In a move highlighting San Francisco's ongoing battle against retail theft, the San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) arrested habitual shoplifter Marcel Criner under new theft laws. Criner was initially taken into custody on December 4, 2024, for a petty theft on Castro Street, but his history of similar crimes has led to more serious charges.
According to the San Francisco Police Department, Criner's repeated offenses and previous convictions have brought the full weight of Prop 36's CA Penal Code 666.1 upon him. This updated statute classifies repeated petty thefts as a "wobbler," giving prosecutors the discretion to charge them as a misdemeanor or a felony. With Criner's criminal record, which includes numerous prior theft convictions, they opted for the latter.
Following his stay-away order from the retail store in December and his subsequent release from jail, investigators discovered Criner's involvement in additional thefts. These crimes, totaling nearly $3,000 in losses for the victimized store, were committed after the initial incidents and while Criner was barred from the retailer's premises.
The culmination of these investigations led to Criner's arrest last Tuesday by the SFPD DART ORC Task Force. "Our officers will continue to use every tool available to them, including new statutes from Prop 36 passed by voters, to hold suspects accountable," said Chief Bill Scott in the press release. "I’d like to thank the investigators who worked tirelessly on these cases and continue to curb organized retail theft in our city," he added, signaling a robust response to the ongoing retail theft crisis in San Francisco, as per the San Francisco Police Department.
Criner faces a litany of charges, including five counts each of Petty Theft with Prior, Committing a Felony While on OR, and Violation of a Court Order, as well as three counts of Petty Theft and two counts of Organized Retail Theft. These charges reflect SFPD's effort to combat not only individual instances of shoplifting but also the broader issue of organized retail crime.
While an arrest has been made, the SFPD maintains that the investigation is open and active. They urge anyone with information to come forward and contact them at 1-415-575-4444 or send tips via text to TIP411, beginning messages with "SFPD."
