Los Angeles DA candidate Nathan Hochman visits Kitson’s infamous shoplifter ‘mugshot’ window as he vows to end lawlessness in the city and bashes ‘woke’ incumbent

He has vowed to end the “spiral of lawlessness” in Los Angeles that has accelerated since the election of a soft prosecutor four years ago.

Former federal prosecutor and assistant U.S. attorney general Nathan Hochman has struggled since becoming the lone challenger to run against progressive District Attorney George Gascon after the March 5 primary, defeating 10 other candidates.

Now the opposite sides will face a runoff in November to lead the agency that handles cases in the United States’ most populous county.

Hochman, 60, stopped by the Kitson store in Los Angeles on Friday to view the controversial window displays, which reveal the district attorney’s current policy that critics say favors criminals over their victims.

He called the windows “innovative” and told DailyMail.com and owner Fraser Ross that it was a shame retailers had to take matters into their own hands because the DA is clearly “not doing his job.”

Four ‘mugshot’ panels in the window show individuals from all walks of life who were caught on camera in the iconic store stealing small items, such as a ‘Do I look like I’m flying coach?’ baseball cap, to expensive jewelry, clothing and more.

In both cases, Kitson posted the images of the alleged shoplifter to his Instagram and asked if anyone recognized them – and they did.

“The surprising thing is that we discovered that some of these thieves owned multimillion-dollar homes in Pacific Palisades and the Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles,” Ross told Hochman.

“Some are highly paid brand influencers, and there was even an older man who ran AA meetings and stole from us.

“You have women carrying $40,000 Hermes Birkin bags and putting a $30 candle in them, not realizing they’re being watched by the camera.

‘They drive away in brand new Range Rovers and Bentleys.

‘It’s gotten completely out of hand – just like in the Wild West. We’ll fill out a police report and you’ll never hear about it again. So we decided to name and shame the thieves on our windows, and it has become a big draw.”

Many of the shoplifters returned or paid for the stolen items after they were set on fire.

“We haven’t had any issues with shoplifting since the windows opened a few weeks ago,” Ross said.

“But just in case, I still have a whole window that can be used!”

Shoplifting is now de facto legal in California, Gascon critics claim.

State law says taking anything less than $950 or less is a misdemeanor and law enforcement is unlikely to even investigate because the district attorney’s office will simply let it go.

Criminals know that an employer is unlikely to ask an employee to risk their life for a Free City hoodie or a Kai candle so they can do whatever they want, usually without consequences.

Hochman says he will enforce laws that are already on the books.

“If you can prove you intend to steal before you walk in, that can be charged under a more serious law as a misdemeanor burglary,” he said.

On the November ballot, he says, there will be another proposal called the Homelessness, Drug Addiction and Retail Theft Redemption Act — which just received 900,000 signatures.

‘We don’t know what number it will get, but it is aimed at repeat offenders. It says, look, if you do this three or four times, the third and fourth crimes now become felonies and you can go to state prison for them.

“I hope the voters will approve it.”

Gascon, 70, can crack down on criminals if he wants, his critics say.

In 2022, his friend John Legend, 45, who supported his run in 2020 and is again this year, was in a recording studio when a suspect tried to steal his Porsche sports car but failed.

TMZ reported at the time that a man walked up to the vehicle, sat inside and was looking for the keys or some other way to start the vehicle, when studio security personnel spotted him on surveillance cameras and called police.

When they arrived, the man initially said the car was his, then got out and walked away. After a brief foot chase, the man was arrested and charged with suspicion of theft of a motor vehicle and held on $85,000 bail.

“John Legend received first-class VIP treatment from George Gascon’s district attorney’s office,” Hochman alleged. ‘That proves once again that Gascon has exceptions to his policy towards donors and when the media heavily scrutinizes his actions.’

Criminals thrive under “progressive” laws, he said.

No bail or other policies without consequences for lawbreakers would be an attempt to level the playing field for “victims of an unfair society.”

Hochman tells DailyMail.com he is being defended by two famous Democrat Kennedy family members, Max, 59, and Rory, 55.

Their father Robert F Kennedy Sr. was assassinated in Los Angeles in 1968 while serving as president by Palestine-born Sirhan Sirhan, now 80. Sirhan is currently in prison in San Diego.

“Sirhan Sirhan had gone through 15 parole hearings and each time the district attorney, along with the Kennedy family, sent a prosecutor to give them a voice on why he should have done that. [parole] denied and it was denied.

“Unfortunately for the Kennedys, Gascon was his 16th time as district attorney. He has a policy of never sending prosecutors with victims’ families when they confront their killers at parole hearings.

“Lo and behold, in 2022 he was granted parole.

But parole is still subject to the governor’s approval, and Gavin Newsom immediately reversed that grant.

“So Max and Rory had never supported anyone running against a Democrat, and I’m running as an independent,” Hochman said.

‘For the first time they said: look, George Gascon is a disaster. He has hurt victims, not just them, but hundreds of victims’ families. He’s damaging the safety of Los Angeles.

“They met with me and believe in what I can do to restore law and order here in LA County.”

Sirhan has another parole hearing scheduled for August 16.