What is there to do about retail crime? That's the issue tackled at a state assembly committee hearing in WeHo Friday.
As Margaret Carrero reports, one thing that was brought up during the first panel was why criminals commit crimes such as smash and grabs and flash mob robberies.
CHP Captain Shawna Pacheco said, "In our interviews with them, it's been very clear that it's easy, it's very profitable, and there's low penalties, and they know that."
Regarding increasing penalties, CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee said that's for the legislature to decide, but they believe there is some space for harsher punishments.
The chair of the Select Committee on Retail Theft did inquire about the value of property damage due to these crimes, and Pacheco said the offenders simply don't care about the property damage they're creating.
Follow KNX News 97.1 FM
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok