In 2025, law enforcement can arrest suspects without witnessing the crime.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California is taking steps to combat the retail theft issue that has impacted businesses large and small across the state.
10 new laws, effective Jan. 1, aim to crack down on smash-and-grabs and close loopholes in the law.
Among the new legislation is a major crackdown on theft rings. It’ll allow district attorneys to add up the value of thefts from different stores in different counties to reach the $950 threshold for grand theft.
Chris Micheli, McGeorge School of Law adjunct professor, said it will bring stiffer penalties.
“They’re also trying to basically aggregate where somebody has engaged in retail theft in multiple jurisdictions that they can aggregate those offenses and prosecute them in one county. The other important one for retail theft,” Micheli said.
Other new laws target the resale of stolen goods. Selling stolen property valued at $50,000 …