The city of Signal Hill has experienced an increase in reported crime, according to its 2015 statistics, and the uptick is consistent with other law-enforcement agencies throughout the state, according to the Signal Hill Police Department (SHPD).
Public-safety organizations such as the California Police Chiefs’ Association are studying the crime data to try to understand the reason for the increase in crime and suspects that there may be a correlation between increased crime and the 2011 passage of California Assembly Bill 109 and voter-approved Proposition 47 in 2014. Both initiatives were designed to reduce California’s reliance on incarceration as the solution to crime in California.
In 2015, there were 58 incidents of crimes classified as serious or violent reported in Signal Hill, an increase of 18 incidents compared to 2014. Reported property crimes were also up from 500 incidents reported in 2014 to 768 reported incidents in 2015.
“The majority of the increased property crimes has been larceny (theft)-related crimes, specifically shoplifting at retail establishments,” said SHPD Lieutenant Brian Leyn. “Most of that increase can be traced back to repeat offenders. Repeat offenders were also responsible for the increased number of mail thefts and thefts from vehicles within underground parking structures of residential condominium complexes.”
AB 109 provided for the early release of those convicted of non-serious, non-violent and non-sex related crimes to ease overcrowded prisons. Since passage of AB 109, there have been approximately 45,000 prisoners released from state prisons according to recent reports, SHPD officials say.
In 2014, California voters approved Proposition 47, which reduced the penalty for most theft-related and simple drug possession crimes from a felony to a misdemeanor.
“The repeat offenders including those involved in theft rings are the individuals who are really taking advantage of Proposition 47,” said SHPD Police Chief Michael Langston. “Gone are the enhanced penalties for repeat theft-related offenses as long as the new theft is below the $950 threshold. One, two, five or 50 arrests are all treated as misdemeanors as long as theft is below the $950 threshold.”
Langston added, “Regardless of the causes, we are going to continue to proactively address these matters and encourage the residents and businesses community to call us if they notice something suspicious or encounter a problem.”
