California police released a video of a trio of shoplifting suspects shocked to learn that the penalties for their crimes had recently changed.
Viral surveillance video shared by the Seal Beach Police Department on Sunday shows three women entering the Ulta Beauty store, browsing the shelves, and then exiting the store with what police said was about $650 worth of stolen goods. The video shows him casually leaving the store.
“A friendly reminder that Proposition 36, which increases penalties for some retail theft and drug possession crimes, went into effect in California on Wednesday morning,” the Seal Beach Police Department wrote in the caption of a video on its Instagram account. .
The video shows the women entering another store and stealing more items, totaling nearly $1,000.
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A shoplifting suspect was shocked to learn that some shoplifting crimes are considered felonies in California. (Seal Beach Police Department)
Body camera video then shows officers chasing the women and eventually arresting them.
“Is that a felony?” one of the women asked the other in the back seat of the police car.
“Well, it's a new law,” the woman answered. “Theft is a felony, and here in Orange County–hmm. They don't play.”
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Police said the women were caught on camera stealing merchandise from several businesses in California. (Seal Beach Police Department)
Police shared a kind reminder along with the video.
“This bill is part of the changes voters made in a 2014 ballot measure that turned certain nonviolent felonies into misdemeanors, effectively shortening prison sentences and leading to a spike in retail theft and crime.” It will be reinstated,” police said. “Here at Seal Beach, we have never believed in citation and disclosure programs, but this new proposal only strengthens our efforts to combat organized retail theft. Please don't.
Prop. 36, the Homelessness, Drug Addiction, and Theft Reduction Act, sought to nullify portions of Prop. 47 by increasing penalties for some crimes. The bill passed overwhelmingly in California, overturning some crime-fighting policies backed by billionaire George Soros.
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The theft suspects were shocked to learn that they could face felony charges for theft. (Seal Beach Police Department)
When Prop. 47 was passed in 2014, it stated that “unless the defendant has a prior conviction for murder, rape, or certain sex offenses, most thefts go from felonies to misdemeanors if the amount stolen is less than $950.” It was downgraded to a crime.” gun crime. ”
Progressive Los Angeles County District Attorney Georges Gascon He was backed by Soros and helped write Proposition 47, but lost his seat to challenger Nathan Hochman in November.
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California Governor Gavin Newsom remains adamantly opposed to efforts to rescind portions of Prop. 47, saying it would “lead to the mass incarceration of the 1980s.”
Fox News Digital's Jamie Joseph contributed to this report.
Stepheny Price is a writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business. Story tips and ideas can be sent to stepheny.price@fox.com.
