San Francisco put up an indication exterior a Louis Vuitton retailer telling thieves any objects they steal should price lower than $950.
Though the signal was actual and was positioned exterior a Louis Vuitton retailer, a spokesperson for the San Francisco Division of Public Works advised Snopes no authorities entity put it there. Likewise, a spokesperson for the town’s police division advised us the signal was unauthorized and later eliminated.
In mid-October 2024, an X user resurfaced a photograph purportedly exhibiting a avenue signal exterior a Louis Vuitton retailer in San Francisco that learn: “NOTICE. STOLEN GOODS MUST REMAIN UNDER $950.”
Different customers who replied to the picture appeared to believe the signal was actual, with one writing: “That’s really wonderful. I’m speechless.” One other asked: “STFU…. that is actual?!?!?”
(X person @DavidBCollum)
The image beforehand appeared on X, in June 2024, when one person requested: “Is that this signal for actual? Is San Francisco actually this far gone?”
The signal appeared to reference Proposition 47, Californian laws that turned thefts of products value lower than $950 into misdemeanors in 2014.
(@WallStreetSilv / X)
One other X person who shared the image mentioned it confirmed “theft is now totally legalized” in San Francisco, whereas a third claimed it was an “common” San Francisco avenue signal.
Collectively, the posts instructed the signal was official and had amassed greater than 9.2 million views as of this writing.
Similar claims appeared elsewhere on X, and on Instagram, Reddit and YouTube.
Nonetheless, though the signal was actual — in that it was truly erected exterior a Louis Vuitton retailer in San Francisco — a spokeswoman for the San Francisco Division of Public Works (SFDPW) told Snopes in summer 2024 it was not put there by a authorities entity. Likewise, the town’s police division — the SFPD — advised us the signal was unauthorized and eliminated, which is why we’ve deemed this declare false.
SFDPW’s director of coverage and communications, Rachel Gordon, mentioned by way of e-mail the indicators had nothing to do with the town and county of San Francisco.
“The reported indicators weren’t put in by a authorities entity,” she defined.
Gordon mentioned her division didn’t know who positioned the indicators exterior the Louis Vuitton retailer.
When requested whether or not San Francisco permits individuals to steal items with a worth of lower than $950, she replied: “In fact not.”
Thr Louis Vuitton retailer in San Francisco’s Union Sq. purchasing district. (Getty Photos)
In the meantime, public data officer Robert Rueca of the SFPD mentioned by way of e-mail the unofficial signal had been taken down.
“We will affirm that this unauthorized signal was posted and was instantly eliminated upon discovery,” he mentioned.
“California doesn’t have a legislation that enables for theft,” Rueca added, citing Proposition 47, which acknowledged (on page 27): “Proposition 47 amends varied provisions of the Penal and Well being and Security Codes to scale back private possession drug offenses and thefts involving lower than $950 from a straight felony or a ‘wobbler,’ to a straight misdemeanor.”
It seems the faux signal was erected as a satirical swipe at that legislation.
In July 2021, Snopes debunked claims that Proposition 47 lets thieves steal items with a worth of lower than $950.
