Gov. Gavin Newsom directed the California Highway Patrol this week to increase its presence near major retailers and malls in an effort to quell the state’s recent rise in organized retail theft.
Newsom called for the CHP to conduct saturation patrols in heavily trafficked shopping centers throughout the holiday season after large-scale thefts in San Francisco, Walnut Creek and San Jose in recent days.
Law enforcement officials believe the string of robberies may be connected as part of a larger retail crime ring.
At least three people allegedly involved in the Saturday night robbery of a Walnut Creek Nordstrom store have already been arrested. According to the Walnut Creek Police Department, as much as $200,000 of merchandise was stolen from the store by as many as 80 masked looters.
“We want real accountability,” Newsom said Monday at a briefing in San Francisco. “We want people prosecuted and we want people to feel safe this holiday season.”
Newsom also said he plans to include a funding increase in his 2022-2023 state budget proposal for combatting retail theft.
The state has already been coordinating with law enforcement officials as well as the mayors of the state’s biggest cities for several months via the CHP’s Organized Retail Crime Task Forces.
Since their original inception, the task forces in the Bay Area and Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego counties have recovered $18.9 million in stolen merchandise and arrested 240 people in connection with retail theft.
“We are going to be more aggressive still in this space to help support cities and the prosecution of folks,” Newsom said. “I have no sympathy, no empathy whatsoever for people smashing and grabbing, stealing people’s items, creating havoc and terror on our streets … they must be held to account.”
59 comments
What a crock! Soon he will try to claim credit for dealing with an issue he PERSONALLY caused. What do you think is going to happen when you release CONVICTED CRIMINALS back on to our streets?
Concur.
Newsolini by executive order released more than 20,000 convicted, non-violent felons over the last two years!!
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“Non-violent” crimes includes robbery and theft.
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It is evident liberal/progressive policies and lax prosecution results in emboldening criminals and encourages lawlessness.
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THANK YOU DEMOCRATS!!!
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@Sign from above and @exit 12A, you both are 100% correct! So very, very true! I’m glad you posted!
It’s amazing though on the last 2 days liberal politicians are trying to talk tough. As you said, they caused these crimes. I think they’re afraid of the public outrage now, and they’re talking through the other ends now.
Like Biden tapping our strategic oil reserves… what a goofus.
I’m curious about your response. Would you prefer he did nothing and the problem persists? Do you think it will not solve the problem? Or are you angry because you believe he has been soft on crime? If you had an opportunity to talk to your elected officials, what would you ask them to do to solve the issue?
mike,
If Newsom wanted to do something about the issue, he would have hired Kyle Rittenhouse.
108RS
@ Mike
The answers to your questions are quite simple Mike, and should be very obvious.
Yes. At this point, everything that can be done should be. However, Newsom’s tough talk should be taken for what it is. It’s a self-centered protective response. As I said in my post, he personally caused this by releasing all the convicted criminal back on to our streets. And what was his justification for doing this? Prison overcrowding? Sure. Release the criminal because of over crowding and then start closing prisons because there are not enough inmates to justify them. Really? Does he really think we don’t see what he did?
Yes he’s soft on crime, as are all of the liberal politicians in this state. They have created an environment where crime truly does pay. What would I tell them? I’d tell them to stop placating to the criminal element. Reinstate penalties for illegal behavior. Once again start prosecuting criminals. And, once they’ve been convicted by a jury of their peers, make them serve out their time. This is not brain surgery here Mike. This is common sense. We “supposedly” live in a land of laws. But laws that are not enforced, or purposely circumvented by the Governor, are worthless.
Jeff, you vigilantes on his over the CHP? That seems like a response designed to create chaos… which presumably is your goal.
@Chuq Only among knee-jerk liberals like you.
Don’t you know that enforcing laws has a “disproportionate impact” on a certain community (let’s say the Amish) hence these laws are racist. The “Amish” then riot the justice system as a way to insulate themselves from enforcement of these racist laws. A certain breed of politician (let’s call them democrats) are reliant on receiving 95 percent of the “Amish” vote or they would have no way to win elections so they cater to them and all their delusions about systemic racism against the “Amish”. Luckily for them this had been a winning strategy but what they are going to find out is that even with 95 percent of the Amish vote there is not enough of them. They have started to alienate some of the 30 percent (much higher in California) of the “useful idiots” white voters who usually back this crap.
Ah yes, increased police presence to get exactly what they want: another police shooting that can be used by media and democrats alike to rile people up to do MORE looting in the cities, which will “require” more government expansion and more programs with a focus on “equity”.
Once looting has gripped the country (again) Democrats will also make sure to put together another fund to bail out said looters like they did in the 2020 riots so they can keep their [criminal] base happy.
Too little, too late! They’ve created the perfect storm for this to happen with lax laws passed, district attorney who coddles criminals and the 2020 encouraged looting after Floyd trial with absolutely no consequences…what did you expect, Governor Newsome?
Newsom’s world is like a revolving door. He’s releasing so-called low level prisoners, and the crimes of grab and run are exactly what the Libs consider low level crimes. This means if they are ever prosecuted, and imprisoned, they will get an early release, and do it all over again.
Kinda reminds me of his 2004 promise to solve the homeless situation in SF. That went well. I expect the same outcome with this.
Soooo should the police and deputies go patrol the highways? This is just robbing Peter to pay Paul (pun intended).
This is a foreseeable consequence of Proposition 47 – “Safe Neighborhoods and Schools Act” and the elimination of cash bond.
All hail our hero.
The Grease Ball comes in and saves the poor people from all those nasty thugs.
He sent in the Highway Patrol doncha know.
Gotta help out all the poor inept local PD.
How would any of us even survive a day without our beloved leader?
Well,
I for one,
would do just fine without the grease ball.
Make CA an open carry state, problem solved.
Great. I’m driving my car from Concord to WC with expired tags to make a sale. Perhaps I shall loot a store on the way to evade detainment.
Whenever the Governor opens his mouth I feel the need to put on fishing waders even though I don’t fish…….’cause it’s gonna get deep real fast….
When he demands thieves “be held to account” he means they will be given a red card with promise to attend sensitivity counseling. Gavin’s limp.
This isn’t a job for the highway patrol. Fire the Soros DAs, and give local police additional staff with permission to defend themselves and apprehend the bad guys. Add enhanced charges for participating in group mayhem.
There are other states that would take a stronger approach: IF 50 thieves show up, shoot ten of them dead and the other 40 may decide its time for a new career. I’m not condoning that approach, just commenting that it would provide a quick and effective solution.
This is what progressives call progress, less of there kids being arrested for crimes they did commit.
That’s nice, but what’s the use if you don’t arrest the thugs?
Newscum you are nothing but a tool.
The CHP should not be pulled into shopping center patrols. This will do absolutely nothing to prevent what is happening.
I’ve been informed that the CHP is down over 1000 positions. We actually pay registration fees for the CHP to work traffic. A now tge Governor is going to make things worse.
When the Governor ordered CHP into Oakland there were no takers for the voluntary overtime list.
Cause and effect at play, you elect morons and you clearly see the results.
This is a pronouncement by Newsom that will not stop these organized “Rush In, Grab n’ Go” criminal acts. The CHP cannot be everywhere in these Malls. Our highways will now have less CHP officers patrolling the roads. I hope that retail stores are rethinking how they set up the doors in and out of their buildings. Will they require a line and everyone needs to show ID, one person at a time allowed to go in? Make a revolving door like in the old department stores to slow down a mob rushing in? A maze? How about putting all the inventory in another locked room. Just have large computer screens with the items for sale that people can choose from? Maybe retail stores will need to increase their online presence and have less actual physical inventory in their brick and mortar stores.
Newsom, just slightly less jackass than the jackasses who voted for him.
Cry more
The CHP should focus on freeway shootings not cruising around malls.
@Sam
Never…you watch too much hollywood shows..
It’s thinking like yours that make people sound like complete idiots..
Tell that to Australia and Austria. I don’t watch any “hollywood shows”. It’s thinking like yours that confirms some people are idiots.
Wonderful, . . . does this mean fewer CHP on the freeways ? ? ? ? ?
Most all of these posts are condemning Herr Newsom for the worthless, entitled, elitist POS that he is. I wonder how he got past the recall? It must be that the Claycord readers are mostly conservative. It’s too bad that we are in the minority. California has turned to … May God help us all.
It may also be that the people who voted for Newsom can’t read or maybe never bother to…. or maybe just can read English.
“can’t” read English… said the man that can’t type.
@Dr Jellyfinger..…Que?
@Nope maybe it’s because you folks are a niche politically with no broad support.
@ Greg
And the liberal approach has done so much to improve the state, right? Enjoy your crime. Just make sure you continue to support that train of thought when you become a victim, or one if your family members is hurt or killed by someone who should have been in prison. Liberals don’t get it until they’re victimized. Then they act like they have no idea how this happens!
Interesting Conspiracy theory Greg.
I’m pretty sure that a “harmless niche” wouldn’t be Heavily surveilled by all of the alphabet agencies. What do they fear???
We All know that if a Militia decided to Organize = it would be Shut Down. But these looting clowns Use All of the social media tools who are censoring all of the “niche” people and it is Okay.
As had already been stated, Government fears Open carry showing up and doing government’s JOB.
Watch Us PROTECT OUR OWN and we’ll see how “woke” you are, I guarantee you won’t be wanting to cancel the Police then.
So, increased presence after high end retailer theft, but what about increased presence when people are just walking into drug stores in the city and walking out with garbage bags full of merchandise?
“We want real accountability”. I’m sorry I’m a fan of Newsom but that is just straight BS. Obviously this is too little too late.
Defend the places that haven’t been hit yet. Run large patrols pulling over anyone without valid license plates or expired registration. Pull over anyone on the freeways with lights out or driving too fast. Do police officers come up with these ideas? No, they are too busy worried about the two drunk drivers the entire night instead of actual preventable crime
I have a better idea, Governor. Get tough on crime, reinstate the three strike law. If you’re not going to use my tax dollars to fix the roads, use it to build more prisons. Funny how liberal politicians are saying criminals need to be held accountable. Ironically it’s the politicians that need to be held accountable for this.
Ironic hearing Breed saying they’d be held accountable for their crimes.
Whenever they say “held accountable”, and they say it a lot, they really mean “enforce laws to the absolute minimum”. It’s called systemic stupidity, and California is leading the nation.
And, when they say “solidarity,” it is terminology right out of the Communist Manifesto.
Not to mention that video on Channel 7 news of the guy on a bike in Walgreens shoving goods into a plastic bag and riding out. That should have been a wake up call.
CHP stands for California Highway Patrol. Right? Are they now going to be security guards for retail stores?
Since the children don’t know how to behave, dad has to step in and put restrictions on the rest of us. Sad, but true.
That’s racist!
Get your guns and shoot to kill this will solve the problem.
And what, exactly, will the CHP actually do? Provide traffic control so the looters can enter and exit the city safely? The entire Burn-Loot-Movement has been allowed to rampage pretty much risk-free for too long. Getting THAT genie back into the bottle is going to be difficult and painful.
Although I dislike writing this, it will take an incident like Kyle Rittenhouse to put the brakes on the grab and run.
108RS
This regime is so polluted, I don’t know what to think. Too much too little to late. However, if Newsome fails to put a lid on it and turn WC into another Portland … His career (lifestyle?) is OVER. Put that in your book, wokester Trolls!
If the recent loots are organized, let get all the foot soldiers. Flip them to get the head honchos . Charge the honchos under RICO.
To little to late. Newsolini and his democratic liberals, socialists and green team along with Aunt Nancy, Uncle Chuck, Joe Bin Lyin, Cousins AOC and Bernie caused this along with inflation and destroying this country.
Joe Bin Lyin had the audacity to say yesterday by his turning off the pipelines hen did not cause the gas prices sky rocketing. Holy
hell the who did? Now he will drain the gas reserves.
All of you who voted to keep these people deserve this. Those of us who did not vote for them must try get America back on track. No I am not a Trump supporter but love America and will do anything to protect her,
Gavin Newsom = Klaus Schwab’s great reset world economic forum stooge and disciple.
I’m sure none of the “woke” knew anything about this.
Now you know why California will NEVER get better with these NWO tools as leaders.
No matter how many officers are put into Walnut Creek or any other area, a DA who will not prosecute means that nothing will happen. And since so many crimes have been reduced from a felony to misdemeanor, then the DA has no reason to pursue charges.
Nothing will happen. Nothing will be resolved. Newsroom is doing this only for show.
Three signs you’re living in a third world
police state.
1) criminal gangs terrorize the streets
2) one political party rule
3) shortages of basic necessities like electricity and water
You are not going to convince me that video last year showing Walnut Creek cops doing “absolutely nothing” while BLM looted Broadway Plaza didn’t contribute to this.
@ Thunder
And why did the police stand around and do nothing? Because that’s what they were told to do by their train wreck if a city council, who were following the agenda supported by the majority of Walnut Creek residents. Again, you get what you vote for. Enjoy your new found crime rate Walnut Creek. You can’t stop the flood now! It’s too late for you!
Sam your heart is in the right place. There’s no political solution to this. They the Dems/insidious elite foreign financiers imported millions of third world people to offset the conservative populations political power for 60 years. They changed our immigration policy in 1965. We use to have standards for who could come here. The mental rot of liberals and Dems is the result of an interweaving web of mainstream popular propaganda from tv, music to school etc so delicately designed to subvert that it takes years to realize the grift is upon us. What’s actually going on in America is a slow genocide of the republic and its people.
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