Shoplifters’ Arrest Goes Viral, Highlights California’s New Crime Laws [WATCH]

Seal Beach Police in California released a viral video capturing the arrest of three women accused of shoplifting, shedding light on the state’s new, stricter penalties for retail theft.

The suspects were caught stealing merchandise worth nearly $1,650 from two stores, only to discover that recent legal changes turned their actions into felonies.

The incident began at an Ulta Beauty store in Seal Beach, where the women casually browsed the shelves before walking out with approximately $650 worth of stolen merchandise.

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Surveillance footage, shared by the Seal Beach Police Department on Instagram, shows the trio calmly exiting the store with stolen items in hand.

The suspects then targeted a nearby Kohl’s store, allegedly stealing nearly $1,000 worth of additional goods.

Police officers pursued the women after the thefts, capturing them on bodycam video during their arrest.

In the bodycam footage, one suspect is heard asking, “It’s a felony?” Another responds, “B—h, new laws. Stealing is a felony, and this Orange County b—h. They don’t play.”

This is the best video you’ll see today:

Repeat shoplifters in California learn the hard way that Prop. 36 is now in effect.

Watch until the end. pic.twitter.com/T0JePmhLVB

— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) December 23, 2024

The women, later identified as Destiny Bender, 24, and Deanna Hines, 24, both of Long Beach, and Michelle Pitts, 26, of Signal Hill, were arrested and booked into the Orange County Jail.

They face charges of grand theft, conspiracy to commit a crime, and resisting arrest.

The arrests come after the enactment of Proposition 36, the Homelessness, Drug Addiction, and Theft Reduction Act, which went into effect days earlier.

The measure, approved by California voters, increases penalties for certain crimes, including retail theft and drug possession.

It reverses parts of Proposition 47, a 2014 law that downgraded thefts under $950 to misdemeanors unless the defendant had specific prior convictions, such as for murder or certain sex offenses.

Seal Beach police underscored the significance of the new law in a statement accompanying the video. “Here in Seal Beach, we never believed in the cite and release program, but this new proposition only strengthens our commitment to combating Organized Retail Theft. Remember folks, don’t steal in Seal,” the department warned.

Proposition 36 seeks to address the surge in retail theft and crime attributed to softer penalties under Proposition 47, which was authored by progressive Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón and backed by billionaire George Soros.

Critics have argued that the 2014 measure encouraged theft by reducing legal consequences.

While Proposition 36 received widespread support from voters, it faced opposition from California Governor Gavin Newsom.

The governor criticized the measure, stating it “takes us back to the 1980s, mass incarceration.” His stance echoed concerns from progressive leaders who have championed policies aimed at reducing prison populations.

The political implications of Proposition 47 extended beyond the ballot box. George Gascón, a key proponent of the measure, lost his re-election bid for Los Angeles County District Attorney to challenger Nathan Hochman in November.

The defeat signaled voter frustration with soft-on-crime policies and increasing rates of retail theft.

Seal Beach Police reiterated their dedication to tackling retail theft under the updated legal framework.

By sharing the arrest footage and emphasizing the consequences of stealing, authorities aim to deter similar crimes in the community.

As Proposition 36 reshapes California’s legal landscape, law enforcement agencies across the state are adapting to enforce stricter penalties and restore accountability for retail theft and other offenses.

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