(KRON) – Proposition 36 took effect just two days ago, but it’s already making a difference in the Bay Area by giving police officers more power to put suspected retail thieves in jail.

Antioch police wrote Friday: “Would you look at this! Prop 36, which you voted on, has an immediate impact on the community!”

Officers received a 911 call reporting that a “sneaky thief” had shoplifted at a Target store. According to police, APD Officer Pedreira responded within a minute and spotted the man loading stolen items into a white Escalade.

Investigators said the thief was a repeat offender.

“He was arrested and thanks to Prop 36 and his history of theft, his offense is now a felony. He was transported and taken to jail,” police wrote.

Without the passage of Prop 36, the man likely would have received a misdemeanor charge and would not have remained in custody, police said. APD stated, “Last week this habitual fraudster’s five-finger discount would have earned him a citation, today it earned him a criminal charge and a prison sentence.”

On November 5, California voters passed Proposition 36, also known as the Homelessness, Drug Addiction, and Theft Reduction Act, in a landslide. Prop 36 officially went into effect on December 18th.

It changed current law and increased penalties for theft, drug offenses and repeat offenders. In addition, some criminals were deprived of the right to serve their sentences in county prison instead of state prison.

Earlier this week, law enforcement agencies across California were ordered by Attorney General Rob Bonta to combat organized retail crime “head-on” by enforcing Prop 36.

Bonta said, “Ultimately, our success in combating organized retail crime depends on our ability to collaborate, innovate and steadfastly fulfill our commitment to protecting our neighborhoods and businesses.”

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