In response to the issue of retail theft, the California legislative body passed a bill on August 12 that would allow courts to issue restraining orders against thieves, which has now been submitted to Governor Gavin Newsom for his signature.
The AB3209 bill grants the courts the authority to issue criminal restraining orders against individuals convicted of retail theft, prohibiting them from entering related retail stores, parking lots, franchise or chain stores. The bill stipulates that violating the restraining order will be considered a misdemeanor and punishable by law.
State Assemblyman Marc Berman stated in an email to Epoch Times that this is indeed the first bill in California to propose protective orders specifically for retail theft. Typically, courts can issue “stay-away” orders after any conviction.
He emphasized that this bill is a practical solution that will provide additional enforcement tools to combat retail crime and theft.
AB3209 originated from a bipartisan package of bills in the spring session of the state legislature, aiming to address the increase in crime rates in California cities and hold thieves accountable.
According to data from the American Foundation for Policy Institute (AFPI), retail theft cases in Los Angeles surged by 81% last year, reporting nearly 12,000 incidents of shoplifting.
Statistics from the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) indicate that from 2019 to 2022, shoplifting cases in San Mateo County and San Francisco County increased by 53% and 24% respectively. Since 2021, incidents of shoplifting in 25 out of 58 counties in California have been on the rise.
AB3209 has received support from the California Retailers Association. The association stated that the bill allows retailers to apply for civil restraining orders against repeat offenders, empowering businesses with the ability to self-protect and deter potential theft activities. ◇