A law in San Francisco that legalizes shoplifting up to $950 has caused the closure of stores all across downtown

[Shadoww702]

Keep the stuff behind the counter and let them ask for it?

And when they get beat the *** up then what?

[OldTerry]

I read something about this a while back and did a little bit of digging, apparently they do it a few places too like Dallas ($750 limit) and they had a kinda guideline here in the UK up to £200 which was abandoned after an outcry from shop owners. I think the general idea is that it costs more to prosecute that kinda shet plus they're unlikely to get a conviction and even if they did the cost of either pursuing non payment of fines or a custodial sentence is unsustainable.... more a question of economics, daft as it sounds States, or more particularly municipal governments simply ain't got the resources. Given some of the stuff they do find money for however I ain't surprised some folk are upset...

I understand that there can be circumstances where leniency should reasonably be applied or at least some mitigation considered, such as in cases of existential need (stealing a loaf of bread to feed your kids for instance), but surely these should be discretionary and down to the judgement of individual enforcement officers or the mercy of the victim?


EDIT: Although actually the article in the OP is innacurate in a number of ways... Proposition 47 does not legalise theft it merely recategorises certain types of theft and drug offenses as misdemeanors, carrying fines and and up to 6 months in county jail (12 months for some possession offenses)



Also it does not prevent officers from arresting or stopping people who commit such crimes.

I would say that the failure to stop the shoplifting through stricter sentences and expanding business owners rights to how far they can go to stop the shoplifting is the solution. When businesses close down and leave, the toll on the local economy would make it worthwhile to spend a little more money on the front end to prevent that from happening. Problem is that it would take some courage and moral fiber to take such a hard stand against these petty criminals.

[siablo14]

And when they get beat the *** up then what?

They won't. They are behind a protective counter like you see in high crime neighbourhoods.

[Shadoww702]

They won't. They are behind a protective counter like you see in high crime neighbourhoods.

Tru! I remember San Fran Jack In the box after hours.... both sides gates rolled down with the huge plexiglass we rotated the money and food between...

[Shadoww702]

No tables to even eat it at!

[PeepeePoopooMan]

Smh fawk. New york and sanfran seem like complete shltholes.

[siablo14]

Tru! I remember San Fran Jack In the box after hours.... both sides gates rolled down with the huge plexiglass we rotated the money and food between...

Exactly. That's how I run my shop down here.

[Boxfan83]

I would say that the failure to stop the shoplifting through stricter sentences and expanding business owners rights to how far they can go to stop the shoplifting is the solution. When businesses close down and leave, the toll on the local economy would make it worthwhile to spend a little more money on the front end to prevent that from happening. Problem is that it would take some courage and moral fiber to take such a hard stand against these petty criminals.

Our prisons were over populated for years. 3 strike laws, strict guns laws, and crime enhancements filled Ca prisons. Then we started letting out druggies and petty criminals, now we are releasing 74k more with violent pasts.

[Jsmooth9876]

Dems are running the country into the ground, that much is plain to see. You get what you vote for

[Jsmooth9876]

Keep the stuff behind the counter and let them ask for it?

How you gonna keep a whole store like Walgreens behind a counter lol.. You gonna lock every single item up in a case like the razors or cough medicines are?