An alleged California shoplifter was shocked to learn that shoplifting was a crime

Police in California released a video of a trio of burglars shocked to learn that the punishment for their crimes had recently been commuted.

In a viral surveillance video shared by the Seal Beach Police Department on Sunday, three women can be seen walking into an Ulta Beauty store, browsing the shelves, and accidentally walking out with what police say is about $650. worth of stolen goods.

“… a friendly reminder that Proposition 36, which increases penalties for certain retail theft and drug possession offenses, went into effect Wednesday morning in California,” Seal Beach Police Department He wrote about this on his Instagram account under the video.

In the video, the women can be seen entering another business and stealing more merchandise, totaling nearly $1,000 in stolen merchandise.

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An alleged shoplifter was shocked to learn that some shoplifting offenses are now felonies in California. (Seal Beach Police Department)

Bodycam video shows police officers chasing the women and eventually arresting them.

– Is this a crime? one of the women asks the other in the back of the patrol car.

“B—h new laws,” the woman replies. “Theft is a crime and this Orange County b—h. They’re not playing.”

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The women were caught on camera removing merchandise from several California businesses, police said. (Seal Beach Police Department)

Police shared a friendly reminder along with the video.

“It reverses some of the 2014 ballot changes that made some violent crimes felonies by voters, effectively shortening prison sentences and causing an increase in retail theft and crime,” police said. “Here at Seal Beach, we’ve never believed in a citation and release program, but this new proposal only strengthens our commitment to fighting Organized Retail Theft. Remember, folks, don’t shoplift at Seal.”

Proposition 36, the Homelessness, Drug Abuse and Theft Reduction Act, sought to repeal parts of Proposition 47 by increasing penalties for certain crimes. It was passed with a big vote in California, reversing some soft-on-crime policies backed by billionaire George Soros.

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Alleged thieves were shocked to learn they could face felony charges for theft. (Seal Beach Police Department)

When Proposition 47 passed in 2014, it reduced most thefts from felonies to misdemeanors when the amount stolen is less than $950, “unless the defendant has a prior conviction for murder, rape, certain sex crimes, or certain crimes.” gun crimes.”

Progressive Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon, Backed by Soros, he helped author Proposition 47 and lost his seat to challenger Nathan Hochman in November.

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California Gov. Gavin Newsom strongly opposed efforts to repeal parts of Proposition 47, saying it would “take us back to the 1980s, to mass incarceration.”

Fox News Digital’s Jamie Joseph contributed to this report.

Stepheny Price is a writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business. Story tips and ideas can be sent to stepheny.price@fox.com