero-bail" policy, and criticizes Newsom, the mayors of Los Angeles and San Francisco, and other local Democratic leaders for purportedly going soft on criminals and enabling the crime wave.
Featured Coverage of this Story
From the Center
After looters ransack Bay Area stores, crime rises as 2022 state campaign issue
For evidence that crime will likely be a key issue for California voters in next year’s election, look no further than this weekend.
On Sunday, a pack of looters robbed a jewelry store in a Hayward mall, smashing glass cases and absconding with the valuables into waiting cars. Also Sunday, Walnut Creek police recommended that businesses close early, citing intelligence that the 80 thieves who ransacked a Nordstrom on Saturday night could strike again. Officials labeled the Nordstrom robbery as “organized retail theft” and said it was possibly linked to a series of burglaries...
From the Left
Why some US cities are facing a spree of 'smash-and-grab' crimes
A wave of "smash-and-grab" crimes is plaguing upscale stores in major US cities, with mobs of thieves making off with expensive goods in brazen, nighttime raids.
At least 18 people broke into a Nordstrom department store in Los Angeles Monday night and stole thousands of dollars in merchandise, the city's police chief said.
The thefts followed a rash of similar incidents over the weekend in the San Francisco Bay Area. A group of thieves swarmed the Southland Mall in Hayward on Sunday evening, wielding hammers to smash cases at a jewelry store before grabbing...
From the Right
Newsom’s endless COVID mandates spawned California’s looting crime wave, officials say
California’s smash-and-grab robbery nightmare is directly tied to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s continuing state of emergency declarations, according to the Orange County sheriff.
The California Judicial Council imposed a zero-bail system in response to Newsom’s March 2020 executive order that imposed a yearlong lockdown, which became the most stringent in the nation. A chain reaction ensued, pushed along by district attorneys in the two hardest-hit cities, San Francisco and Los Angeles, who have refused to file stiff charges. The prosecutors are emboldened by support from Newsom, the Legislature, and local politicians, critics say....
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