A revealing video released by the Seal Beach Police Department captures shoplifting suspects discussing California's new theft laws while detained in a patrol car, highlighting the impact of recently enacted Proposition 36.
The footage, which has gained viral attention since its Sunday release, documents three suspects who allegedly stole over $1,600 worth of merchandise from multiple stores on December 4. The suspects targeted an Ulta Beauty store, taking approximately $650 in goods, followed by a Kohl's store where they allegedly stole items valued at $1,180.
Body camera footage shows police pursuing and apprehending the suspects in a parking lot. The arrested individuals were identified as Destiny Bender and Deanna Hines, both 24-year-old Long Beach residents, and Michelle Pitts, 26, from Signal Hill. They face charges of grand theft, conspiracy to commit a crime, and resisting arrest.
In a candid moment captured on video, two handcuffed suspects can be heard discussing the legal consequences in the back of the patrol car. One asks about felony charges, to which the other responds, "Stealing is a felony. And this is Orange County... they don't play."
The video, creatively set to Nancy Sinatra's "These Boots Are Made For Walkin'" - a nod to one suspect's furry footwear - is part of Seal Beach PD's "Don't Steal in Seal" campaign. This initiative aims to showcase arrests and educate the public about criminal consequences in their jurisdiction.
Proposition 36, approved by voters in November 2024, strengthens penalties for organized theft and expands law enforcement's ability to pursue repeat offenders. The law allows for felony charges on petty theft with prior convictions and permits combining values from multiple thefts to reach the $950 felony threshold. It also includes enhanced penalties for coordinated theft involving multiple perpetrators.