Lancaster's outspoken mayor has another original idea: He wants to shame retailers who don't call the police on shoplifters.
Mayor R. Rex Parris said Tuesday he plans to publicize the names of such retailers in 90 days.
In a statement, Parris said some retailers embolden criminals by, in essence, letting them know up front they won't be prosecuted for stealing.
"I want to put their names right out there," Parris said. "I want to publicize the fact that they're actually allowing these crimes to occur."
Ramon Ortega, president of the Antelope Valley Chambers of Commerce, said it's too early to say whether businesses will support the plan.
He said 10 to 20 percent of the chambers' 600 members are retailers, but he hadn't yet heard any reaction from them.
Parris first mentioned the plan during a City Council meeting last week.
"I can see the mayor's point that (not prosecuting shoplifters) just encourages criminal behavior: `If I steal and you catch me, hey, you're just going to slap me on the wrist and send me on my way,' " Ortega said.
Parris, a 60-year-old personal injury attorney, has launched other ambitious plans since he was elected mayor of the Antelope Valley city in 2008.
His bio on the city website he says he wants to make Lancaster, which has 157,000 people, the "alternative energy capital of the world."
And in August, he and sheriff's officials announced a surveillance plane
had begun flying over Lancaster to prevent crime and catch criminals. Parris said he expected other cities to copy that move, which will cost the city about $1 million a year.facebook buys instagram kevin systrom fibonacci sequence maryland lottery grand jury ozzie guillen fidel castro darvish
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