Police in California Video of three alleged shoplifters who were shocked to discover that the punishment for their crime had recently changed.
In a viral surveillance video shared by the Seal Beach Police Department on Sunday, three women can be seen entering an Ulta Beauty store, browsing the shelves, then casually walking out of the store with what police said was about $650. Value of stolen goods.
“…a friendly reminder that Proposition 36, which increases penalties for certain retail theft and drug possession crimes, went into effect Wednesday morning in California,” Seal Beach Police Department they wrote in the caption of the video on their Instagram account.
The video shows the women entering another business and allegedly stealing more merchandise, totaling nearly $1,000 in stolen merchandise.
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An alleged shoplifter was shocked to discover that some shoplifting crimes are now considered felonies in California. (Seal Beach Police Department)
The bodycam video then shows police officers chasing and eventually arresting the women.
“It's a felony?” One of the women asks the other in the back of the patrol car.
The woman answers: “B—h new laws.” “Theft is a felony and this is Orange County b—h. They don't play.”
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Police said the women were caught on camera stealing merchandise from several businesses in California. (Seal Beach Police Department)
Police shared a friendly reminder along with the video.
“It undoes some changes made by voters through a 2014 ballot measure that converted some non-violent felonies into misdemeanors, which effectively shortened prison sentences and led to a spike in retail theft and crime,” police said. “Here at Seal Beach, we've never believed in a citation and release program, but this new proposal only strengthens our commitment to combating organized retail theft. Remember people, don't steal at Seal.”
Proposition 36, the Homelessness, Drug Addiction, and Theft Reduction Act, sought to undo parts of Proposition 47 by increasing penalties for certain crimes. It passed overwhelmingly in California, reversing some of billionaire George Soros's crime-backed policies.
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The alleged thieves were shocked to learn they could be charged with felony theft. (Seal Beach Police Department)
When Proposition 47 was passed in 2014, most thefts were downgraded from felonies to misdemeanors if the amount stolen was less than $950, “unless the defendant has prior convictions for murder, rape, certain sex crimes, or certain sex offenses.” Gun crimes.”
Progressive Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón, With Soros' support, he helped author Proposition 47, and lost his seat to challenger Nathan Hochman in November.
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California Governor Gavin Newsom has remained strongly opposed to efforts to roll back parts of Proposition 47, saying it “takes us back to the mass incarceration of the 1980s.”
Fox News Digital's Jamie Joseph contributed to this report.
Stephenie Price is a writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business. Tips and story ideas can be sent to stepheny.price@fox.com
