HomeMy WebLinkAboutAB1960, AB1990, AB2814, AB3209, SB1242 - Retail Theft Enforcements and Enhancements - Letter of SUPPORTCity of San Luis Obispo, Office of the City Council, 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, CA, 93401-3249, 805.781.7114,
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May 14, 2024
TO: The Honorable Berman, State Assembly Member
The Honorable Wendy Carrillo, State Assembly Member
The Honorable Evan Low, State Assembly Member
The Honorable Esmerelda Soria, State Assembly Member
The Honorable Dave Min, State Senator
RE: Retail Theft Enforcement and Increased Penalties Legislation
Dear Members:
One of the City of San Luis Obispo’s top priorities is to address crime and retail theft, organized retail
theft and shoplifting. Our city is pleased that both houses of the Legislature have made this issue a
priority in 2024. As such, City of San Luis Obispo would like to identify a few bills that we believe help
to address the issue of providing critically needed tools of enforcement to combat retail theft.
As you may know, retail theft continues to be a problem in nearly all California communities. For
example, commercial burglary is at the highest rate since 2008. In fact, according to the PPIC,
commercial burglary increased statewide since 2020, especially in larger counties with an increase of
13% among 14 of the 15 largest counties. To address rising theft, city officials need additional tools
to reduce crime and improve the safety of their neighborhoods.
There are reforms needed to ensure that both apprehension rates of offenders improve and that
those apprehended for more serious theft offenses meet meaningful consequences. Specifically,
there are a several bills that would address these necessary reforms through increasing the certainty
and severity of apprehension for retail theft offenses.
Therefore, we support the following bills:
AB 1960 (Soria) Sentencing Enhancements: Property Loss.
(As Introduced on 1/29/2024)
AB 1990 (Carrillo) Criminal Procedure: Arrests: Shoplifting.
(As Amended on 4/16/2024)
AB 2814 (Low) Crimes: Unlawful Entry: Intent to Commit Package Theft
(As Introduced on 2/15/2024)
AB 3209 (Berman) Crimes: Theft: Retail Theft Restraining Orders
(As Amended on 4/1/2024)
SB 1242 (Min) Crimes: Fires
(As Amended on 3/19/2024)
These bills propose several methods of increasing enforcement tools on the front end of our criminal
justice system and increasing the penalties on the back end. These methods range from increasing
ongoing funding of local and statewide enforcement programs, improving law enforcements’ powers
and arrest authority, creating new offenses, and adding sentencing enhancements for felonious
offenses of retail theft.
While these individual bills are important to continuing to make progress on retail theft, they are
only one part of a comprehensive solution that needs to include prevention, enforcement, and
supervision. Addressing enforcement tools and increased penalties are some of the methods that
can help solve this growing problem, however additional changes are needed in order to make our
communities safer.
For these reasons, the City of San Luis Obispo supports AB 1960 (Soria), AB 1990 (Carrillo), AB 2814
(Low), AB 3209 (Berman), and SB 1242 (Min).
Sincerely,
Erica A. Stewart
Mayor
City of San Luis Obispo
cc. Senator John Laird
Assembly Member Dawn Addis
Dave Mullinax, League of California Cities, dmullinax@cacities.org
Meg Desmond, League of California Cities, cityletters@cacities.org