The retail theft problem in California has gotten so significant that state lawmakers have put together a committee to figure out ways of tackling it, and they held their first hearing on Tuesday.
Lawmakers on the new committee heard from a range of perspectives, bringing together stakeholders from DA's offices, law enforcement agencies, and workers' unions.
A lot of panelists agreed that there's just not enough data; retailers don't share it.
But what is clear to see is that big box stores are closing down, theft videos are prevalent on social media, and more stores are locking up products like toothpaste and detergent.
Rachel Michelin with the California Retailers Association said, "We have to remember this is criminal activity coming into the stores, and we have to figure out a way to deter that. And right now, there isn't that deterrent; the perception is, and many of you talked about perception, you can walk into a store and walk out, and there will not be a consequence."
She says the problem is not unique and calls for more uniformity in the law.
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One of the big issues discussed during the hearing was the laws around repeat offenders - are they not harsh enough to deter would-be criminals or are they not being enforced effectively enough?
Some people are blaming Prop 47, which lowered the threshold for felonies, making stealing anything under $950 a misdemeanor.
And while lawmakers are looking into everything, Lenore Anderson with the Alliance for Safety and Justice said locking up more people is not the answer.
"There are many things that can and must be done immediately. First, further regulation of online marketplaces is needed to prevent the resale of stolen goods. We also need to address the backlog and warrants and failures to appear, improve misdemeanor courtroom practices including accelerated misdemeanor courtroom dockets, and invest importantly in the programs that are working - diversion programs, substance use disorder treatment, and mental health programs," she said.
Two more retail theft committee hearings are scheduled in 2024, one in San Fransico and another in Los Angeles.
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