The criticism people have is that California is not tough on crime. The fact is that California, and many other states, have gotten less tough only on non-violent crime.

And California's shoplifting law that makes it a misdemeanor applies only to non-violent shoplifting under $950.

Originally Posted by MDawg View Post
So these people are risking at minimum a felony organized retail theft charge, and grand theft, because it's not just simple shoplifting to pull something like this, and in some cases such as this (because of the use of bear spray), a full on robbery charge
The guys stealing little things here and there, still go to jail but for a few months at a time maximum. The organized retail theft smash and grabbers do go to prison.

Locking someone up for life for stealing a loaf of bread is so Jean Valjean.