Governor Newsom signs 'smash-and-grab' bill to toughen penalties for grand theft offenses

Today’s signing follows Today's announcement by Governor Newsom that California's $267 million in grants to help local law enforcement fight organized crime are producing strong results. In the first six months of the grant cycle, law enforcement agencies that received the grant have arrested over 6,900 suspects.r Retail and property crimes.

Why it is important

In January, Governor Newsom called on legislators from both sides of the aisle to enact strong legislation to better help law enforcement and prosecutors protect communities and hold criminals accountable. Today, Governor Newsom signed the final bill in a robust and historic public safety package to strengthen California's existing law enforcement tools and better protect Californians.

“Violent 'sledgehammer crimes' and flash mob attacks by organized gangs must stop now. I wrote this new law to hold those who damage businesses and property accountable, because our business owners and workers should not have to live in fear that these crimes are happening on their doorsteps. I thank Governor Newsom for signing this law so we can keep our communities safe.” Said spokesman Robert Rivas.

“Assembly Bill 1960 serves as a deterrent to burglary and retail crime. It sends a clear message that such illegal and dangerous activities will not be tolerated, helping to protect businesses, consumers and communities from the negative impacts of criminal behavior. Those who intentionally attack and destroy property in the commission of crimes will now face harsher penalties, sending a clear message that this behavior will no longer be tolerated in California.” said Rachel Michelin, president and CEO of the California Retailers Association. “The California Retailers Association commends Speaker Rivas, the bill's author, and Governor Newsom for their continued leadership in combating retail crime in California, ensuring that retailers, law enforcement and prosecutors have all the tools necessary to hold criminals accountable for shoplifting across the state.”

“By imposing tougher penalties on the value of stolen property, we are sending a clear message to criminals that stealing other people’s property will not be tolerated,” said Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert G. Luna“This legislation is critical to ensure that those who continue to undermine the well-being of our community face appropriate consequences and ultimately create a safer environment for all. I applaud Governor Gavin Newsom's signing of AB 1960 as it represents a critical step toward improving the safety of our communities.”

What these new laws do

✅ TAKE ACTION AGAINST THEFT AND THE SALE OF STOLEN ITEMS: Imposes harsher penalties on those involved in shoplifting and property theft, requires harsher sentences for large-scale thefts, and creates new crimes that carry harsher penalties and longer prison sentences.

✅ STRENGTHENING ENFORCEMENT AND LAW ENFORCEMENT: Strengthens existing laws to ensure that police can arrest shoplifting suspects with reasonable suspicion – even if they did not witness a crime.

✅ COMBINE VALUES TO MEET THE CRIMINAL CRIME THRESHOLD: Allows for aggregation of the value of stolen goods, allowing prosecutors to add together the value of multiple stolen items—even from different victims and different counties—to meet the threshold for grand theft.

✅ TARGET TO HIT AND DIG: Creates new penalties for criminals who damage businesses and property in the course of theft.

✅ COMBAT CAR BREAK-INS AND THEFT: Adds new and increased penalties for possession of items stolen from a vehicle with the intent to resell and allows for prosecution of auto thefts regardless of whether the vehicle was locked.

✅ Eliminates shoplifting forfeiture provisions: Maintains important organized retail crime laws and task forces to protect communities. The Organized Retail Crime Act, successfully used by CHP and others on the Organized Retail Crime Task Force, would have expired on January 1, 2026.

California law already gives law enforcement and prosecutors robust tools to arrest and charge suspects involved in organized retail crime — including up to three years in prison for organized retail theft. The state has the 10th highest hurdle in the country for prosecutors to charge suspects with a crime: $950. Forty other states — including Texas ($2,500), Alabama ($1,500) and Mississippi ($1,000) — require higher amounts for suspects to be charged with a crime.

Local support in the fight against organised retail crime

Governor Newsom has invested $1.1 billion since 2019 to fight crime, help local governments hire more police officers, and improve public safety. Today's action builds on the The Governor's Real Plan for Public Safety – which focuses on strengthening local law enforcement, ensuring that perpetrators are held accountable, and eliminating guns and drugs from our streets, including by deploying the California Highway Patrol in hot spots, including Oakland, BakersfieldAnd San Francisco.

As part of the state’s largest investment to combat organized retail crime, Governor Newsom announced last year the distributed $267 million to 55 municipalities to help local communities combat organized retail crime. These funds have enabled cities and counties to hire more police officers, make more arrests, and obtain more charges against suspects for crimes. Today, California announced that state grants helped local law enforcement make more than 6,900 arrests in just the first six months of the grant cycle.

Nationwide efforts to combat shoplifting and organized crime

Last year, the California Highway Patrol reported an annual 310% Increase in proactive measures against organised retail crime and particularly Operations above the state to combat crime and improve public safety. And since January 2024 CHP's Organized Retail Crime Task Force is on track to exceed its work in 2023, with 884 arrests made and over a quarter of a million stolen items valued at over $7.2 million seized.