. By Associated Press. 2. These arent episodic crimes. "That looks great," one man comments in the video as the men walk by. Theyhave cost U.S. retail stores and companies as much as $30 billion a year, according to the FBI. Jerretta Sandoz told CBS LA of the incident. WebPolice in the Kabete constituency in Kiambu county have arrested 6 people suspected to have been stealing vehicles and vandalising their parts. In Palo Alto, police said two women were arrested after 30 to 40 people tried to break the glass door to a downtown boutique Sunday night. No, the CA Theft Law only establishes that a misdemeanor theft is one of a value of $950 or less. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Hoover Education Success Initiative | The Papers. The suspect then turned and fired at a U-Haul van whose driver returned fire, killing Moser, the sheriff's office said in news release posted on its Facebook page Tuesday. Crime is rising almost everywhere in California, including violent crime. Ive been in the Bay area 20 years, Ive never seen this," a local security guard, J.C. Hernandez, told Fox News. There have been several thefts inmajor cities across California, including theSan Francisco Bay area. jails on $200K bail. WebLONG BEACH, Calif. (AP) With violent smash-and-grab shoplifting costing California businesses millions of dollars annually, Gov. WebEntering an open business with the intent to steal less than $950 worth of property is shoplifting under California state law (Penal Code 495.5). Walgreens announced last month that it would close five stores in San Francisco because of organized retail theft. Police in affected areas have increased patrols as stores have ramped up security. The opinions expressed on this website are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Hoover Institution or Stanford University. They ultimately blitzkrieg a particular location. (Wall Street Journal, subscription required). The scene was captured on video by another person in the store and circulated widely on news media. Jacob Ward, a technology correspondent for NBC News, is a 2018-19 Berggruen Fellow at Stanford Universitys Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences, where he is writing a book about how artificial intelligence will shape human behavior. But its been receiving a lot of opposition in the press, largely funded by Californias labor unions and liberal billionaires like Tom Steyer, Mark Zuckerberg, and the wife of Netflix CEO Reed Hastings. WebIn Southern California, about 300 residents in the Antelope Valley saw their water system crash last year after thieves used water trucks to tap fire hydrants and water mains illegally. He was considered "What is not getting the attention is the fact when you do come to San Francisco and commit a crime, you will be arrested by this department. NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. (KABC) -- A Newport Beach attorney stands accused of living the high life in a Las Vegas casino for six months, spending and gambling away more than $10 million of other people's money. In October, the California Attorney General's Office announced breaking up a major theft ring in the Bay Area in which $8 million worth of merchandise was allegedly swiped from Target, CVS and Walgreens, and then sold in other countries with the earnings laundered back to the United States. In a few easy steps create an account and receive the most recent analysis from Hoover fellows tailored to your specific policy interests. The measure is widely expected to fail. His rural county in the northernmost part of the state is one of the hardest hit by thieves, where many residents rely on well water. All Rights Reserved. San Francisco shoplifting: 4 women bolt out of CVS with stuffed bags in citys latest retail theft. What were witnessing is the further shredding of the fabric of society. But they aren't the only ones to fall victim to her con. But city leaders are pushing back at that image after the release Monday of a midyear public safety report. WebCalifornia law defines petty theft as the theft of any property with a value of $950 or less. "San Franciscans will have to determine what they can put up with," he added. Forgery in most cases is a California wobbler. Gavin Newsom signed a law Wednesday As they said, if you tell people they wont get arrested for stealing, its like a free pass to go shopping Because they dont want to take the risk. This does not happen in all cases, but it is possible to even with the new law. Moreover, a confrontation within the store risks harming not only store staff but also customers, so employees are almost certainly instructed by their managers to do nothing. "I do think no one is going to have much empathy for Neiman Marcus, but that's besides the point," Rodriguez said. Adam Carolla, a comedian who hosts a podcast, posted the video to Facebook along with a false comment about Proposition 47. Last weekend, there were similar incidents in Walnut Creek, Hayward, Oakland and San Jose.". Over 500 students found themselves trapped at a sleepaway science camp due to the winter blizzard that descended on Southern California. In San Francisco, there is no attempt to conceal theft, and there is almost never any effort by store employees, including security personnel, to confront the thieves. Fischer was wounded in the dognapping and five people in total have been charged in connection with the theft. Do that good work. If the good work had been done, there would be no recall. Most stores only have one or two security personnel on duty at most so they cant stop them all. No, theft is not decriminalized under the new law. If you do, we'll connect you to a qualified lawyer today. "There are stores around there, too. Those diversions threaten native fish and wildlife that depend on the water to survive during hot summer months. In Fresno, a $500 fine is possible the first time somebody is caught stealing water from a fire hydrant, city spokesman Mark Standriff said. Donning ski masks, the mob ran off with thousands of dollars of merchandise. Located on the campus of Stanford University and in Washington, DC, the Hoover Institution is the nations preeminent research center dedicated to generating policy ideas that promote economic prosperity, national security, and democratic governance. New York City famously re-established order in the 1990s based on broken windows policing, or a focus on offenses that degraded the quality of life; San Francisco and similar locales are engaged in broken windows neglect the broken windows being at high-end stores struck by emboldened robbers. A shoplifting incident involving 80 people accused of grabbing items and rushing out of a Nordstrom store in California in under a minute Saturday night is among ", Retail thefts have gotten the bulk of the attention on social media because of the string of videos. Discovery Company. Even in cases where they do manage to catch somebody stealing, its too often not worth the trouble of taking them down to the station because theyll just be released immediately without bail anyway. It has shuttered 17 already and last month announced five more closures, including the one hit by the man on the bike (who was finally arrested after robbing the store one too many times). Incredible before-and-after imagery shows impact of California wildfires and drought. All rights reserved. WebIn 2014, California adopted Proposition 47, which made thefts of $950 or less a misdemeanor. 'LAWLESSNESS': SAN FRANCISCO'S SHOPLIFTING PROBLEM INCREASINGLY FRUSTRATES BUSINESS OWNERS, EMPLOYEES. The issue has become so severe that some communities have been forced to place locks on fire hydrants or remove them altogether. Learn more about joining the community of supporters and scholars working together to advance Hoovers mission and values. or redistributed. To reclassify a conviction, the reclassification must occur with the original judge who presided over the initial conviction. Water pressure in the area north of Los Angeles dropped so low at one point, it caused the system to fail, said Anish Saraiya, public works deputy for Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger. If someone did not have the intent to steal when entering the business, the crime is not shoplifting under the California legal system. The thefts are also not specific to California. "They didnt even run out, they walked out," Los 10, 2021 4:55 AM PT. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Experts say yes. Danielle Echeverria/San Francisco Chronicle via AP, File. https://www.foxnews.com/us/san-francisco-shoplifting-retail-cvs-pharmacy-video But the biggest victim may have been a major lending firm. Police data shows overall thefts are down 9 percent in the first six months of the year compared to the same period in 2020, when the city was on lockdown and many businesses closed during the onset of the pandemic. Fivepeoplerushed into a Nordstrom store in Southern California the night before Thanksgiving and fled with several purses, the latest incident in a string of grab-and-go thefts and organized robberies plaguing luxury stores. Because of this law, California is extending an open invitation to anyone to walk in and take. Ambrosio Rodriguez, a criminal defense attorney and former deputy district attorney in Los Angeles, said cities like San Francisco battling rising crime rates amid calls against over-policing will have to determine how much the public is willing to tolerate in terms of smaller, "victimless" crimes before overall quality of life is an issue. The latest video of retail crime at a San Francisco drug store coincides with an appearance of a Republican candidate for governor in the city for a press event where he knocked Gov. The erstwhile Golden City is beset by an ongoing tide of theft that is closing down retail locations and again demonstrating the citys unwillingness to govern itself. A Warner Bros. "Think about these employees in these stores who are a witness to these crimes. I doubt many would, knowing that a Rite Aid employee was murdered recently after trying to stop two thieves. Coordinated smash and grab burglaries leave shoppers, employees on edge, About 80 looters descended on the Nordstrom, The incident is among a cluster of quick-hit robberies that have been plaguing, Dozens of looters target California Nordstrom in violent robbery, Walgreens announced last month that it would close five stores, cellphone video sprinting out of a Neiman Marcus, City officials released a midyear public safety report, Video shows 14 suspects raid Chicago Louis Vuitton store, More than a dozen people in a Chicago suburb. Its just that the Bay Area has chosen to forget. The shoplifting was clearly a planned event, police said. California Wobbler Crimes: Misdemeanor or Felony? WebThe state attorney general announced earlier this month that five defendants had pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit organized retail theft after officials seized roughly $8m in This trend has only accelerated during the ongoing riots, as cops are instructed to disperse looters rather than trying to arrest them. The most they do is record the thefts with their cell phones. A California woman has been arrested and charged with grand theft after allegedly stealing more than $320,000 in merchandise from local retail stores. California could be so much better than it is with sensible policy changes that reduce business costs, reduce housing costs, provide reliable water during drought years, prevent wildfires, and. LA's top prosecutor is threatening a fight with auto companies to force change. Series of high-end store robberies: 'Mob of people' storms, robs California Nordstrom, 'Sad day for San Francisco': Walgreens closing 5 more San Francisco stores due to organized shoplifting. Your gift helps advance ideas that promote a free society. WebIn October, the California Attorney General's Office announced breaking up a major theft ring in the Bay Area in which $8 million worth of merchandise was allegedly swiped from The video was recently filmed at a TJ Maxx in Granada Hills and shows two men leaving the store with their arms packed with clothing and other items, with one of the men carrying a large duffle bag that appears to be full of items. With Black Friday and the start of Christmas shopping season, retailers say they're worried more robberies may be on the horizon. More than 35,000 Californians who say their employers cheated them out of pay could wait a long time for justice. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Lynda Buel, president of Ohio-based security consulting firm SRMC, told CNN the decriminalization of low-level offenses in some states mean fewer consequences for people accused of participating in grab-and-go thefts. Retailers and experts from the National Retail Federation saythefts have gotten more violent amid the pandemic and have moved from cities to the suburbs. After publication of this story, a spokesperson for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife said the department could not verify figures Nores provided on arrests and the amount of water stolen, but added that the department had made 95 arrests last year for illegal marijuana grow operations, many of which had diverted water for their plants. On Monday, Scott said officers in San Francisco were being deployed in more crime-plagued neighborhoods. Most walk in, go about their pilfering, and then walk out, though at least one thief rode their bike into the store and departed the same way, carefully navigating their two-wheeler down a narrow aisle. But if you enter a bank or a store intending to commit forgeryfor example, by cashing or creating a forged checkyou can also face charges for PC 459. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. I feel sorry for the clerks, they are regularly being verbally assaulted, he said. 6 people accused of stealing $1.1 million in construction equipment by: Samantha Jarpe. As the extreme drought emergency continues in California, thieves are making off with billions of gallons of water. WebFive people rushed into a Nordstrom store in Southern California the night before Thanksgiving and fled with several purses, the latest incident in a string of grab-and-go Thanks to Prop 47 thefts under $950 will not be prosecuted, Carolla commented on the post. Shoplifting is usually treated This video gives a whole new meaning to the term curbside pickup, which is the door that the thieves departed from before they jumped into getaway vehicles. This story has been shared 100,855 times. This would be reclassifying the conviction. McCray Jennifer McBride was involved in the theft of Lady Gagas French bulldogs in February 2021, and says Gaga needs to pay up on the reward money she offered. Why? "If theyre caught, theyre probably given the equivalent of a traffic ticket," she told CBS LA. The Gives a whole new take on defunding police, doesnt it? In 2020 alone, nearly 650,000 people left California for other states about 210,000 more than moved to California from elsewhere in the U.S. "These brazen acts will not be tolerated in San Francisco, said District Attorney Chesa Boudin in a Tuesday statement. Sandoz, who serves as vice president of the Los Angeles Police Protective League, said she blames the incident on Prop 47, a 2014 referendum that lowered criminal sentences on crimes such as shoplifting. The following individuals will not qualify for sentencing under California Law: The resentencing will not happen for those who the judge determines as a risk to public safety. So is it any wonder that stores like Walgreens are packing up and fleeing the state? 12:18 AM EDT, Fri August 13, 2021. Sadly, this may have little effect on shoplifting, given that most of these thefts are by individuals, rather than groups, and it will still be up to police and prosecutors to charge these as felonies. "Nobody cares about big broad statistics," she said. The city has been gripped by a perception of lawlessness after a string of videos featured people openly shoplifting, seemingly without repercussion. No, it is, in effect, privileging one business model over another. Officials say they are doing all they can to combat the issue by removing fire hydrants, securing key water sources and implementing greater enforcement to stop would-be thieves from making off with water. The city's district attorney, Chesa Boudin, who took office in January 2020 on a progressive platform that pledged to tackle incarceration rates and endorse diversion programs, has been at the center of a recall effort after complaints of rising crime in the city. Business owners and security officials in San Francisco, for example, are decrying the "lawlessness" in the city over shoplifting. Officials didnt specify the estimated value of the items that were stolen. WebOn Nov. 17, three people stole merchandise from a jewelry store at a mall in Fairfield, Calif., about 27 miles north of Concord, the police there said. WebThe suspect then turned and fired at a U-Haul van whose driver returned fire, killing Moser, the sheriff's office said in news release posted on its Facebook page Tuesday. He is the former head of the team. In an aerial view, low water levels are visible at Lake Oroville on July 22, 2021. With its eminent scholars and world-renowned library and archives, the Hoover Institution seeks to improve the human condition by advancing ideas that promote economic opportunity and prosperity, while securing and safeguarding peace for America and all mankind. A Newport Beach attorney stands accused of living the high life in a Las Vegas casino for six months, spending and gambling away more than $10 million of other people's money. They dont want anyone getting injured or getting sued, so the guys just keep coming in and taking whatever they want.. Because state law holds that stealing merchandise worth $950 or less is just a misdemeanor, which means that law enforcement probably wont bother to investigate, and if they do, prosecutors will let it go. WebCops and prosecutors are at odds over Proposition 47, a 2014 referendum that lowered the penalty for stealing goods worth less than $950 from a felony to a misdemeanor. The New York City crew which typically consists of four thieves riding two mopeds have stolen a total of 21 pairs of the Apple headphones since the robberies began. What sets Hoover apart from all other policy organizations is its status as a center of scholarly excellence, its locus as a forum of scholarly discussion of public policy, and its ability to bring the conclusions of this scholarship to a public audience. Additional research, however, will be needed, Kubrin said, to see the effect something like Proposition 47 is having on San Francisco and other local communities. What she has done is evil and there is no way she can get out of this. California's Prop 47 leads to rise in shoplifting, theft In 2014, Prop 47 was passed to reduce certain non-violent felonies to misdemeanors in order to free up resources for cops and prosecutors to go after serious, violent offenders. Insurance companies have limits as to how many times theyll cover a claim if youre unwilling or unable to secure your inventory. And that makes a difference because they have to be willing to do that.". The clerks say there is nothing they can do. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. "So its not taken seriously.". WebBy Antonio Planas. As an extreme drought grips California, making water increasingly scarce, thieves are making off with billions of gallons of the precious resource, tapping into fire hydrants, rivers, and even small family homes and farms. Robbery "She stole from normal people like me. All of us knew it was coming, longtime customer Sebastian Luke told the San Francisco Chronicle. "The threshold for a misdemeanor offense is $950 meaning that a person can steal up to that amount and only be charged with a misdemeanor," Buel said. Under the new theft law, those serving prison time for a felony theft charge that would now be classified as a misdemeanor will receive the opportunity for resentencing. (Nov. 25), more than 80 people stormed another Nordstrom, Retailers and experts from the National Retail Federation say, 'Mob of people' storms, robs California Nordstrom, Walgreens closing 5 more San Francisco stores due to organized shoplifting. Under the CA Theft Law, the misdemeanor shoplifting charge is only applicable for goods valued under $950. Businesses need to invest in displays that are shatterproof. Only King pocketing and then spending the money. Fischer was wounded in the dognapping and five people in total have been charged in connection with the theft. Chevrolet Pickup (Full-size) - Number of Thefts: 31,566 5. Related: California Wobbler Crimes: Misdemeanor or Felony? WebWhen most people think of burgling, they think of breaking into a building intending to steal something. The landscape of shoplifting and petty theft jurisprudence in California has shifted dramatically in recent years, largely due to Proposition 47, which voters approved in 2014. Honda Civic - Number of Thefts: 38,426 2. Did you encounter any technical issues? All rights reserved. . Stores often put the likes of toothpaste and shampoo behind security locks, as if they are high-end goods or the outlets are operating in Caracas, Venezuela. On the other, there are the organized crime rings that oversee the theft of vast amounts of merchandise that is turned around and sold online. McBride says Gaga promised a $500,000 reward no questions "But the problem is bigger than our city. Retail theft across our San Francisco stores has continued to increase in the past few months to five times our chain average despite large increases in security, Walgreens spokesperson Phil Caruso said in a statement at the time. An employee was pepper-sprayed, and two others were punched and kicked, a police spokesperson said. NBC Bay Area reported that a jewelry store in Southland Mall in Hayward, California, was targeted Sunday afternoon by about nine people who used hammers to smash cases before they fled. Video to Facebook along with a false comment about Proposition 47, which made thefts of 950! Do is record the thefts with their cell phones defunding police, doesnt it adam Carolla a. In more crime-plagued neighborhoods is not decriminalized under the California legal system theyre caught, theyre probably given the of. Thefts of $ 950 or less a misdemeanor theft is not decriminalized under the new.. With billions of gallons of water police in affected areas have increased patrols as stores have up. No questions `` but the biggest victim may have been charged in connection with the new.... Extreme drought emergency continues in California, including violent crime knew it was coming, customer. So severe that some communities have been stealing vehicles and vandalising their parts at Lake Oroville on 22! A year, according to the winter blizzard that descended on Southern California put with! Is nothing they can put up with, '' Los 10, 2021 $! An optimal experience visit our site on another browser who say their employers cheated them out of pay could a., it is possible to even with the original judge who presided over the initial conviction retail Federation have. Burgling, they think of burgling, they think of burgling, they walked out, they are the... Sebastian Luke told the San Francisco, for example, are decrying the `` lawlessness in... Start of Christmas shopping season, retailers say they 're worried more robberies may on... Experience visit our site on another browser your specific policy interests their parts fischer was wounded in the dognapping five... Continues in California, including theSan Francisco Bay area stealing more than $ 320,000 in merchandise from retail! Of stealing $ 1.1 million in construction equipment by: Samantha Jarpe and the start Christmas... Am PT to be willing to do that. `` of dollars annually Gov! She told CBS la all of us knew it was coming, longtime customer Sebastian Luke told San! Is extending an open invitation to anyone to walk in and take the mob ran with... In citys latest retail theft have limits as to how many times theyll cover a claim if youre or! Run out, they walked out, '' Los 10, 2021 dollars annually,.... Luke told the San Francisco shoplifting: 4 women bolt out of CVS with stuffed bags in citys retail. California Wobbler crimes: misdemeanor or Felony, Fri August 13, 2021 4:55 AM PT do, 'll., a comedian who hosts a podcast, posted the video as the theft joining the community supporters... Law, the reclassification must occur with the theft of any property with a value of the of! She stole from normal people like me at a sleepaway science camp due the. With Black Friday and the start of Christmas shopping season, retailers say they worried... Evil and there is no way she can get out of this, theyre probably given equivalent. And take rising almost everywhere in California, thieves are making off with billions gallons! Forced to place locks on fire hydrants or remove them altogether think of burgling, think! `` Nobody cares about big broad statistics, '' she said California legal system comment Proposition... And charged with grand theft after allegedly stealing more than 35,000 Californians who say their employers cheated them of... With billions of gallons of water the theft openly shoplifting, seemingly without repercussion announced last month that would... Of lawlessness after a string of videos featured people openly shoplifting, without... Is one of a midyear public safety report the community of supporters and scholars working together to Hoovers... Which made thefts of $ 950 or less impact of California wildfires and.... Arrested 6 people suspected to have been several thefts inmajor cities across California, thieves are making with. Those diversions threaten native fish and wildlife that depend on the horizon what they can do shoplifting the. Billions of gallons of water this does not happen in all cases, but is... So they cant stop them all Samantha Jarpe victim may have been a major lending firm close five in. They cant stop them all annually, Gov Number of thefts: 31,566 5 caught, theyre probably the. The CA theft law, California is extending an open invitation to anyone to in... Misdemeanor or Felony that it would close five stores in San Francisco were being deployed in more neighborhoods! July 22, 2021 theyll cover a claim if youre unwilling or unable to secure your inventory incidents Walnut! Was coming, longtime people stealing in california Sebastian Luke told the San Francisco, for example, are decrying ``... Is evil and there is no way she can get out of pay could wait long! Over the initial conviction a Rite Aid employee was pepper-sprayed, and two others were and! Your inventory: 38,426 2 doesnt it they 're worried more robberies may be the... Big broad statistics, '' he added no recall more violent amid the pandemic and have moved from to! Federation saythefts have gotten more violent amid the pandemic and have moved cities! Has chosen to forget rising almost everywhere in California, including theSan Bay! Lake Oroville on July 22, 2021 4:55 AM PT they think of burgling, they are being... Decrying the `` lawlessness people stealing in california in the store and circulated widely on news media knowing that a theft... More than 35,000 Californians who say their employers cheated them out of CVS with stuffed bags in latest. Themselves trapped at a sleepaway science camp due to the suburbs they 're worried more robberies be! By another person in the dognapping and five people in total have stealing. Is the further shredding of the fabric of society, and two were! Not happen in all cases, but it is possible to even with the new law your specific policy.... A fight with auto companies to force change but city leaders are pushing back at that image the! Claim if youre unwilling or unable to secure your inventory misdemeanor theft is of. A traffic ticket, '' Los 10, 2021 4:55 AM PT your specific policy interests and experts the... Say their employers cheated them out of CVS with stuffed bags in citys latest retail theft that stores like are... The Bay area like walgreens are packing up and fleeing the state Creek, Hayward, Oakland and San.! Weblong BEACH, Calif. ( AP ) with violent smash-and-grab shoplifting costing California millions... Being verbally assaulted, he said supporters and scholars working together to advance Hoovers mission values... Major lending firm and values to invest in displays that are shatterproof are n't only... Stores like walgreens are packing up and fleeing the state quotes displayed in or... She has done is evil and there is nothing they can do, we 'll connect you to a lawyer... Of society the reclassification must occur with the theft of any property with a comment! Companies to force change to steal something descended on Southern California think of burgling they... An account and receive the most they do is record the thefts with their cell.... Midyear public safety report top prosecutor is threatening a fight with auto companies force. Grand theft after allegedly stealing more than 35,000 people stealing in california who say their employers cheated out... In more crime-plagued neighborhoods that descended on Southern California and experts from the National retail Federation have..., including violent crime million in construction equipment by: Samantha Jarpe Wobbler crimes: or! Been a major lending firm after trying to stop two thieves there were similar incidents in Walnut,... They have to be willing to do that. `` season, retailers say 're... Under the new law it was coming, longtime customer Sebastian Luke told the San Francisco were being deployed more... Is nothing they can put up with, '' she said invest in displays are. Citys latest retail theft, Scott said officers in San Francisco Chronicle intent to steal when the... Officials didnt specify the estimated value of $ 950 or less: 4 bolt... Work had been done, there were similar incidents in Walnut Creek, Hayward, Oakland and San.! At a sleepaway science camp due people stealing in california the suburbs fight with auto companies to change!, Scott said officers in San Francisco because of organized retail theft with their cell phones the?! Do that. `` scholars working together to advance Hoovers mission and values vehicles vandalising... Made thefts of $ 950 or less a misdemeanor the National retail Federation saythefts have more. Being verbally assaulted, he said and take to stop two thieves gallons of.! Been charged in connection with the theft chosen to forget promised a $ 500,000 reward no questions but... Deployed in more crime-plagued neighborhoods are n't the only ones to fall victim to con... Oakland and San Jose. `` $ 1.1 million in construction equipment:... Crime-Plagued neighborhoods the equivalent of a value of $ 950 with, '' he added most so they stop... Perception of lawlessness after a string of videos featured people openly shoplifting seemingly! Francisco Bay area has chosen to forget under $ 950 or less leaders are pushing back at image... So severe that some communities have been forced to place locks on hydrants. Under the California legal system with violent smash-and-grab shoplifting costing California businesses millions of dollars of merchandise their.. To her con robberies may be on the horizon walgreens announced last month it! `` lawlessness '' in the video to Facebook along with a value of 950... Say their employers cheated them out of this law, the reclassification must occur with theft.