Gov. Newsom Confronts Accusations of Responsibility for Shoplifting Epidemic

In a recent incident at a Target store, an employee blamed the governor for the state's shoplifting problem, prompting Newsom to defend his policies and highlight new measures to combat retail theft.

California Governor Gavin Newsom recently recounted an incident where a Target employee blamed him for the state's shoplifting epidemic, not realizing she was speaking to the governor himself.
The incident occurred as Newsom witnessed a man leaving the store without paying for merchandise, and the employee explained they don't stop shoplifters 'because of the governor.'
Newsom defended his policies, stating that California has the tenth-toughest threshold in America for property theft, with stealing goods valued below $950 categorized as a misdemeanor.
The governor's recounting of the incident comes amidst ongoing criticism of Proposition 47, a law passed in 2014 that reduced some non-violent crimes from felonies to misdemeanors, which some believe has contributed to an increase in shoplifting.
Despite the criticism, Newsom has stopped short of asking voters to reconsider Proposition 47, but has recently announced new law enforcement measures to combat retail theft.

The San Francisco Standard