SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) — A San Francisco shoplifter, 29-year-old Jason Barber, is no stranger to the criminal justice system. He has seven theft-related convictions on his record, prosecutors said. Barber is slated to be arraigned at the Hall of Justice on Friday afternoon for new charges stemming from yet another shoplifting incident that he allegedly carried out Christmas Eve.
This time, Barber is facing more severe charges — his case marks the city’s first case filed under Proposition 36, prosecutors said.
Prop 36 was passed in November by California voters who were fed up with rampant retail thefts. The new law, which went into effect on December 18, increased punishments for repeat shoplifters. Instead of citing and releasing suspects for misdemeanors, thieves with long rap sheets are now arrested and charged with felonies.
Barber allegedly spent his Christmas Eve stealing from a Walgreens store on Castro Street in Noe Valley. Prosecutors said he placed cough and cold medications worth more than $400 into a bag and left without paying. Officers found Barber at a Muni bus stop a few blocks away and arrested him.
District Attorney Brooke Jenkins said, “I would like to thank the San Francisco Police for their continuous efforts to address brazen retail theft. My office has been working closely with law enforcement and retailers to address retail theft and now thanks to the voters we have new tools available to graduate consequences and ensure that those who repeatedly break our laws are held accountable.”
The San Francisco Police Department said Organized Retail Theft Prevention task force officers have made dozens of arrests in recent months. Officers will continue to conduct operations throughout San Francisco to reduce thefts at local businesses, police said.
Another San Francisco man, 38-year-old Matthew Foster, was nabbed for allegedly shoplifting at Metro Mall Shopping Center in Colma earlier this week.
Foster used a suitcase to steal nearly $200 worth of items, police said. The Colma Police Department wrote, “(Foster) was on Post Release Community Supervision (PRCS) Probation. A criminal history check conducted by our dispatchers revealed this male had four prior theft convictions and three prior drug offense convictions. With the new Proposition 36 law going into effect on December 18th, this male was placed under arrest for felony theft and felony drug possession with priors.”
Foster was booked into a San Mateo County Jail on charges including felony theft, felony drug possession, and shoplifting.
