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Business leaders, law enforcement, lawmakers gather to support bill requiring jail time for repeat theft offenders
Assemblymember James C. Ramos (D-San Bernardino) introduced the proposal on Jan. 3 when the legislature reconvened for the new year. Quickly signing on as joint authors were Avelino Valencia (D-Anaheim) and Devon Mathis (R-Tulare).
AB 1772 calls for jail time of one to three years for theft crimes depending upon the circumstances; offenses would include grand theft, theft from an elder or dependent adult, theft or unauthorized use of a vehicle, burglary, carjacking, robbery, receiving stolen property, shoplifting or mail theft.
“It’s time for us to reverse the spikes in theft crimes since the pandemic,” Ramos said. “Our law enforcement members and district attorneys need additional tools such as AB 1772. We must reverse the trend before the problem grows worse. Last year I requested a state audit of the impact of Prop 47 on Riverside and San Bernardino counties. The findings are expected later this spring.”
He cited a Public Policy Institute of California September 2023 report. “The study reported that the 2022 rates for commercial burglary rates had increased by almost 16 percent compared to 2019. The PPIC also reported that shoplifting in 2022 had increased by nearly 29% from the pandemic years.”
Valencia said, “I am proud to join Assemblymember Ramos as a joint author on AB 1772. Our communities are experiencing an increase in retail crime and deserve appropriate action from their legislators. According to the PPIC, Orange County has experienced a 54% increase in commercial burglaries. This outrageous statistic demonstrates our current laws are out of touch and are not serving as a deterrence.”
He added, “Stricter penalties are needed to support our business community who is the backbone of our economy. It is time to revamp our laws and hold thieves accountable for their actions. Without proper adjustments, California businesses will lose out on profits and customers will end up paying higher costs. Law and order must be restored in our communities, and AB 1772 is a necessary step forward.”
San Bernardino County Sheriff Shannon Dicus, a bill sponsor said, “Thank you to Assemblymember Ramos for leading the charge on AB 1772, critical legislation addressing the surge in retail theft across California, particularly in the wake of the impact of Prop 47. This bill, designed to impose stricter penalties on serial retail theft suspects, responds urgently to the escalating consequences of shoplifting and related crimes on our communities.”
In 2014, voters approved Prop 47 and categorized some nonviolent offenses as misdemeanors rather than felonies. One provision increased the threshold amount for theft misdemeanors from $450 to $950 and did not allow prior such convictions to count toward the new $950 threshold. If Ramos’s measure becomes law, it would become effective only upon voters’ consent at the next statewide election. AB 1772 does not state a new threshold for triggering the increased penalties for retail theft, only the existence of prior convictions on the suspect’s criminal record.
“California’s massive retail theft has hit retailers and consumers hard, and has been corrosive to the safety of our communities,” said Senator Richard D. Roth (D-Riverside), Chairman of the State Senate Business and Professions Committee. “I am proud to co-author Assemblymember Ramos’ AB 1772 to combat rampant retail theft – by focusing on repeat offenders, this bill increases the consequences for those that have refused to course correct, giving law enforcement an important tool to hold serial thieves accountable for their actions, thereby stemming future thefts.”
Joining the event were business community members Orange County Business Council Chief Executive Officer Jeff Ball and Redlands Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Evan Stanford.
Also present but not speaking were law enforcement leaders President Steve Johnson of Los Angeles Professional Peace Officers Association, President of Riverside Sheriffs Association Bill Young, California Reserve Peace Officers Association President Dominic Gamboa and Santa Ana Police Officers Association President John Kachirisky.
AB 1772 supporters who spoke at the gathering included Sacramento Sheriff Jim Cooper and San Bernardino Darren Goodman. Listed as supporters are the California State Sheriff’s Association, City of Riverside Police Chief Larry Gonzalez and Redlands Chamber of Commerce. San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan is a co-sponsor.
AB 1772 has garnered bipartisan support in both houses of the Legislature. Co-authors include Juan Alanis (R-Modesto), Josh Hoover (R-Folsom), Tom Lackey (R-Palmdale), Jim Patterson (R-Fresno), Joe Patterson (R-Rocklin), Blanca Pacheco (D-Downey), Tri Ta (R-Westminster), Senators Bill Dodd (D-Napa), Roth and Sen. Kelly Seyarto (R-Murrieta).
The bill had its first hearing in the Assembly Public Safety Committee.