San Francisco police said a 51-year-old San Francisco man, Neil Peck, also known as Kevin Peck, faces multiple felony charges in connection with a spate of retail thefts. Peck, whose alleged crimes span from October last year to May this year, has been charged under a new theft law backed by Proposition 36, according to Hoodline. The legislation, enacted on December 18, 2024, reclassifies certain petty theft offenses as potential felonies for individuals with previous convictions.
Peck, accused of stealing nearly $8,000 worth of items ranging from toothpaste to women's pants at a Target store on Mission Street, pleaded not guilty to the charges at his arraignment yesterday, as reported by the District Attorney's Office, after being arrested by an astute patrol officer who first suspected Peck's incessant involvement in retail thefts, with the help of San Francisco Police Department's DART ORC Task Force they began investigating into his past bringing to light 16 additional incidents.
The charges against Peck include 16 counts of petty theft with prior convictions, one count of second-degree commercial burglary, one count of grand theft, and one of shoplifting. Despite his current detention and the authorities' ongoing active investigation, the San Francisco Police Department maintains that the cases remain open and urges the public to provide any relevant information.
In a statement released to the media, the police department emphasized the need for community assistance, asking anyone with information to call the San Francisco Police Department Tip Line or text a tip to TIP411 with the message starting with SFPD. Prosecutors, acknowledging the potential flight risk posed by Peck, successfully petitioned the court to have him detained pending trial.
