California Governor Signs New Retail Theft Laws

California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed a bipartisan package of 10 new laws aimed at combating retail theft, especially smash-and-grab robberies, which have surged in recent years. The legislation allows prosecutors to combine the value of stolen goods from different incidents to impose harsher penalties and enhances tools for felony prosecutions against repeat offenders and organized retail crime. This initiative comes in response to growing concerns from small business owners in cities like San Francisco, who report feeling unsafe due to frequent theft incidents. Lawmakers, including Senate President Pro Tem Mike McGuire, emphasize that more work is needed to improve public safety further. Newsom noted that tackling related issues, such as drug addiction and its link to theft, will be a priority in future legislation. The new laws represent a significant shift in how California addresses retail crime, with provisions such as allowing retailers to issue restraining orders against convicted shoplifters.