Sacramento’s City Attorney’s office has warned Target stores that frequent police calls for theft could lead to public nuisance charges. In 2023, Target made 375 calls about theft, a significant increase from 175 in 2022 and 87 in 2021. Assemblyman Rick Chavez Zbur and Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas amended a crime bill to protect businesses reporting retail crime unless the reports are knowingly false. The bill is expected to pass soon as part of a bipartisan crime package.

Sheriff Jim Cooper noted that while Target stores requested assistance for shoplifters, corporate restrictions prevented in-store actions to avoid negative press. This issue gained attention after a San Francisco Target’s crime reports doubled, suggesting underreporting of theft statewide.

Target, Walmart and Home Depot support Proposition 36, a measure to reform the prosecution of theft and drug dealing while offering treatment options. Endorsed by law enforcement and some Democrats, the measure faces opposition from Governor Gavin Newsom, who argues it could reverse progress in drug policy reform.

Sacramento County Sheriff Jim Cooper explained that Target stores had requested help for shoplifters, mostly known transients. However, corporate policies restricted in-store actions to avoid creating scenes that could lead to negative press. Cooper mentioned that deputies had to conduct their work “behind the store” and “in the rain.”

This controversy mirrors an incident in San Francisco, where a Target store’s reports led to a doubling of the county’s shoplifting incidents. This suggests that underreporting might be obscuring the true extent of theft in California.

Major retailers, including Target, Walmart and Home Depot, support Proposition 36, a November ballot measure aimed at reforming the prosecution of serial theft and drug dealing. The proposition also introduces a “treatment-mandated felony” crime class, offering treatment and shelter for offenders instead of prison time. The measure has garnered support from the California District Attorneys Association, the California State Sheriffs’ Association, the Republican Party of California and notable Democrats like San Francisco Mayor London Breed, San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan and San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria.

However, Governor Gavin Newsom opposes the measure, expressing concerns about its potential impact on drug policy reform. Despite Newsom’s opposition, the measure has gained significant support and is expected to be a major point of debate in the upcoming election.