In the wake of recent legislative changes to California’s penal code, 35-year-old Inocencio Mendez Lozano of Los Angeles was arrested for theft with a history of prior convictions after an incident at a Chino Hills store. Mendez Lozano, along with two unidentified accomplices, is accused of stealing seven rotary vehicle polishers from the Harbor Freight on Peyton Drive, as reported by the San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner Department. This crime put to the test Proposition 36, a measure designed to amend laws perceived as contributing to the rise in homelessness, drug addiction, and theft in the state. Prop 36, which voters enacted just last November, went into effect on December 18, 2024, and introduced new legal codes, including an enhanced sentencing toolkit for law enforcement.
The theft took place on April 21, 2025, and subsequent investigations led to the identification of Mendez Lozano, who had prior theft convictions on his record. An arrest warrant was issued, and on Monday, he was booked at the West Valley Detention Center under the newly applicable California Penal Code 666.1. Under Prop 36, such charges hold more weight, potentially preventing offenders from being cited and released before their court date, a significant shift from procedures under the previous legislation, Proposition 47.
Details about the case were made available through a Sheriff-Coroner Department press release, which encourages anyone with knowledge of the incident or the whereabouts of the other suspects to step forward. Community members are urged to contact the Chino Hills Police at (909) 364-2000, or they can anonymously connect with the We-Tip Hotline. This arrest signifies a tactical shift in combatting recidivism, ushering in a stricter legal environment for repeat offenders in California…