Californians Against Retail And Residential Theft Launch Effort To Educate Lawmakers And The Public About Growing Wave of Theft

SACRAMENTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Californians Against Retail and Residential Theft (CARRT) launched its campaign to raise lawmakers' and the public's knowledge of the growing theft problem in the state.

"Many of our small businesses serve as the backbone for the local communities," said Pat Fong Kushida, President and CEO of the California Asian Pacific Chamber of Commerce. "We firmly believe that California needs safe stores and neighborhoods for the state to thrive."

CARRT is a new broad-based coalition of business associations, local groups, and victim organizations advocating for California officials to act now to undo the damage done by Proposition 47.

"A National Retailers Association survey of businesses found a nearly 60% increase in losses over the past five years," said Julian Canete, President and CEO of the California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce. "Retail theft losses may be the straw that breaks the camel's back. Something needs to be done before mom and pop stores are stolen from our communities."

CARRT focuses on property crimes that often get overlooked, including porch pirates, petty theft, burglary, smash and grabs, catalytic converter thefts, purse snatchers, pickpockets, etc.

"While auto shops aren't generally directly affected by retail or residential theft, we see and deal with the results every day by taking care of our customers' damaged vehicles," said David Kusa of the Automotive Service Councils of California. "Unfortunately, business is booming because catalytic converter theft and 'smash and grabs' with car windows broken are filling auto repair shops."

The nonpartisan Public Policy Institute of California released a report that found a direct correlation between Proposition 47 and a marked increase in larceny thefts across California.

In the first four months of 2022, several law enforcement agencies noticed a marked increase in property crimes. The Los Angeles Police Department reported property crimes were up more than 11% compared to the same time period from the year before, with burglaries up 8%. San Francisco Police Department reported larceny-theft is up more than 25% as compared to the same time period last year.

"It's time to put an end to retail and residential theft on Main Street and in our neighborhoods," said Matt Ross, spokesperson for CARRT. "That starts with a series of discussions in the Capitol and our neighborhoods to identify realistic solutions to the growing theft problem."

CARRT's coalition members include local Chambers of Commerce, California Asian Pacific Chamber of Commerce, California Autobody Association, California Business Properties Association, California Business Roundtable, California Chamber of Commerce, California Delivery Association, California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce, California Small Business Association and National Federation of Independent Businesses. To get a complete list of coalition members, please go to CARRT's new website at www.carrt.org.