California governor signs crime bill to crack down on shoplifting and car theft

Large-scale smash-and-grab thefts have become a crisis in California as Gavin Newsom calls bill the real deal'

Gavin Newsom, the California governor, on Friday signed a bipartisan package of 10 bills that aims to crack down on smash-and-grab robberies and property crimes, making it easier to go after repeat shoplifters and auto thieves and increase penalties for those running professional reselling schemes.

The move comes as Democratic leadership works to prove that they are tough enough on crime while trying to convince voters reject a ballot measure that would bring even harsher sentences for repeat offenders of shoplifting and drug charges.