California has become a lawless state thanks to the Democrats who are supposed to be running it. Now, a new video shows a brazen thief walking into a liquor store in Hollywood and just taking what he wants without a fear in the world. The video was shared on Twitter by “Street People of Los Angeles” and shows a homeless man in a Santa hat loading his bag with Bacardi rum before cheerfully leaving.
“Transient in Santa hat helping himself to free bottles of liquor courtesy of George Gascón at the Target on Hollywood Blvd in Hollywood,” the account tweeted. “What about the mask mandate and no smoking indoors? That must just be meant for the rest of us that follow the rules.”
The man in the Santa hat gathers what appears to be bottles of Bacardi rum.
Liberal lawmakers have caused this level of newly emboldened criminals. Thanks to the new laws, criminals who steal less than $1000 of merchandise only face a situation and maybe a fine. Even criminals who go over the set amount or commit more heinous crimes aren’t scared thanks to California’s zero-bail initiative. Crooks can commit crimes and be back home in time for dinner even if they get arrested.
Things have gotten so bad that Hovver Institute says ‘we probably shouldn’t call it shoplifting anymore’:
“We probably shouldn’t call it shoplifting anymore, since that term connotes the idea of a person trying to conceal their crime. In San Francisco, there is no attempt to conceal theft, and there is almost never any effort by store employees, including security personnel, to confront the thieves. The most they do is record the thefts with their cell phones.
Why is shoplifting so rampant? Because state law holds that stealing merchandise worth $950 or less is just a misdemeanor, which means that law enforcement probably won’t bother to investigate, and if they do, prosecutors will let it go.
Why won’t store employees do anything about this theft? Because they don’t want to take the risk. I doubt many would, knowing that a Rite Aid employee was murdered recently after trying to stop two thieves. Moreover, a confrontation within the store risks harming not only store staff but also customers, so employees are almost certainly instructed by their managers to do nothing.
Because of this law, California is extending an open invitation to anyone to walk in and take. Just like that—since they know that police or prosecutors won’t bother with a misdemeanor complaint and that store personnel won’t stop them.”
Watch
Transient in Santa hat helping himself to free bottles of liquor courtesy of George Gascon at the Target on Hollywood Blvd in Hollywood. What about the mask mandate and no smoking indoors? That must just be meant for the rest of us that follow the rules. pic.twitter.com/7WFOXRif4D
— STREET PEOPLE OF LOS ANGELES (@streetpeopleLA) December 14, 2021
“We cannot function as a society where we have told people over and over again that there is no consequence for stealing other people’s property,” said Vern Pierson, immediate past president of the California District Attorneys Association and El Dorado County’s district attorney.
Erica Carlin is an independent journalist, opinion writer and contributor to several news and opinion sources. She is based in Georgia.
