In a recent incident that unfolded in Seal Beach, California, three women were apprehended by the police for alleged shoplifting, an event that was captured on video and later released by the authorities.
The video shows the women entering an Ulta Beauty store and then exiting with a substantial amount of merchandise. The police claim that the suspects made off with goods worth nearly $650. The footage also reveals the women entering another store, Kohls, where they allegedly accumulated more items, valued at approximately $240. The video montage is set to the tune of Nancy Sinatra's "These Boots Are Made for Walking."
According to RedState, the video then transitions to the moment when the police catch up with the suspects and take them into custody. The footage shows two visibly upset women in the police car, discussing the recent law that was passed in California. One of the women inquires, "Is it a felony?" to which the other responds, "B**ch, new laws. Stealing is a felony." She further adds, "This is Orange County, B**ch. They don't play." The video concludes with the police's stern warning: "Don't steal in Seal."
The Seal Beach Police Department shared the video on their official Instagram account, accompanied by a "friendly reminder" and a nod to Nancy Sinatra. The post read: "One of mothers [sic] favorite songs and a friendly reminder that Proposition 36, which increases punishments for some retail theft and drug possession offenses, went into effect Wednesday morning in California. It undoes some of the changes voters made with 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."
The post further stated, "Here in Seal Beach we never believed in the cite and release program, but this new proposition only strengthens our commitment to combatting Organized Retail Theft. Remember folks, Dont Steal in Seal."
Proposition 36, which recently came into effect, increases the penalties for certain theft crimes. For instance, it permits felony charges for thefts under $950, if the defendant has two prior theft convictions. This proposition was passed in response to a surge in retail crime following a 2014 ballot measure that converted certain nonviolent felonies into misdemeanors, thereby reducing prison sentences.
The Seal Beach police department noted that there was a significant increase in retail crime after the 2014 ballot measure was passed. The lack of severe consequences for thefts under $950 led to a rise in such crimes. However, the recent passing of Proposition 36, which was approved by almost 70 percent of voters, indicates a growing frustration among Californians with the state's lenient stance on crime. This new law signifies a demand for change and a desire for stricter measures to hold criminals accountable.
The passing of Proposition 36 is seen as a resounding rejection of the state's failed Democratic policies, which have been criticized for not considering the harmful outcomes of their lenient stance on crime. The people of California are no longer willing to tolerate the rampant shoplifting that has been plaguing their communities. The passing of this new law is a clear indication of the public's demand for stricter measures to combat crime and hold criminals accountable.
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