Deep Dive Into California's New Anti-Theft Laws
What You Need to Know About CA’s New Retail Theft & Property Crime Laws
California made major moves to address property crimes in 2024, from shoplifting to cargo theft and organized retail crime. A historic package made up of 11 bills was signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom in August, and voters took things into their own hands in November, passing Prop. 36 by wide margins.

With the new year underway, that legislation has come into effect.

Retail theft and property crime

California’s felony theft threshold has been set at $950 since Prop. 47 was passed in 2014. Two new laws aim to address some of the challenges with that precedent, which has become more controversial over the past decade.

Retail Crime Up More Than 90% Since 2019, NRF Says

AB 2943 will allow for the aggregation of the value of property stolen from different victims across counties or jurisdictions to reach the felony threshold. Similarly, AB 1779 permits the consolidation of theft charges and associated offenses that take place in different counties into a single criminal case.

Meanwhile, SB 905 allows for the aggregation of the value of property stolen from vehicles during the course of multiple acts, supporting a charge of automotive property theft for resale.

The Homelessness, Drug Addiction, and Theft Reduction Act took effect in December, effectively rolling back certain provisions of the hotly debated Prop. 47, which many believe set the felony threshold for crimes like shoplifting too high. An essential element of the law introduces the concept of “wobbler” offenses, or crimes that may be charged as felonies or misdemeanors depending on other mitigating factors. Now, petty theft or shoplifting with two prior theft-related convictions may be charged as a felony.

Law enforcement now has more avenues to tackle shoplifting and petty theft, too.

For one, AB 2943, also known as the Retail Theft Reduction Act, gives an officer the right to arrest a person for shoplifting given there is probable cause, even if they did not witness the act. The same law doubles the allowable probation period for shoplifting and petty theft from one to two years, and allows defendants under 25 to be sent to rehabilitative programs. sourcingjournal.com

RELATED: From Retail Theft to Cannabis Shops, Here Are CA's New Laws for '25


Shoplifting Fueled LA's Robbery Surge?
LAPD stats showed an uptick in robberies. Was it really just shoplifting?

LAPD statistics showed an uptick in robberies in some areas this year, partly caused by shoplifting incidents that led to felony charges. Police officials say the increase in so-called “Estes robberies” is the result of some retailers encouraging security guards to aggressively confront thieves.

At the Los Angeles Police Department’s weekly crime briefings this fall, its leaders tracked what seemed to be a troubling rise in robberies in police divisions such as Southwest and Rampart. The numbers showed an increase in stickups — if only on paper.

Upon closer inspection, department records obtained by The Times indicate that most of the incidents may have started as shoplifting.

Under LAPD metrics, hundreds of thefts in which a suspect uses force or fear in the commission of a crime are counted as robberies — even if no weapons were used and no injuries occurred.

It’s a common scenario: A shoplifter, arms full of merchandise they didn’t pay for, makes a beeline for the exit, only to have their escape blocked by a security guard. A struggle ensues, and the thief knocks the guard over or merely threatens to do so, triggering a potential felony charge.

Through the first week of October, there were more than 1,200 such incidents across L.A., according to department statistics released through a public records request. This accounted for roughly 1 in 8 robberies, down slightly compared with the same period in 2023.

Some officials wonder whether the data reflect a shift by business owners toward more aggressive loss prevention strategies, leading to more in-store confrontations with security guards. latimes.com


Historic ORC Bust in Canada
Inside the biggest police takedown ever at Shoppers Drug Mart

The surprising story of how police brought down a multimillion-dollar crime ring selling stolen goods on Amazon.

In late summer 2022, the security team at Loblaw Companies, the Canadian retail giant that owns Shoppers Drug Mart, realized the situation was much worse than they thought.

A string of thefts had used the same handful of bank cards at the self-checkout machines. So the analysts checked the Shoppers database to see how many times the cards had been used. According to that analysis, the cancelled receipt trick had been used more than 1,000 times across Ontario, going back at least six months.

“They hit us in 148 stores,” said Dean Henrico, the senior vice-president of asset protection at Loblaw.

Using surveillance footage, Henrico’s team was able to piece together images of a group of suspects they believed were hitting the stores over and over. By late fall, Shoppers Drug Mart and police believed the group had stolen more than $1.9 million worth of merchandise.

Since the pandemic, big-box retailers say sophisticated, brazen crime rings have been stealing millions of dollars worth of merchandise, then reselling the stolen goods to unsuspecting customers on online marketplaces like Amazon. And while stores and police sometimes catch the runners, they rarely get close to whoever is at the centre of the ring, making the real money.

“Capturing the kingpin, or the mastermind, is extremely difficult,” Henrico said. But this time, Henrico said, his team caught a break — leading to the biggest police takedown ever at Shoppers Drug Mart. thestar.com


3,300+ Fewer Crimes Committed in NYC in 2024
Major crimes in 2024 dropped 5% in NYC as murders, shootings down
New York City experienced a 5% drop in major crime in 2024, Mayor Adams and NYPD Commissioner announced Monday, as they moved to send 200 more cops into the subway system. The drop in crime was led by a dip in murders, from 391 in 2023 to 377 last year, and 48 fewer people shot.

“This translates to 3,362 fewer incidents of major crime last year compared to the year before — and these are not just numbers,” Tisch said. “We’re talking about thousands of people who are not injured abused, attacked or targeted by criminals.”

There was also a 5% drop in major crime in the subway system and in housing projects, Tisch and Adams announced in a press conference at NYPD headquarters at One Police Plaza in Lower Manhattan. The additional cops, Tisch noted, will be assigned to ride the trains and patrol the platforms — the two places where 78% of subway crime occurs.

Another move, already underway, Tisch said, is the assignment of 650 cops to newly-designated “zones,” crime hotspots across the city, with plans to create weekly internal reports detailing “specific segments of neighborhoods, blocks and even certain streets, where we see spikes in violence and disorder.” In the summer months that 650 will grow to 1,000.

She noted the recent drop in retail theft on Fulton St. in Downtown Brooklyn that followed the creation of such a zone.

Felony assaults also increased, by 5%, with spikes in stranger attacks, domestic violence and cops assaulted, Tisch said. nydailynews.com


UK: Tesco Stores Battling Rising Incidents Of Arson And Theft

Denver, CO: Colfax store owner fed up with frequent shoplifters in the area
 

DEI Reset?
Did Costco just reset the narrative around DEI?

In contrast to a slew of companies, the warehouse retailer has forcefully rejected an anti-DEI shareholder proposal as bad for business.

With its recent rejection of a shareholder proposal that challenged its diversity, equity and inclusion policies, Costco didn’t actually break new ground. Even as anti-DEI campaigns have surged, most companies have held on to their diversity policies because they foster good decision-making and are conducive to their business goals.

However, the statement from Costco’s board of directors, urging shareholders to reject the proposal and combating some of its specifics, was notable in its forcefulness, experts say.

It was especially striking given high-profile moves last year by major companies, including retailers like Tractor Supply and Walmart, to retreat from their DEI programs, according to Dave Marcotte, senior vice president at Kantar Retail.

“Overall this provides a media narrative of conservatives winning over progressives which was a big theme for 2024. Costco has run directly contrary to that narrative,” he said by email. “And its formal response to an investor tactic (‘DEI raises stockholder risk’), is a statement that [not only] refutes the premise but also states that these investors are not doing so in the interest of Costco but a larger political agenda. As the 5th largest retailer in the world, this is a loud statement.”  retaildive.com


Last-Minute Shopping Fuels Holiday Retail Sales Surge
US retail sales rose 3.8% this holiday season

Consumers were motivated by deals with last minute purchases accounting for 10% of all holiday spending, per Mastercard.

U.S. retail sales for the last few weeks leading up to Christmas 2024 excluding automotive increased by 3.8% compared to last year, according to Mastercard’s SpendingPulse report. The figure includes sales from Nov. 1 to Dec. 24 and is not adjusted for inflation.

The last five days of the holiday season accounted for 10% of all holiday spending as consumers latched onto promotions set during the “November and Black Friday shopping period,” per Mastercard data.

Online retail sales grew 6.7% year over year and in-store sales increased 2.9%. Apparel led e-commerce sales growth by nearly 7% compared to last year. retaildive.com


Massive Winter Storm Having Major Impacts Nationwide
Winter weather disrupts flights, strands thousands nationwide
Brutal winter weather has caused widespread travel disruptions, stranding thousands of passengers at airports across the country, including Orlando International Airport (MCO).

According to FlightAware, MCO accounted for 4.7% of delayed flights and just over 3% of canceled flights nationwide on Monday, leaving many passengers frustrated and scrambling to rebook their travel plans.

Nationwide, the ripple effect of flight delays and cancelations continues to impact travelers, with no immediate end in sight as severe weather persists. fox35orlando.com
 
 
New grocery-related laws that took effect Jan.1
New year, new laws. As 2025 gets underway, the change of the calendar is ushering in regulations affecting grocers and consumers in various parts of the United States.

Is Continuous Feedback Better Than Annual Performance Reviews?

Marquee Brands acquires Laura Ashley