Criminal
Nov. 30, 2021
Why the rise in smash-and-grabs? It’s the leadership
Some people have blamed this crisis on Proposition 47, the 2014 statewide referendum that reclassified many felony theft offenses as misdemeanors. While petty retail theft skyrocketed more than 20% soon after Prop. 47, the law isn’t the only problem. There’s clearly something else going on.
Eric Siddall
Deputy District Attorney
Los Angeles District Attorney's Office
211 W Temple St Fl 11
Los Angeles , CA 90012-4455
Eric is vice president of the Association of Deputy District Attorneys, the collective bargaining agent representing nearly 800 deputy district attorneys who work for the County of Los Angeles. The opinions expressed here are the author's own and do not reflect the views of his employer or any other organization.
Los Angeles and San Francisco have been hammered by a brazen crime trend: the "smash-and-grab" robbery.
A pack of thieves, armed with sledgehammers, smash their way into a high-end store, grab tens of thousands of dollars of merchandise, and flee with the loot.
Retailers are doing what they can to protect themselves and their customers. They've hired extra security, put up barriers, and created "checkpoints" to...
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