Orange County Makes Shoplifting a Felony

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Some Orange County, California thieves are getting quite a rude awakening after finding out that shoplifting is now considered a felony.

One video in particular released by the Seal Beach Police Department shows surveillance footage of three women going on a shoplifting spree and stealing over $600 worth of goods from an Ulta Beauty cosmetics store.

Unfortunately for them, they should have shoplifted a newspaper, at least then they would have known of the new criminal upgraded felony charges that were recently put in place.

"It's a felony?" one thief asked while being handcuffed in the back of a police cruiser with her accomplice friend. "B-tch, new laws - stealing is a felony. This is Orange County, they don't play," the friend responded in the viral video.

idiot California Democrats mostly de-criminalized theft. I just can't comprehend this irrational attitude.
obviously not many business people in the Cal Dem Party.
glad to see Orange County putting some teeth back in the law.

This is hideous. In scripture we are reminded that nobody should be judged for stealing to feed himself or his family, and yet the Orange County legislators are determined to wreck someone's life forever when it could be a simple case of his kids are borderline starving. I think shoplifting should always remain a minor offence, unless it is proven to be systematic, repeated, for high value items. Otherwise, call it a misdemeanour & be in line with scriptural tradition. Besides which, it's a near-victimless crime, in that all goods are insured, and a certain percentage of stock is written off ahead of the financial year by virtue of accounting for shoplifting, I think they call it 'shrinkage' in business jargon, though I may be wrong on that.

a reply to: FlyInTheOintment

If they're stealing to feed a drug habit then it's a different matter, and the consequences should be more severe.

originally posted by: FlyInTheOintment
This is hideous. In scripture we are reminded that nobody should be judged for stealing to feed himself or his family, and yet the Orange County legislators are determined to wreck someone's life forever when it could be a simple case of his kids are borderline starving...Otherwise, call it a misdemeanour & be in line with scriptural tradition.

There are shelters, food pantries, WIC, SNAP, welfare. One of the reasons to have those is the poor no longer have a moral imperative to steal.

Besides, it was a beauty store.

Besides which, it's a near-victimless crime, in that all goods are insured, and a certain percentage of stock is written off ahead of the financial year by virtue of accounting for shoplifting, I think they call it 'shrinkage' in business jargon, though I may be wrong on that.

Calling it "shrink" doesn't mean it doesn't cost.

Why do you think there are food deserts? No one can afford to operate in some areas. And they do try, but they wind up closing.

a reply to: FlyInTheOintment

They were stealing from an Ulta beauty, so not exactly stealing food to feed their starving families.

Also that shrink that the stores budget for turns into higher prices for the law abiding citizens.

a reply to: FlyInTheOintment

I was in a jury selection pod and an example the judge gave was about a guy stealing food for his family, pointing out his young children and desperate situation. Although the defendant pled guilty, the jury came back and found him not guilty, solely based on their pity or empathy. I think human emotions influence proper judgment sometimes, even when the letter of the law says otherwise. Maybe the new deterrent of a felony will allow the truly desperate to be identified and assisted, while the repeat offenders will be punished accordingly.

a reply to: FeeshJefe

Jury nullification is a thing. I go back and forth. Sometimes I think it would be great if more people were aware of it. Then I remember how stupid the bulk of the population is. So who do you trust, government or the average knuckle dragger? Rock, meet hard place. Best thing you can do is stay out of the system. Once you're in, it's Russian roulette with half the chambers loaded.

originally posted by: yeahright
a reply to: FeeshJefe

Jury nullification is a thing. I go back and forth. Sometimes I think it would be great if more people were aware of it. Then I remember how stupid the bulk of the population is. So who do you trust, government or the average knuckle dragger? Rock, meet hard place. Best thing you can do is stay out of the system. Once you're in, it's Russian roulette with half the chambers loaded.

Judges don't want Jurors to know about Jury Nullification at all. They want you base your judgement by facts and the law only. When selected for Jury duty, i always wanted to ask the Judge about it while jury selection is happening but figured it would piss the Judge off.

a reply to: Echo007

It would not be prudent to bring it up to a judge in a courtroom. A juror would not draw the wrath that an attorney would. An attorney might as well resign from the Bar and set their license on fire as mention jury nullification in a courtroom.

a reply to: FeeshJefe

Odd. Over here, if someone pleads guilty, it doesn't go to a jury?

Security camera footage is sometimes shown on the nightly news seeming to show people simply grabbing what they want and walking out, sometimes with a shopping cart full.

Can it be it's gotten a little too easy?

a reply to: Solvedit

You get what you tolerate. Individually, and as a society.

a reply to: Oldcarpy2

Yeah, it's rare. I've heard people say it in court at their arraignment but most judges won't allow it as they consider the person should be allowed due process and don't want them to make rash or unintelligent decisions. So usually, the judge ignores those pleas and speaks to an attorney who is there to represent the client temporarily in their plea of 'not guilty' and at that time the judge assesses if they can hire an attorney or if one will be appointed to them. And thus the case proceeds along in the system.

But for the claim above, I would say it would not be out of bounds for a judge to allow a guilty plea. Also, during the course of setting court appointments, an attorney will ask the accused what they want to do and if the client tells them they want to plead guilty then they will at least do some sort of a plea agreement to give a better outcome for their client than a conviction and also to save time and money, and then proceed with disposing the case as quickly as possible. For theft under say $500.00, it's a misdemeanor and in most states there is seldom a trial for misdemeanors, whether it be by judge or jury. Seems like it may have been a rare case.

Maybe stores in Orange County should put up posters letting their shoplifters know that theft may now be considered a felony.

a reply to: FlyInTheOintment

Ha you can't be serious?! These people aren't starving that are stealing and most don't work and are probably already on welfare. They are criminal thugs who feel entitled.

These people have been a menace for years with NO repercussions which has caused businesses to close.

It is about time they did something. The fact they had to make stealing a felony for these criminals to even care is pretty sad.

a reply to: Coelacanth55

glad to see Orange County putting some teeth back in the law.

As America prepares for the new administration I'm left to ponder why all of the crazy policies, like DEI, defund the Police, de-criminalizing so many offenses, etc. all of a sudden are being reversed.

What was the point of the last four years of utter nonsense and insanity? Just to keep the country divided in hopes of a liberal win in 2024?

Regardless, I'm glad to see a bit of reason returning to society.

a reply to: nugget1

What was the point of the last four years of utter nonsense and insanity?

The downfall of America. They've done what they can get away with and will do whatever damage they can on their way out the door.

originally posted by: DAVID64
a reply to: nugget1

What was the point of the last four years of utter nonsense and insanity?

The downfall of America. They've done what they can get away with and will do whatever damage they can on their way out the door.

I'm wondering if joe and jill will trash the Whitehouse like the low-class clinton's did. Anyone taking bets?

It used to be that if you stole anything over a hundred bucks it could be considered a Felony. I wonder if they adjusted that number for inflation. A hundred bucks bought a lot of stuff back in the seventies. Now, it buys very little.

originally posted by: nugget1
a reply to: Coelacanth55

glad to see Orange County putting some teeth back in the law.

As America prepares for the new administration I'm left to ponder why all of the crazy policies, like DEI, defund the Police, de-criminalizing so many offenses, etc. all of a sudden are being reversed.

What was the point of the last four years of utter nonsense and insanity? Just to keep the country divided in hopes of a liberal win in 2024?

Regardless, I'm glad to see a bit of reason returning to society.

the leftist progressives that control the Democrat party are obsessed with dismantling the USA as we know it and replacing with some Star-Trek progressive futurist socialist society (with them in charge of course).
its about control. less control for working people and rich people, more control for government.

imho the whole thing is a war on traditional values, specifically Christianity.

originally posted by: StoutBroux
a reply to: Oldcarpy2

Maybe stores in Orange County should put up posters letting their shoplifters know that theft may now be considered a felony.

I guess the legal upgrade from theft to felony forces prosecutors to do their job.


I'm guessing the store list prices everything for $951 or more, and they adjust the cheaper stuff at the register, so this whole thing is a legal maneuver.