SEAL BEACH, Calif. (CNS) – The Seal Beach Police Department on Monday touted the success of its social media campaign to reduce shoplifting in the city.
The campaign follows the release of a video of two of the three women arrested on suspicion of stealing approximately $1,635 worth of merchandise from the Ulta Beauty store in the 12300 block of Seal Beach Boulevard on Dec. 4, discussing how the passage of Proposition 36 last month misdemeanor charges allows petty theft with prior convictions and allows the value of stolen property from multiple thefts to be combined to meet the $950 felony threshold.
“Is it a crime?” one of the women turns and says. The other responds with an obscenity ‘new laws. Stealing is a crime,” and turns away before continuing with “and this Orange County,” followed by the same obscenity: “They don’t play.”
Seal Beach Police added messages to the video that read “Prop 36 in full effect!” and “Don’t steal from Seal.”
Destiny Bender and Deanna Hines, both 24-year-olds from Long Beach, and 26-year-old Signal Hill resident Michelle Pitts, were arrested after a brief foot chase through the parking lot, police said.
The three women were also linked through surveillance footage to a previous theft at the nearby Kohl’s store. All three suspects were booked into the Orange County Jail on suspicion of robbery, conspiracy to commit a crime and resisting arrest, police said.
“The video, part of the department’s ‘Don’t Steal in Seal’ social media campaign, has received significant public attention and serves as an educational tool about California’s updated theft-related laws,” police said.
Seal Beach Police Chief Michael Henderson said the campaign “has played an important role in raising public awareness and deterring crime.”
“By creatively highlighting our efforts, we promote community trust and send a strong warning to potential offenders,” said Henderson.
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