The City of Sacramento’s legal department recently warned a popular retail store for public nuisance due to multiple calls to police after thieves stole from its Land Park location several times in the past year. The Sacramento Bee reported this incident, citing an anonymous source who feared retaliation from the city. Despite the warning, the police confirmed the location’s involvement when asked about it.
Following this incident, state lawmakers, including Gov. Gavin Newsom, Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas, and Senator Mike McGuire, introduced a package of 14 bills aimed at tightening penalties for retail theft offenses. This legislation is a response to the rise in theft crimes and aims to tackle the issue without making changes to Proposition 47, which reduced penalties for drug and theft crimes in California.
Critics of the state’s current policies, such as California Assembly GOP Leader James Gallagher and criminal defense attorney Nicole Castronova, argue that the leniency towards criminals and threats towards businesses reporting crimes are failing the citizens. Castronova highlighted how retailers are being victimized by the government instead of being protected, leading to a rise in crime rates.
The California Police Chiefs Association president, Alexander Gammelgard, also expressed surprise at the idea of penalizing businesses for reporting crimes, emphasizing the importance of addressing crime concerns promptly rather than discouraging reports.
Despite these criticisms, the City of Sacramento and local officials have taken steps to address the concerns raised by the community regarding the Target store and its repeated theft incidents. A plan was put in place to enhance safety measures, including Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design, to mitigate future incidents. The plan involved the installation of security measures like alarms, cameras, and security personnel, as well as improvements to lighting, landscaping, and wayfinding in the area.
While the exact details of the concerns raised by the community remain unclear, the collaborative efforts between the City of Sacramento, local police, and the retail store demonstrate a commitment to addressing crime issues in the area. The data from the police department also shows a significant increase in theft-related calls at Target locations in Sacramento, prompting a need for more comprehensive strategies to combat theft crimes in the city.