California finally launches plans to combat retail theft after years of ignoring problem

California has been hammered over the past few years as the spike in retail theft that started in San Francisco and Los Angeles has spread across the state, prompting the creation of task forces, legislative hearings, and promises of a crackdown by Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA).

California prosecutors and business leaders have blamed some of the state’s “toothless” laws for the jump in offenses, saying the problem has only gotten worse because offenders know they’ll be back on the street in hours, if not minutes.