California Lawmakers came together to introduce a bipartisan bill at that would increase the penalty for auto burglaries.

Assembly Bill 1921 was introduced by Assemblyman Tyler Diep (R-Westminster) and Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan with principal co-author Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco). The bill was introduced on January 13, 2020.

Diep explained in a video he posted on Twitter that under current law you have to prove to a prosecutor you locked your door.

“That has caused a lot of stress and burden to victims, that is why I introduced AB 1921 to allow a prosecutor to prosecute and go after a bad guys that broke into your car, smashed your car window, the ability to prosecute all these crimes without having to you as a victim, having to demonstrate you locked your car door,” said Diep.  “Auto burglary has become a big epidemic in the Bay Area and some of the same criminals are moving down to Southern California.”

According to the AB 1921l:

AB 1921, as introduced, Diep. Unlawful entry of a vehicle.

Existing law defines the crime of burglary to include entering a vehicle when the doors are locked with the intent to commit grand or petit larceny or a felony. Existing law makes the burglary of a vehicle punishable as a misdemeanor or a felony.

This bill would make forcibly entering a vehicle, as defined, with the intent to commit a theft therein a crime punishable by imprisonment in a county jail for a period not to exceed one year or imprisonment in a county jail for 16 months, or 2 or 3 years. By creating a new crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.

This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.