Staff Reports
California voters have apparently decided that the holiday spirit this year should include a dose of good old-fashioned accountability for criminals. In a bold move, they passed Proposition 36, putting a swift end to the playing field of shoplifting that Governor Gavin Newsom and his band of pro-criminal Democrats had previously established. Now, repeat offenders are once again facing felony charges, just in time for the New Year—because nothing says festive like a fine for stealing thousands in goods.
With the new law going into effect on December 18, those charming individuals who once thought they could stroll out of stores with a cart full of goods for under $950 without a care in the world are getting an unwelcome reality check. A recently posted exchange caught on camera from the Seal Beach Police Department featured two women, fresh from their shopping spree of $237 at Kohl’s and $600 at Ulta, discussing their shocking discovery that stealing was now a felony. The punchline was that one of them had gotten away with mere probation for a theft the previous year—only to find out that the game’s rules had dramatically changed.
Nicholas Shane Meeks, 31, charged with four counts of felony DUI involving death after deadly New Year’s Eve crash on Cooley Bridge Road. https://t.co/5YW6UZLzel
— The Greenville News (@GreenvilleNews) January 2, 2025
In yet another comedic twist, a local Sacramento broadcast featured a thief begging cops for a citation instead of a trip to jail, blissfully unaware of the new regulations. It seems that her history of escapades had led her to expect a quick exit, perhaps as if she were on the set of a reality show, where no real consequences apply. However, Prop 36 is not just a plot twist; it’s the “real deal” script transformation that law enforcement has long awaited.
Police across California are taking full advantage of their newfound ability to enforce the law without worrying about repeat offenders walking free in days. San Francisco made headlines recently for charging a criminal with seven prior convictions for lifting $400 in cough medicine right on Christmas Eve. Meanwhile, in San Bernardino, another perpetrator with a colorful criminal past was caught in the act at Ulta—evidence that Proposition 36 is putting the pressure back on those who think they can make a living off of stealing.
Arrests are piling up, with police in Folsom alone accounting for thirty arrests and recovering over $10,000 worth of goods. That’s an average haul of $333 per thief—a far cry from the previous system that essentially gifted thieves a free pass up to $950. Under the laughably lenient rules favored by Newsom and his allies, retailers lost an estimated $7.8 billion annually. With businesses shuttering left and right, it’s about time that voters took matters into their own hands to put an end to this criminal spree.
What was once a holiday horror story filled with rising theft rates has now become a tale of accountability, courtesy of California voters. They have chosen to replace a season of excessive leniency with one of responsibility, ringing in a new era where thieves can no longer treat store shelves as their personal pantry. It’s a festive season for everyone except the criminals now having to face the consequences of their actions, and law enforcement is now back in the game, taking the reins once again. Residents can look forward to a New Year filled with fewer stolen goods and a little more peace of mind, proving that sometimes, the best gift is accountability.
