(KRON) — Proposition 36 only went into effect two days ago, but it’s already making a difference in the Bay Area by giving police officers more power to book suspected retail thieves into jail.
The Antioch Police Department wrote on Friday, “Would you look at that! Prop 36, voted on by you, is making immediate impacts on the community!”
Officers received a 911 call reporting that a “sneaky thief” was inside a Target store shoplifting. APD Officer Pedreira responded within one minute and spotted the man loading stolen items into a white Escalade, according to police.
Investigators said the thief is a repeat offender.
“He was detained, and thanks to Prop 36 and his history of theft, his misdemeanor is now a felony. He was transported and booked into jail,” the police department wrote.
Without the passage of Prop 36, the man would have likely received a citation for a misdemeanor and remained out of custody, police said. APD explained, “Last week, this habitual swindler’s five-finger-discount would have earned him a citation, today it earned him a felony charge and a trip to jail.”