Calif. State Senate Approves Bill That Will Ban Store Workers from Confronting Shoplifters

Legislation in California that would prohibit store employees from confronting shoplifters cleared a hurdle earlier this week when it passed the state Senate, according to a report.

The bill is intended to increase workplace safety amid an uptick in retail theft and encounters between store workers and shoplifters that have sometimes turned deadly.

The proposed measure would ban employers from “maintaining policies that require employees to confront active shooters or suspected shoplifters," as well as increase training for active shooter situations and require employers to maintain a log of violent incidents against employees, Chain Store Age reported.

State Sen. Dan Cortese, who introduced Senate Bill 553, said it will help keep workers safe.

"What we’re saying in the bill is, it’s not ok for an employer to take a rank and file worker, somebody whose job is really something else, a reporter for example, and say ‘hey if there’s an intruder, we’re going to deputize you. You’ll be the one to intervene.’ People get hurt and oftentimes killed that way," Cortese, a Democrat from San Jose, said, according to Fox KTVU. 

A Home Depot employee was fatally shot in April when he tried to stop a shoplifter in Pleasanton.

Then in May, a Walgreens security guard shot and killed a suspected shoplifter in San Francisco.

A number of organizations and groups oppose the legislation, including the California Retailers Association.

"This bill goes way too far, number one, where I think it will open the doors even wider for people to come in and steal from our stores," Rachel Michelin, president and CEO of the retail group, said.

She said most retailers already have rules in place regarding the handling of shoplifters and some have employees trained in theft prevention.

"It says no employee can approach someone who is shoplifting. So even if someone is trained on how to deter someone from doing that, now they’re not allowed to approach someone," Michelin said, according to KTVU.

"So what does that mean? We are opening up the door to allow people to walk into stores, steal and walk out," she added.

The bill will now go to the State Assembly.

If approved, it will be forwarded to Gov. Gavin Newsom for his signature.