I think they intended to resell on the black market. Dunno

chice cuts of meat cheap (fell of the truck, wink wink).

Theft for profit ? Make a case for it, and there's your felony jail time.

If they had stolen rice and beans, they could expect more sympathy.

It also happens to literally be my exact diet

Yes, it should be a felony still. What about those that put the meats up for sale, and the rancher/farmers who worked to provide the meat? They should still get a fair price for their products.

And also, I don't buy such elaborate packages of meat, I don't eat that much meat/beef or pork. But, my brother-in-law does raise beef, and I can imagine how it would hurt him and my sister if someone were to walk off w/ one of their cows, the loss would hurt them.

There's food stamps and such too out there, and pantries. No need to steal and cause further harm to others. If one is hurting still, reach out, maybe someone will help.

is the waste of all that food. Likely it all went in the trash. With all the hunger in the world, that's a damn shame.

On edit: not advocating for the thieves or a lesser charge, I doubt this was food insecurity considering what was stolen.

It won't make good evidence.

Is the store will donate the meat. It won't be restocked because the temps of the meat will be above 40 degrees.

I California, where I live it would cost us taxpayers $132,860 per
year to incarcerate them. That doesn't make ant sense or deter
anyone from stealing. 2nd, if you a rich, you can steal daily from people
that can't afford to sue you and get away with it. Make them work
to make things right and they won't do it again !
https://calmatters.org/justice/2024/01/california-prison-cost-per-inmate/

Maybe you should look into what a law is. You’ll see that prison costs don’t have anything to do with legality.

I also know what a budget is -
We can't imprison everyone that breaks a law
we have to choose what crimes really require jail time.

Tell you what, why not go and steal $1200 worth of prime cut meat and tell the judge it isn't a felony because it will cost too much money to imprison you. I'm sure he'll be flabbergasted at your legal acumen and drop the charges right there.

had been charged with check fraud.

We don't know the subjects' history/background etc. What if they had done this before or had a history of theft etc. ?

We pay $132,000 + a year to house them, period.
You can't exclude labor & overhead !

than most states. It does seem a bit outlandish.

when I was shopping for my mother in Western New York a decade or so ago prices there were about half what I pay here - even for produce grown in California

Still, why all that beef; vs say some beef, some pork, and alot more chicken which costs less, maybe even get more uf they have a big enough freezer.

Avocados they're much more perishable vs a lot of other vegetables. I believe all people in general have a right to some extra fun, joy etc in their lives so maybe 1 pkg of avocados, and you make one special meal that includes guacamole.

Seriously, to extend their family's meals, a lot more rice & beans sometimes w a little meat, here and there wouldn't that be better (unless they hate the stuff) for even more meals.

I happened to learn to cook many kinds of beans (kidney, black, red, chickpeas, pintos, black-eyed, lentils) from scratch to increase having more vegitarian dishes; decades before I found I needed food stamps.

I sure hope if they are who they say they are they do get their food stamps. It may not be easy, idk. As mentioned pantries till then.

Felony charges are way too harsh. I agree civil charges, and, a pay back.

That's not food insecurity.

And what kind of freezer do they have? My mom would "buy a cow" every once in a while. And it and would fill the freezer.

And those are the largest size of mayo. (They can stay on the shelf until sold) And the salsa??? Who eats that much salsa?

lol

it was 'food theft' that made it a felony. It's the dollar amount. And, of course, there's no way this was because someone was just hungry.

If these thieves were to get a slap on the wrist for this crime then it just sends a message to other thieves that there are no serious consequences. Too much of this shit going on as it is.

That is not food insecurity - that is brazen theft, probably with the intent to sell. That is at least ten BIG cuts of meat. The only way they could consume that much food would be to freeze most of it. But I doubt that most home freezers could accommodate that much bulky product. Zero empathy or sympathy for these thieves.

That seems off if we're going by what is in the picture. Looks like a few hundred at most.

That being said, that doesn't look like food meant to just feed themselves because they would have starved otherwise, but rather like grabbing expensive cuts to sell for cash. Not sure if that should be felony, but they do need some sort of punishment. Although, if they are marking up the prices of the meat to have it reach felony level, then that needs to be called out and stopped.

There is easily 50 pounds of meat there.

That meat would spoil before any family could eat it unless they had a large deep freeze.

I can understand stealing if starving (don't condone it because there are other options like food pantries, food stamps, and food kitchens), but stealing prime cuts in that quantity doesn't add up to anything except resale.

I can't see how anyone can say that was to keep their family from going hungry. Maybe to start a steak house or bbq place, though.

Part of the reason they are closing down stores especially in places like the Bay Area that have lax "we don't prosecute" policies on shoplifting is because thieves are well aware that you can just stroll in with a shopping cart and as long as you stay below $950 (I think?) they won't even lift a finger to charge you with a crime. Since the total here was so close to $950, I'm wondering if these two people weren't real good at math and thought they were under the total.

Of course food prices are a problem all over. So what is the solution, that we all steal all the food? Do we need to have locked supermarkets that no one can enter, like practically all the products in the Walgreens now need an employee to open the case so you can get toothpaste or deodorant because it's either that or close more stores?

It’s a haul for a big BBQ. Food insecurity would have basic staples for desperate folks.

Food insecurity should not be a felony and the person doing it should be assistance and help.

this group should be arrested for something and I do not know the criteria between misdemeanors and felonies.

Do they even exist?
But keep defending thieves. It’s a good look.

The stash they took is not food insecurity. If I’m a bad person for believing theft is not ok, so be it.

If they truly need help they should get help with food stamps and other programs. Stealing 1200 dollars worth of primo cut meats is not a good look.

The people who do this crap are committing crimes. I’m sick of walking through their displays of stolen merchandise all over the sidewalk and the crowds they draw. The more sympathy and excuses you make for them, the more brazen they are in their theft and lawbreaking; the more they multiply. I’m sick of it and I advocate zero fucking tolerance for it.

Just to put out a contrarian opinion, based on my years of observation and personal experience.

I live in the part of the country where this happened.

doesn't really matter what it is. I've recently learned that this country is ruled by men, not by law.

How long has it sat at $1000? 20-25 years in most jurisdictions. In another decade or two if you damage someone's ipod you'll be heading to jail charged with a felony.

Prosecutors love the low amount, because it gives them leverage with charges.

IMO the cutoff should be 5K and then continuously adjusted for inflation.

case deserves the response of the full weight of the law. Someone didn't steal a pound of hamburger to feed their kids, this is theft for conversion, and it's part of the reason e pay so much for groceries.
Book 'em Danno

Yes, there are many have-nots in Silicon Valley and it's only getting worse.

We sell both upscale meat like tenderloin, filet mignon, rib steaks, brisket, etc. I've rung up customers buying $300 in meat alone during the Xmas season.

We also have shop-lifters who load up their carts with liquor (again, pricey liquor) and meat. We have security at the only entrance/exit. But they wait for either new security taking its position or when customers inundate the exit and just wheel out their cart.

Our records show several instances with more than $2,000 worth of thefts.

So, yes, felony indictments. They aren't stealing one package of ground chuck for $7.