LOS ANGELES, CA – Three women accused of shoplifting from stores in Seal Beach were arrested after a police pursuit, with one suspect expressing shock upon learning that certain theft offenses in California are now classified as felonies under new laws.
Video footage released by the Seal Beach Police Department captured the suspects being detained in a patrol car, where one of the women appeared stunned to discover the change in legal penalties.
“It’s a felony?” one woman asked, as her accomplice responded, “New laws! Stealing is a felony, and this Orange County b***h— they don’t play.”
The suspects were caught after allegedly stealing $648 worth of merchandise from an Ulta Beauty store and approximately $1,000 worth of goods from a Kohl’s store, authorities said. Surveillance video showed the women walking into the stores, filling their bags with items, and leaving without paying.
Bodycam footage from officers showed the pursuit and subsequent arrests. Police credited the outcome to Proposition 36, which went into effect this week and imposes tougher penalties for certain theft and drug-related offenses.
Background on Proposition 36
Proposition 36 marks a significant shift in California’s approach to retail theft and drug possession crimes. Passed amid rising public concerns about organized retail crime, the law increases penalties for offenders, closing legal loopholes that law enforcement officials had said allowed thieves to avoid serious punishment.
The initiative follows Proposition 47, passed in 2014, which reduced many nonviolent property and drug offenses to misdemeanors. Advocates argued at the time that focusing resources on treatment rather than incarceration would reduce recidivism and ease overcrowding in jails.
However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, shoplifting rates and commercial burglaries surged statewide. According to the Public Policy Institute of California, reported shoplifting cases involving merchandise worth up to $950 rose 28% over the past five years—the highest level recorded since 2000. Combining shoplifting and burglaries, overall reported thefts were 18% higher in 2023 compared to pre-pandemic levels.
Proponents of Proposition 36 argued that tougher penalties are needed to deter organized retail crime, particularly in urban areas like Los Angeles, Sacramento, and Alameda County, where theft rates have spiked. The measure allows prosecutors to charge repeat offenders with felonies, even if the value of the stolen items falls below the previous threshold of $950.
Criticism and Concerns
Opponents, including Democratic leaders and criminal justice advocates, criticized the measure for disproportionately targeting low-income individuals and those with substance-use disorders rather than focusing on organized crime ringleaders.
Groups like Californians for Safety and Justice estimate the new law could result in 130,000 additional arrests annually. Critics argue that this would overburden courts and jails, with about 100,000 detainees held before trial and 30,000 facing sentences of up to one year.
Opposition groups also warned that Proposition 36 could divert funds from mental health programs and drug treatment services—programs that were expanded using savings from reduced incarceration under earlier reforms.
Ongoing Enforcement
Following the arrests in Seal Beach, authorities reiterated their commitment to enforcing the new laws and targeting organized retail theft.
“This law is about protecting businesses and consumers during one of the busiest shopping seasons of the year,” said Seal Beach Police Chief Philip Gonshak. “Criminals need to know the rules have changed.”
Officials are urging businesses to improve security measures and encouraging the public to report suspicious activity.
The suspects, whose identities have not been released, face multiple charges, including organized retail crime, grand theft, and resisting arrest.
The investigation remains ongoing, and anyone with information about retail theft is urged to contact the Seal Beach Police Department or California Highway Patrol’s Organized Retail Crime Task Force at 1-800-835-5247.
