Owners of Los Angeles 7-Eleven donate $1 million to Prop 36 campaign after series of flash mob robberies

LOS ANGELES (KABC) — As 7-Eleven stores across Southern California continue to be targeted by “flash mob” robbers, some store owners on the November ballot are backing a proposal that would make these types of crimes felonies.

On Thursday, 7-Eleven franchisees and 7-Eleven Inc. a press conference in which the group announced a $1 million donation to the “Yes on Prop 36” campaign.

“You see this happening to your business that you put your heart and soul into for 24 years,” said 7-Eleven owner Jawad Ursani, whose store was targeted at least twice. “It’s devastating. It’s like someone comes into your house and turns it upside down.”

The most recent incident at an Ursani’s store at La Cienega and Olympic boulevards occurred last month. A large group of young people on bicycles plundered the store and stole everything they could get their hands on. The same location was targeted in August.

READ MORE | Dozens of young people on bicycles plunder the Pico-Robertson 7-Eleven store for the second time

So what is Prop 36?

According to the official voter information guide, Proposition 36 allows misdemeanor charges for possession of certain drugs and for theft under $950 if the suspect has two prior drug or theft convictions.

A “yes” vote would mean that people convicted of certain drug or theft crimes could face harsher penalties, such as longer prison terms. In certain cases, people found to possess illegal drugs would have to complete treatment or serve up to three years in prison.

Voting ‘no’ means the punishment for drug and theft crimes remains the same.

“As law enforcement officers, we see the devastating impact of these crimes on business owners, the public and our own officers,” said Debbie Thomas of the LA Police Protective League.

But opponents of Prop 36 said it would undo Prop 47, which passed 10 years ago and made some theft and drug crimes instead of misdemeanors.

Prop 47 also funds services like drug treatment and rehabilitation programs, so opponents say a yes on Prop 36 means some of those services will be cut.

“These people are coming out of jail and doing the same thing again because we did nothing to help them out of this crisis while they were there,” said Jon, president of the Santa Monica Democratic Club. Katz.