In a concerted effort to curb rising retail crime this festive season, Modesto Police detectives conducted a targeted sting operation on Wednesday, leading to the arrest of multiple repeat theft offenders. Under the newly enacted California Penal Code 666.1, which toughens penalties for habitual petty thieves by upgrading their charges to felonies, eight individuals were arrested, five of whom now face felony charges as repeat offenders.
The noteworthy arrests include Susana Uriostegui, Jolena Hernandez, Leah Voelkel, Kenneth Galvan, and Lance Mitchell, whose combined theft surpassed the $3,000 mark, according to a social media post by the Modesto Police Department. The advent of Proposition 36 has evidently set a new precedent, aiming to bid adieu to the vicious cycle of repeat offenses that has plagued retailers.
Spearheaded by Sergeant Mike Hicks, a Property Crimes Unit supervisor, the operation was part of a broader initiative to protect local businesses during a time reputed for increased shoplifting incidents. "It is clear that with the overwhelming passage of Proposition 36, California voters are tired of being victimized and want repeat offenders held accountable. This law takes our mantra of ‘Not in Modesto’ statewide, making it ‘Not in California.’" Hicks reflected on the impact of the new law and the community's stance against recurrent theft, as reported by the police department.
As the busy holiday shopping season approaches, the Modesto Police Department continues its retail theft crackdown. Additional operations will run through the end of the year, funded by a grant from the California Board of State and Community Corrections.
