Mobs of people have been raiding department stores and walking out with thousands of dollars in stolen goods. In some cases, up to 90 people have stormed into stores at one time, and thefts have not been confined to department stores. Union-Pacific freight trains entering Los Angeles are being systematically looted. In October 2021, the railroad reported a 356% increase in thefts over the previous year. Union-Pacific is reportedly considering bypassing Los Angeles, its major hub on the West Coast.What are the causes of this seeming breakdown in civil order, and what can be done about it? Proposition 47, which voters approved in 2014, is a contributing factor. Among other provisions, shoplifting and grand theft, where the stolen property is valued at less than $950, were downgraded from
