Chico Times

SACRAMENTO – This morning, the State Auditor recommended that the Legislature increase penalties on repeat thieves.

The audit found that for serial shoplifters – those who have committed theft four or more times – the rate of recidivism has jumped 14% since Prop. 47 made it easier to break the law. Law enforcement told auditors this was the pattern they were seeing firsthand as well.

In order to deal with repeat thieves, the auditor’s office called on the Legislature to increase penalties for shoplifters with at least four convictions.

Assembly Republicans have pushed for increased penalties and solutions to the retail theft crisis but have been consistently met with resistance from Democrat leadership.

This summer, Democrats tried to sabotage a ballot initiative to increase penalties for shoplifting by adding poison pills to a package of bipartisan retail theft bills. Democrats only removed the poison pills and allowed a fair vote on the initiative after public outcry and consistent pressure from Republicans and the press.

Without consequences for serial thieves, "the problem will only get worse," according to Republicans who "have been sounding this alarm for years" – and now, "the State Auditor seems to agree."

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