Kamala Harris' Calamitous Crime Legacy: Turning California into a Shoplifter Paradise

Former Attorney General and current Vice President Kamala Harris' policies have created a crime-ridden California, with shoplifting skyrocketing to an $8 billion industry. Despite declining crime rates elsewhere, shoplifting has surged in the Golden State under her watch.

California has a dubious reputation for its rampant shoplifting, which has become an $8 billion-a-year industry. Organized "rip crews" have emerged, stealing everything from designer clothes to electronics, and reselling them for profit. Even as other crimes have declined, shoplifting reports have soared in the first half of 2024.

Why has California become a hotbed for retail theft? The state's decline in law and order can be traced to the tenure of former Attorney General Kamala Harris, now Vice President. During her tenure from 2011 to 2017, Harris implemented a series of policies that emboldened a culture of theft.

Kamala Harris' Calamitous Crime Legacy: Turning California into a Shoplifter Paradise

Harris' policies included supporting activist prosecutors, promoting pro-crime initiatives, and undermining police. These measures led to the defunding of the LAPD and encouraged protests that involved physical assaults on police officers. Harris' legacy has left an enduring wound on California's public safety.

In 2023, California experienced a "Flash Rob Summer," where mobs looted stores across major cities. Los Angeles and San Francisco are ranked as the top two shoplifting cities in the nation.

Kamala Harris' Calamitous Crime Legacy: Turning California into a Shoplifter Paradise

This November, California voters have a chance to turn the tide with Proposition 36. This ballot measure aims to roll back Proposition 47, a policy that reduced penalties for theft and released thousands of criminals.

Prop 47 led to unprecedented chaos in California, particularly in the retail sector. Prop 36 would reverse Harris' soft-on-crime policy by increasing penalties for theft, especially for repeat offenders. It would also impose mandatory enhancements for significant property damage and planned thefts.

Kamala Harris' Calamitous Crime Legacy: Turning California into a Shoplifter Paradise

Prop 36 has garnered support from a broad spectrum of public safety organizations, including the California District Attorneys Association, the California State Sheriffs' Association, and San Francisco Mayor London Breed.

While Prop 36 is a step in the right direction, it is not a panacea. Prosecutors who prioritize lawlessness must be removed from office, police must be empowered, and agencies must have resources to hire more officers.

Kamala Harris' Calamitous Crime Legacy: Turning California into a Shoplifter Paradise

Californians are desperate for a return to basic public safety. Retail theft affects everyone by driving up prices, putting jobs at risk, and making neighborhoods unsafe.

By supporting tougher penalties and better support for law enforcement, California can restore safety and prosperity to its communities. Prop 36 is an opportunity to send a clear message that the Golden State will no longer tolerate retail crime.

Kamala Harris' Calamitous Crime Legacy: Turning California into a Shoplifter Paradise

During her political career, Kamala Harris has been a champion for shoplifters and criminals. 2024 should be the year to end her disastrous legacy and reestablish law and order in California.