**UPDATE -- Well, that didn't take long. Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer says that one of his new billboards has already been defaced, apparently on the 405 leading into Orange County on the OC / LA County line.**
ORIGINAL STORY -- If you're a criminal, Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer has a message for you....STAY OUT of Orange County.
Spitzer and his office have unveiled a new campaign using electronic and static billboards, busboards, cell phone messages and bumper stickers with a very simple message:
"Crime doesn't pay in Orange County. If you steal, we prosecute."
The billboards will be up for about a month and are expected to reach more than 38 million people. They will appear all over Orange County and along major freeways into Orange County from LA and Riverside counties, and on public buses in Los Angeles County.
Additional marketing will target cell phone users in Orange, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego and Imperial counties,
Spitzer says other counties may be soft on burglary and property crimes, but Orange County won't be. In a statement, Spitzer said:
“There is nothing more important than public safety. My job – and the job of my prosecutors, investigators, and staff – is to keep you – and your loved ones safe. Sacramento hasn’t made our jobs easy. When the risk is far less than the reward, it’s no surprise that criminals are committing smash and grabs, residential burglaries, and simply walking out the front door of stores with arms full of stolen merchandise. While you’re standing in line waiting to pay for your items. Crime doesn’t pay in Orange County.
Sacramento may be rolling out the red carpet for thieves – but here in Orange County we’re throwing the book at criminals who come here to steal. If you steal, we will prosecute. It’s that simple.”
In June 2022, after a rash of home invasion and commercial burglaries and smash and grab robberies hit the news, Spitzer created a new prosecution unit called H.E.I.S.T. (Home Invasion. Eradication. Interdiction. Strike. Team.) The team is compiled of six veteran prosecutors and four district attorney investigators dedicated to prosecuting these cases while working with law enforcement partners across Southern California to identify, arrest, and successfully prosecute burglary crews.
Bill Handel talked to DA Spitzer this morning about the campaign. Listen to that interview below.