CRIME: CRIME ON THE BEAT
August 2010

A CRIME RING IN THE PARK?
Chestnut Street at Laguna
July 29, 3:45 p.m.
A woman was at Moscone Park playing with her toddler in the playground when she received a phone call from her bank saying there was strange activity on all three of her credit cards. All the cards had been used at a gas station on Lombard and at a BART station. She went to her stroller in the middle of the playground and found that her wallet was missing. Her wallet was buried deep in the diaper bag of the stroller, which was zipped up, and she realized the thieves had to have had her under surveillance to commit this theft. After speaking with other women in the park, she found out others had been ripped off in the same way recently. An SFPD source said this type of criminal operates all over town; they are opportunists and police have to work on educating moms about the danger of leaving valuables unattended.

ROBBER STOPS TO SHOP
1900 block of Union Street
August 13, 11:30 a.m.
Officers responded to a local bank regarding a robbery. The caller said the suspect went into a local business. The caller also gave a great description of the suspect. The officers, along with a sergeant, set up a perimeter around the store and the two officers went in. The officers cautiously searched the main floor and then went to the dressing room area. The officers announced themselves and the suspect slowly came out of a dressing room with his hands up in the air. The subject was immediately detained. The officer made contact with the teller to find out what exactly had happened. The teller told the officers the suspect came in, approached the window and asked a few questions. The suspect then handed the teller a piece of paper that asked for money. The note also said that he had a gun. The teller complied and the suspect left. The teller and witness positively identified the suspect and he was placed under arrest. Thankfully, the tellers were not injured in this incident. Great job by all the officers involved.

BURGLARY RING BUSTED
2100 block of Union Street
August 14, 6:45 p.m.
A plainclothes officer was informed by a sergeant to be on the look out for a red Dodge (license plate was given) that was involved in a robbery. An officer driving near Market and 7th saw the vehicle. The vehicle was stopped and all the occupants were detained. All occupants were taken back to Northern Station for further investigation. During a search of the vehicle, the officers located many items they believed had been stolen. Many of the items still had the tags on them and there were no receipts to be found. They also found burglary tools used to cut the sensors off items. The suspects, three in all, were booked on a variety of felony charges. The subjects were involved in several thefts at local businesses in the Northern District.

A WARRANTED ARREST
1600 block of Van Ness Avenue
August 15, 8 a.m.
Officers were driving along the Van Ness corridor when they saw a person they had prior contact with who had an outstanding parole warrant for his arrest. The officers detained the subject, confirmed the warrant was active, and placed him under arrest.

RENT-A-COPS DO THEIR JOB
1300 block of Webster Street
August 17, 3:15 p.m.
Officers responded to a local grocery store on a report that security was detaining a suspect. When the officers arrived, they spoke with the witness who told them the subject came into the store and stole four boxes of Advil. Security signed a citizen’s arrest and the suspect was taken into custody and transported to the station. The suspect was booked for burglary in the second degree.

Incidents reports listed here are based on witness statements as told to the reporting officers and are compiled by Cow Hollow Clyde.