The viral claim of a $950 theft in San Francisco is completely false
The Sign and Its Background
Photos of a sign in San Francisco claiming that theft has been legalized in California have been circulating on social media. However, these signs were not put up by any government entity, but rather by anonymous pranksters as a joke. While they may look professionally made, subtle clues, such as different screws used for installation, indicate that they are not real.
The Idea Behind the Sign
The sign likely refers to California’s threshold for shoplifting, which was raised from a misdemeanor to a felony in 2014. The threshold in California is $950, a figure that some believe is too high. Conservative media outlets, such as Fox News, have falsely claimed that California has “legalized” shoplifting, when in reality, many other states have higher thresholds for felony shoplifting, including those with Republican governors and legislatures.
