The City of Westminster is once again beset by thieving individuals. The Westminster Police Department posted pictures online of the two latest theft suspects they are trying to identify.
Both of the suspects are men. One of them appears white. He has long wavy brown hair and a beard. In the posted picture he is wearing blue jeans and a blue shirt with horizontal white stripes. He has a blank expression on his face and is pictured with a retail hand basket.
The other suspect appears to be Asian. He is wearing eyeglasses in the posted picture and has a thin moustache and a soul patch. He appears pensive as if perhaps he is pondering if a life of crime is really worth it.
In Westminster, California, which follows California state law, the penalties for repeated retail theft have become significantly stricter due to new legislation that took effect in 2025. Here’s a breakdown of the key laws and penalties now in place:
1. Repeat Theft Offenses – Penal Code § 666.1
Under California Penal Code § 666.1, if a person has two or more prior convictions for theft-related offenses (including petty theft, grand theft, shoplifting, burglary, robbery, etc.), a new petty theft or shoplifting offense can be charged as either a misdemeanor or a felony, regardless of the value of the stolen property.
- Misdemeanor: Up to 1 year in county jail.
- Felony: 16 months, 2 years, or 3 years in state prison.
- Courts may allow diversion programs instead of incarceration, especially for younger or first-time felony offenders.
2. New 2025 Laws Enhancing Penalties
California passed a comprehensive package of laws in 2025 to combat retail theft and organized crime:
- Aggregation of Theft: Prosecutors can now combine the value of stolen goods across multiple incidents or victims to meet the felony threshold of $950.
- Possession of Stolen Goods: Possessing over $950 in stolen merchandise with intent to sell or return is now a new crime, punishable by up to 3 years in jail.
- Retail Theft Restraining Orders: Courts can bar convicted individuals from entering specific retail locations for up to 2 years.
- Probation Periods: Probation for shoplifting and petty theft has been extended from 1 year to 2 years.
- Smash-and-Grab Enhancements: Higher penalties apply if theft involves property damage or arson.
- Organized Retail Theft: The law eliminates the expiration of organized retail theft statutes, allowing continued aggressive prosecution.
3. Local Enforcement in Westminster
Westminster Police are actively enforcing these laws, especially in response to organized retail theft rings. The city is part of regional task forces that coordinate with state prosecutors to pursue felony charges when applicable.