Governor Gavin Newsom’s Encounter with Shoplifting Highlights California’s Complex Theft Laws
Newsom’s Firsthand Experience
California Governor Gavin Newsom, a committed Democrat, recently shared an incident of witnessing a shoplifter boldly exit a Target store without paying. This event was narrated by Newsom during a Zoom call focused on a mental health bond measure he supports, as reported by The Mercury News of San Jose.
The Incident at Target
While waiting in line to check out, Newsom observed a customer leaving the store with unpaid items. He recounted, “As we’re checking out, the woman says, ‘Oh, he’s just walking out, he didn’t pay for that.’ I said, ‘Why didn’t you stop him?’ She goes, ‘Oh, the governor.’” The clerk’s failure to recognize she was speaking to the governor himself struck Newsom as absurd. “Swear to God, true story, on my mom’s grave,” he added.
Discussion on Theft Policies
The clerk attributed their inability to intervene to the governor’s policies. However, Newsom countered by pointing out that California has stringent laws regarding property theft—anything exceeding $950 is classified as a felony. Despite his explanation and insistence on its accuracy (“it’s the 10th toughest in America. Look it up”), the clerk remained firm in her belief that state policies influenced by Newsom prevented action against shoplifters.
Reactions and Further Discussions
Upon realizing she was speaking with Governor Newsom, the clerk requested a photograph with him—a request which Newsom declined, insisting on discussing the matter further with her manager. He expressed frustration at being blamed for such situations and questioned why he should spend $380 when others could simply walk out with unpaid merchandise.
The Broader Context of California’s Laws
What Newsom did not address in his conversation was the broader context of the state’s laws and their enforcement. While California considers theft above $950 a felony (a lower threshold compared to many states), the real issue lies in the lax enforcement of misdemeanor crimes under this limit.
Upon taking office in 2020, Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon promised not to prosecute various misdemeanor offenses. This stance, along with decisions by liberal judges across the state, discourages police from arresting offenders who are likely to be released anyway.
Senate Bill 553 and Its Impact
Senate Bill 553, signed into law by Newsom last year, prohibits employers from instructing employees to intercept shoplifters. This likely explains what the store manager would have conveyed to Newsom had they spoken.
This creates a dual system in California—stricter laws for felony theft due to a lower threshold but minimal attention paid towards misdemeanor theft under that limit. Criminals have exploited this loophole, comfortably shoplifting up to $949 worth of goods without facing significant consequences.
The store could, but the majority of major retailers have a ‘hands off’ policy. Meaning, store employees are not permitted to physically stop shoplifters. Even if the police are called, they often arrive long after the thief is gone. And if the $ value is under $950, nothing else…
— TimmerMcGraw, CFI ???????????? (@TimmerMcGraw) February 1, 2024
Retailers’ Struggles and Prop 47
Retailers feel powerless due to this loophole which has led to an increase in shoplifting despite stricter laws for felony theft. Critics link this rise in retail theft to Prop 47—a 2014 measure reclassifying some nonviolent property crimes as misdemeanors. Yet Newsom supports this initiative, asserting it makes California’s felony theft threshold lower than Texas’.
His office cited a recent CapitalOne analysis indicating California’s retail theft rate is 17 percent below the national average. However, this same report acknowledged severe impacts on major metropolitan areas like Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Oakland.
These statistics do not account for unreported crimes such as the one Newsom witnessed at Target.
Public Perception and Comments
Either Governor Newsom is unaware of how his state’s system functions or he shared this story deliberately to divert attention from California’s legal shortcomings. One Twitter user commented:
It means he’s shoveling shirt to deceive by citing the felony/misdemeanor theft $ threshold because the important distinction is that California doesn’t police theft misdemeanors the way nearly all other states do. Cali treats it as a citation like a minor traffic violation
— Luke Everhart???? (@LukeEverhart1) February 1, 2024
Newsom’s Reflections and Media Attention
Moments after sharing his tale, Newsom expressed hope that reporters weren’t present during his call—seemingly realizing that his narrative could make headlines. But perhaps this was his intention all along.