California Bill 553 Leaves Businesses At Mercy of Criminals

Under Gavin Newsom, California continues to protect criminals at the expense of businesses and citizens.

Governor Newsom’s leadership has ravaged the state of California

After California reduced theft under $950 as a misdemeanor, videos exploded all over the internet.

Criminals were emboldened to simply walk in and take whatever they wanted.

Like here:

Or at Nordstrom:

Now, California lawmakers want to take it further.

The bill’s sponsor, State Senator Dave Cortese, claims the bill is aimed at protecting employees.

If passed, the bill increases expenses for all businesses.

Non-security guard employees will be banned from approaching shoplifters.

Not only will businesses have to hire security guards, they will need to train all employees in accordance with the law.

As if allowing this criminal behavior isn’t bad enough.

California Senate Bill 553 will punish businesses from preventing theft by fining them.

California is passing Bill 553, which makes it illegal to confront or fight back against looters, burglars and shoplifters. You’ll be fined $18,000 if you intervene. It puts every employee at the mercy of criminals. pic.twitter.com/9f9VbEFfKr

— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) September 5, 2023

It’s no wonder so many businesses are leaving California.

The Westfield San Francisco Centre defaulted on it’s loan to the tune of $558 million.

The owners just left along with more than half of the 70 retail stores that were inside.

This includes Nordstrom which had a 300,000 square foot store at the mall.

Crime rates are out of control and business owners are starting to stand up for themselves.

The business owners are clearly against this bill.

Small business owners feel the losses of theft harder than major corporation.

The Sacramento Observer reported on the protests giving the side of the the protesters.

However, the bill has sparked controversy and received criticism from numerous small business owners, lawmakers, and law enforcement personnel. They argue that SB 553 will inadvertently encourage shoplifting and lead to an increase in crime rates. The legislation mandates that employers develop workplace violence prevention plans as part of their Cal/OSHA Injury Illness Prevention Plan, setting new standards that prohibit store employees from retaliating against thieves.

At some point, California lawmakers need to look around and realize the mess that they have made.

They continue to cite claims that crime has dropped which are clearly false.

It is easy to say that when you refuse to enforce the law or pass laws that make crime legal.

Hopefully, this doesn’t make it through the California Assembly.

Law abiding citizens need a break in the cesspool of depravity that California has become.