California Is About To Get Tough On Theft

Read the full story on The Auto Wire

Voters in California adopted Proposition 36 yesterday, clearing the way for tougher penalties on theft and other crimes. That in turn could help put a dent in car thefts and more, a ripple effect if you will.

Activists rage after a fatal police chase in NYC.

At the time this article was written, AP said 70 percent of votes cast were in favor of the ballot, a clear majority and message. Many Californians seem to be tired of the rampant lawlessness, including suspects fleeing police regularly

Proposition 36 rolls back portions of Proposition 47 passed in 2014, which reduced thefts to misdemeanors if the value was under $950. That of course led to quite a few shoplifting sprees and high-speed getaways afterward. The new proposition clears the way for felony charges.

This also means thieves can’t just steal a catalytic converter off a vehicle and just get a slap on the wrist. Easily sawed off a vehicle in minutes, and often with a value under $950, the damaged thieves did to chop them off sometimes cost car owners thousands.

Proposition 36 should also impact the smash-and-grab crimes where thieves break car windows, stealing items out of the interior.

As Politico put it, the passage of Proposition 36 is a “rebuke to the progressive policies” which have backfired as crime has spiraled out of control in California. It’s obvious many in the state are tired of seeing criminals get out of custody and immediately begin stealing again, leaving them to deal with the messy consequences.

Even though the proposition doesn’t directly address car theft, in reality many theft rings use funds from shoplifting to purchase devices for stealing cars. The proceeds from stolen vehicles are then used for trafficking humans, drugs, and arms both domestically and in foreign nations. So putting the clamps down on one set of crimes can have a domino effect for others.

What might have a bigger effect on car theft rates in Los Angeles County is George Gascon getting ousted by challenger Nathan Hochman for District Attorney. While some disagree, voters clearly agreed with the message that Gascon’s progressive approach to prosecuting criminal cases has only poured fuel on the fire.

Image via Mike Haelterman/Facebook

Follow The Auto Wire on Google News.

Join our Newsletter, subscribe to our YouTube page, and follow us on Facebook.