California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed a new set of laws to crack down on retail crime and property theft.

The laws offer new tools to bolster ongoing efforts to hold criminals accountable for retail crime and property theft, as well as smash-and-grab robberies and auto burglaries.

According to the governor’s office, the legislative package creates stricter penalties including enhanced felony charges and extended prison sentences. It allows prosecutors to combine the value of multiple stolen items – even across different victims and counties – to meet the threshold for felony grand theft.

Police are permitted to arrest retail theft suspects even if they did not witness a crime in progress. Probation for shoplifting or petty theft has increased from one year to two.

In addition, courts can issue retail theft restraining orders that would ban anyone “convicted of organized retail theft, shoplifting, theft, vandalism, or assault of a retail employee” from entering the establishment for up to two years.

The laws also maintain important organized retail crime statutes and task forces used by law enforcement – which would have expired in early 2026.

Local business representatives, elected leaders, and law enforcement officials have expressed strong support for the new rules. 

Rachel Michelin, president and CEO of the California Retailers Association, said the laws mark a huge step in the right direction. The new legislation provides “real, tangible solutions” to serial theft and organized retail crime and prioritises the safety of consumers, employees, jobs and economy, Michelin added.