A recent incident in Seal Beach, California, highlights the impact of Proposition 36, which reinstated felony charges for certain theft offenses. Surveillance footage released by the Seal Beach Police Department shows three women allegedly stealing nearly $650 worth of merchandise from an Ulta Beauty store. The women, seemingly unaware of the recent legal changes, then proceeded to a Kohls store where they allegedly stole an additional $1,000 worth of goods.
Bodycam footage captures the subsequent police pursuit and arrest. In the back of the patrol car, one of the women expresses surprise, asking, "It's a felony?" Another responds, acknowledging the new laws and the stricter approach in Orange County.
The suspects, identified as Destiny Bender, 24, and Deanna Hines, 24, both from Long Beach, and Michelle Pitts, 26, of Signal Hill, were booked into the Orange County Jail. Charges include Grand Theft, Conspiracy to Commit a Crime, and Resisting Arrest. The Seal Beach Police Department emphasized their commitment to combating organized retail theft and reminded the public of the changed legal landscape.
Proposition 36, known as the Homelessness, Drug Addiction and Theft Reduction Act, reversed some aspects of Proposition 47, which had reduced penalties for certain non-violent felonies, including theft under $950. The change in law reflects a shift in policy aimed at addressing concerns about rising retail theft and crime.
