Police in California released a video of three people suspected of shoplifting and were shocked to discover that the penalties for their crimes had recently changed.
In a widely circulated surveillance video shared by the Seal Beach Police Department on Sunday, three women can be seen walking into an Ulta Beauty store, browsing the shelves, and then casually leaving the store with merchandise that police said was worth nearly $650.
The Seal Beach Police Department wrote in the video’s caption on its Instagram account: “…a friendly reminder that Proposition 36, which increases penalties for some retail theft and drug possession crimes, took effect in California on Wednesday morning.
The video shows the women entering a Kohls store and allegedly stealing more merchandise, totaling nearly $1,000.
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An accused shoplifter was surprised to learn that some shoplifting offenses are now considered felonies in California. (Seal Beach Police Department)
Body camera video later showed officers chasing the women and eventually arresting them.
“Is this a felony?” one of the women asked another woman in the back seat of the patrol car.
“Damn new law,” the woman replied. “Stealing is a felony and this Orange County deserves to die. They don’t play.”
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The women were caught on camera stealing merchandise from several California businesses, police said. (Seal Beach Police Department)
Police later identified the women as Destiny Bender, 24, and Deanna Hines, 24, both of Long Beach, and Deanna Hines, 26, of Signal Hill. Michelle Pitts.
All three are being held in the Orange County Jail on charges of theft, criminal conspiracy and resisting arrest.
Police shared a friendly reminder in the video.
“It undoes some of the changes voters made in a 2014 ballot measure that converted certain nonviolent felonies into misdemeanors, effectively shortening sentences and leading to a spike in retail theft and crime,” police said. “In Seals Seal Beach, we have never believed in citation and release programs, but this new assertion only strengthens our commitment to combating organized retail theft. Remember, friends, don’t steal in Seal Beach.”
Proposition 36, the Homelessness, Drug Addiction, and Theft Reduction Act, seeks to undo parts of Proposition 47 by increasing penalties for certain crimes. The bill passed overwhelmingly in California, reversing some of the softer anti-crime policies backed by billionaire George Soros.
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Accused thieves were surprised to find out they could be charged with a felony for their theft. (Seal Beach Police Department)
When Proposition 47 passed in 2014, it downgraded most thefts from felonies to misdemeanors if the amount stolen was less than $950, “unless the defendant has a prior conviction for murder, rape, certain sex crimes, or certain crimes.” ”. Gun crime.
Progressive Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón, With the support of Soros, he helped introduce Proposition 47 and lost his seat to challenger Nathan Hochman in November.
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California Governor Gavin Newsom remains staunchly opposed to efforts to undo parts of Proposition 47, saying it “takes us back to the mass incarceration of the 1980s.”
Fox News Digital’s Jamie Joseph contributed to this report.
Stepheny Price is a contributor to Fox News Digital and Fox Business. Story tips and ideas can be sent to stepheny.price@fox.com
