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Los Angeles, CA--California is enforcing a series of new laws that began January 1, aimed at curbing retail theft, which costs businesses an estimated $20 billion annually. According to KTLA, the measures, signed by Governor Gavin Newsom, include stricter sentencing, expanded definitions of theft, and additional tools for law enforcement and prosecutors.

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AB 2943 allows the aggregation of stolen property values across incidents or counties to meet the $950 felony grand theft threshold. It also permits shoplifting arrests based on probable cause without requiring officers to witness the crime. Probation for shoplifting and petty theft is extended to two years, and rehabilitative programs are available for offenders under 25.

SB 905 expands the definition of automotive property theft to include cumulative values from multiple incidents. AB 3209 introduces “retail theft restraining orders,” banning convicted offenders from affected stores for up to two years.

KTLA reports that AB 1802 extends laws on organized retail theft and the authority of regional property crimes task forces. SB 1416 imposes enhanced penalties for large-scale property resale operations, while SB 1242 targets offenders who use fires during theft attempts.

Other measures include consolidating theft charges across counties into single cases (AB 1779), expanding task force authority to include cargo theft (AB 1972), and stricter penalties for thefts exceeding $50,000 in damages (AB 1960). SB 1144 mandates online platforms collect data on high-volume third-party sellers to prevent the resale of stolen goods.

KTLA notes that Proposition 36, approved by voters in November, allows felony theft charges under $950 if the offender has two prior convictions. These laws aim to address organized retail crime and strengthen protections for businesses.

Learn more in the KTLA report.