The rise in theft and vandalism at local businesses has become a growing concern for merchants and workers alike. From small restaurants to large supermarket chains, the impact of these crimes is felt daily.
A recent example of the growing problem is the case of the Funny Farm restaurant, located southeast of San Jose.
Surveillance cameras captured the moment when at least one individual was vandalizing and robbing the establishment. Monica Levi, the owner of the restaurant, expressed her frustration and pain at seeing how her business has been attacked six times in recent months. “It breaks my heart, but it also frustrates me,” says Monica, who estimates that the losses amount to more than 15 thousand dollars, a figure that represents a significant financial burden for her small business.
Ron Levi, co-owner and chef of Funny Farm, describes these crimes as violent and destructive. “It’s not a light crime,” he says, stressing that the attacks involve not only theft but also serious damage to property.
The restaurant owners feel that authorities are not doing enough to protect them and have expressed concern about feeling abandoned.
In response to this crime wave, Senator Lola Smallwood-Cuevas is pushing SB 1446, which seeks to address the problem at the state level. This legislation proposes to reduce the use of automated checkouts in large chains and supermarkets, with the intention of reducing theft and improving security in these establishments. Smallwood-Cuevas recognizes that current solutions have not been sufficient and that it is necessary to attack the root of the problem.
Aurora Hernández, a supermarket worker, has witnessed how the implementation of self-checkouts has increased theft and aggression in her workplace.
“Since they introduced self-checkout, there has been a lot of theft and a lot of aggressive people,” says Hernández, who recently suffered a pepper spray attack by an aggressive customer. These types of incidents have been a constant concern for workers, who face increasingly dangerous situations.
SB 1446 also includes provisions to ensure that stores are not understaffed and prevent a single employee from handling multiple tasks at the same time, which makes them more vulnerable to attacks and theft.
While new legislation may offer relief to large chains and supermarkets, for small businesses like Funny Farm, the impact of theft remains a constant threat.
Monica Levi believes that elevating the fight to a legislative level is crucial to focus attention on thefts at the local and state level, and she hopes that more eyes will focus on this problem.
If attacks on businesses continue, Monica and other merchants fear they could be forced to close their doors, underscoring the urgent need for effective solutions and greater protection for all businesses in California.
