How Kamala Harris Helped Create a Crime Wave in CA
How California’s Proposition 47 Fueled Rising Crime and ‘Smash-and-Grab’ Robberies
Introduction
In 2014, California voters passed Proposition 47, the "Safe Neighborhoods and Schools Act," a criminal justice reform measure that downgraded many nonviolent felonies—including thefts under $950—to misdemeanors. While the law was designed to reduce prison overcrowding and redirect funds to rehabilitation programs, critics argue it has had disastrous consequences, including a surge in smash-and-grab robberies, organized retail theft, and repeat offenders avoiding serious penalties.
Though then-Attorney General Kamala Harris did not draft Prop 47, she strongly supported it and defended it in court, aligning with her broader push for criminal justice reform. Over the years, however, the law has faced intense backlash from law enforcement, business owners, and even progressive district attorneys who say it has emboldened thieves and worsened crime.
This article examines how Prop 47 contributed to California’s crime wave, particularly through its $950 theft threshold, and why many now believe the law needs major revisions.
What Proposition 47 Changed
Prop 47 reclassified several felony offenses as misdemeanors, most notably:
1. Theft Under $950: Previously, stealing property worth more than $400 could be charged as a felony. Prop 47 raised the threshold to $950, meaning most shoplifting, grand theft, and even some burglaries became misdemeanors—punishable by little more than a citation.
2. Drug Possession: Hard drugs like heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine were reduced from felonies to misdemeanors.
3. Sentence Reduction for Prior Offenses Inmates already serving time for these reclassified crimes could petition for early release.
Supporters, including Kamala Harris, argued that the law would:
- Reduce prison overcrowding
- Save taxpayer money by incarcerating fewer low-level offenders
- Fund rehabilitation programs with the savings
However, the unintended consequences soon became apparent.
How Prop 47 Fueled Smash-and-Grab Robberies
One of the most visible effects of Prop 47 has been the explosion of organized retail theft and smash-and-grab robberies—daring, often violent thefts where groups rush into stores, overwhelm employees, and steal thousands of dollars in merchandise before fleeing.
1. The $950 Loophole
Because theft under $950 is only a misdemeanor, criminals quickly learned they could steal with near impunity:
- Police often don’t respond to petty theft calls due to understaffing and low priority.
- Even if caught, thieves face minimal consequences—usually just a ticket.
- Repeat offenders exploit this by stealing just under $950 per incident to avoid felony charges.
A San Francisco Chronicle investigation found that after Prop 47, shoplifting arrests dropped by nearly 30%, not because theft decreased, but because police deprioritized these cases.
2. Organized Retail Crime Rings
Criminal networks have exploited Prop 47 by orchestrating mass thefts:
- Thieves target high-end stores (e.g., Louis Vuitton, Apple, Nordstrom) and pharmacies (stealing resalable cosmetics and medications).
- Stolen goods are often sold online or through black-market fencing operations.
- The California Retailers Association reported a 28% increase in organized retail theft since Prop 47 passed.
3. Police and Prosecutors Handcuffed
- Misdemeanors = No Real Deterrent: Without the threat of jail time, thieves have little reason to stop.
- No DNA Collection for Misdemeanors: Prop 47 barred police from collecting DNA for misdemeanor thefts, making it harder to track repeat offenders.
- Prosecutors Forced to Drop Cases: Many district attorneys don’t bother prosecuting sub-$950 thefts because penalties are so weak.
Crime Data Shows Prop 47’s Impact
While Prop 47 supporters claim it did not increase crime, multiple studies and law enforcement reports suggest otherwise:
1. Rising Theft Rates
- A 2018 study by the University of California, Irvine found a 9% increase in larceny thefts following Prop 47.
- The Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) reported that auto break-ins and shoplifting rose in urban areas post-Prop 47.
- Los Angeles saw a 160% increase in follow-home robberies (2020-2022), many linked to organized theft rings.
2. Repeat Offenders Exploiting the System
- In San Francisco, a single thief was arrested over 100 times but continued stealing because penalties were so light.
- A Sacramento Bee investigation found that some thieves deliberately steal $949 worth of goods to stay under the felony threshold.
3. Businesses Fleeing California
- Major retailers like Walgreens, Target, and Walmart have closed stores in high-theft areas, citing "rampant shoplifting."
- Small businesses, especially Asian-owned liquor stores, have been hit hard, with some owners arming themselves in response.
Kamala Harris’s Role in Prop 47
While Kamala Harris did not write Prop 47, she actively supported it as Attorney General and later as a U.S. Senator. Her stance reflected her broader criminal justice reform agenda, which emphasized:
- Reducing mass incarceration
- Focusing on rehabilitation over punishment
- Addressing racial disparities in sentencing
However, as crime surged, even some progressive leaders—including San Francisco’s Democratic Mayor London Breed—admitted that Prop 47 went too far.
Growing Pushback: Calls to Reform Prop 47
Due to rising crime, there have been multiple efforts to amend or repeal Prop 47:
1. Proposition 20 (2020) – Failed Attempt to Roll Back Reforms
- Would have restored felony charges for serial theft and certain violent crimes.
- Voters rejected it, showing lingering support for criminal justice reform.
2. Recent Legislative Efforts
- AB 1592 (2023) proposed lowering the felony theft threshold back to $400.
- AB 1065 (2022) increased penalties for organized retail theft.
- Governor Newsom deployed CHP task forces to combat smash-and-grabs, but critics say this doesn’t fix the root issue.
3. Public Opinion Shifting
- A 2023 Berkeley IGS Poll found that 62% of Californians now support revising Prop 47.
- Even progressive cities like San Francisco and Oakland have seen a backlash, with voters recalling soft-on-crime DAs like Chesa Boudin.
Conclusion: Prop 47’s Legacy – Reform Gone Wrong?
Proposition 47 was well-intentioned—aimed at reducing incarceration for minor offenses—but its $950 theft rule has had disastrous unintended consequences:
- Explosion of smash-and-grab robberies
- Organized retail theft rings operating with impunity
- Police and prosecutors unable to effectively punish repeat offenders
- Businesses closing or fleeing high-crime areas
While criminal justice reform remains important, California may need to amend Prop 47 to restore felony penalties for serial thieves and organized retail crime. Until then, the state’s crime wave—fueled by a law that made theft a low-risk, high-reward endeavor—shows no signs of slowing down.
Would voters pass Prop 47 today? Given the surge in brazen thefts and urban decay, the answer seems increasingly clear: No.
Key Takeaways
✅ Prop 47 downgraded thefts under $950 to misdemeanors.
✅ Smash-and-grab robberies surged due to weak penalties.
✅ Organized crime rings exploit the $950 loophole.
✅ Even progressive cities now admit Prop 47 went too far.
✅ Growing support for reforming the law to curb retail theft.
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