New state laws regarding organized retail theft and property crime took effect in California on Jan. 1.
Last August, California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a “landmark legislative package,” which includes stricter penalties for individuals involved in retail and property theft, sentence enhancements for property damage to businesses, and stronger tools to ensure law enforcement can arrest retail theft suspects.
Although these new laws will make it easier to prosecute retail theft, they don’t address the need for a clearer understanding of retail crime in California.
According to a 2024 Little Hoover Commission report, “Retail Theft: A Data-Driven Response,” more detailed crime data is needed for policymakers to develop an evidence-based response to the issue.
The Little Hoover Commission, California’s independent watchdog agency, released the report after conducting a comprehensive study on retail theft amid reports of rising retail crime in the state and complaints from retailers and law enforcement officials that existing statutes were inadequate.
After looking at available data, the commission found that despite a recent uptick, reported retail theft remained at roughly the same level as during the 2010s and lower than it had been in earlier decades.
Retail theft is undoubtedly underreported, but the degree of underreporting is difficult to determine.
The commission also learned that the state does not consistently collect detailed retail crime data, such as the circumstances surrounding a crime, law enforcement’s response, demographic data about the people arrested, and the final disposition of the case.
The commission commended the Department of Justice for its existing data initiatives, and recommended they be expanded in consultation with experts to include a much higher level of detail.
In addition to data collection, the commission recommended that the state partner with California universities and other nonpartisan research institutions to study preventative measures, rates of underreporting, economic impact, and drivers of public perception.
To read the commission’s full report on Retail Theft implementation and find more information about the commission’s work on the subject, please visit our website here.
Little Hoover Commission: More data is needed in California’s fight against retail theft
- Little Hoover Commission
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