Frustrated small business owners turning to Prop 36 for relief after repeat break-ins [Video]

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — Widespread shoplifting in the Bay Area is happening so boldly and so often that small business owners say they are furious and fed up.

Many hope that voters can curb crime by casting their ballots on Election Tuesday.

But some question if Proposition 36, which allows for felony charges and increases sentences for certain drug and theft crimes, is the right answer.

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This first weekend of November, bands of thieves ran into two different Walgreen’s stores Saturday afternoon-one on Mission Street and another on Market Street. They cleared out the shelves and ran out the door. No one was arrested.

“It’s out of control,” said Michelle Leopold, part-owner of six Ace Hardware stores across the Bay Area.

She has seen it happen again and again.

“At our six stores, we’ve seen so much blatant shoplifting where people will do it because there …