Originally Posted by Kacee

The legal distinction between grand and petty theft exists in most states. Petty theft is typically a misdemeanor, which technically means (at least in California) punishable by up to six months imprisonment. In reality it's become a "we don't charge that" for the reasons mentioned above.

There was another shooting yesterday in downtown Oakland, 3 blocks from my apartment. TV news crew robbed at gunpoint, in broad daylight, security guard shot and critically injured. Downtown Oakland is full of shiny new high rise apartment buildings, but retail is dying because the Mayor and City Council allow thugs from other parts of the city to run the streets. OPD is nowhere to be seen at any time of day.