Northern Station reports that in one recent week — Oct. 22–28 — there were 51 auto burglaries, bringing the year-to-date total to 4,317. That’s down from the year-to-date total of 5,526 for the same time last year.
That same week, there were seven burglaries in the Northern Station region, bringing the year-to-date total to 683, up from 586 for the same period in 2017. There were nine robberies, a category of crime that also increased to 302 so far this year, compared to 272 for the same period in 2017.
Auto burglaries have of course been one of the biggest pain points of residents and visitors to San Francisco for the past few years, and Northern Station Capt. Joseph Engler chalks up what he calls “an unprecedented reduction in auto burglaries) to good cooperation among police officers and residents, businesses, and other organizations invested in the quality of life on the Northside.
IT’S IN THE CAN
Oct. 10, 3:46 a.m.
800 block of Geary Street
In an area of the city that has been the scene of numerous citizen complaints regarding illicit drug sales, officers in an unmarked vehicle noticed a suspicious person concealing narcotics. Officers located a tin can used by the suspect to conceal narcotics for sales; the can contained methamphetamine, heroin, and cocaine. The suspect was detained without incident.
ALTERED STATES
Oct. 13, 12:58 a.m.
1200 block of Fulton Street
Responding to a report of a burglary in progress, officers spotted the suspect walking away from the site of the crime. Attempts to detain the suspect peacefully were not successful, and after a violent struggle, officers were able to take the suspect to the hospital because of altered mental status. He later was moved to County Jail.
THE SOCK MARKET
Oct. 19, 3:45 p.m.
798 Eddy Street
Officers observed two suspects conduct multiple narcotics exchanges approximately 400 feet from the Tenderloin Community School, which was in session at the time of this incident. The suspects actively avoided the marked units before returning to the same places on the sidewalk. A suspect who is believed to have purchased narcotics from one of the dealers was later detained with narcotics believed to have been from the sale; he was later cited for being in possession. The suspects who had been observed making sales were then detained by officers, who confiscated a sock filled with multiple types of narcotics. The suspects were arrested.
BLOOD, ALCOHOL, GUN
Oct. 19, 8:31 p.m.
Location not disclosed
Officers responded to a report of someone possessing a firearm, and when they arrived they observed a group of people surrounding a suspect who appeared to be inebriated due to alcohol. The suspect was also bleeding from the nose and unable to conduct an interview or comment on his condition. An officer found a loaded firearm under a nearby car; security video footage showed that the gun had been taken from the suspect by an unknown male. The suspect, who had prior convictions and had served time in state prison, was arrested and booked. The firearm had been reported stolen out of Sacramento.
A DISPOSITION FOR POSSESSION
Oct. 26, 11:45 p.m.
800 block of Ellis Street
Northern Station Street Crimes officers observed someone they recognized from earlier narcotics arrests. They surveilled the subject, who was seated in a parked car, and observed a possible narcotics transaction take place. After witnessing multiple traffic infractions, they called officers in marked police cars to conduct a traffic stop. In plain view, the subject was found to be in possession of methamphetamine for sale. But that wasn’t the subject’s only problem: Officers determined that the vehicle was stolen, and the subject was found to be in possession of identity theft materials of multiple victims.
SERIAL CRIMES
Oct. 28, 11:15 a.m.
Central District apartment complex
A burglary occurred on Oct. 17, and later a crime alert with video and photos was issued. Following an arrest in a nearby apartment complex, two subjects were charged with multiple crimes.
TIGHT LIPS
Oct. 29, time not disclosed
Muni 38 bus
In the area of Geary and Laguna Streets, a violent strong-arm robbery took place on a Muni bus. Video surveillance showed the suspect nearly drag the victim off the bus as he struggled to take her phone. A crime alert was issued, and several officers helped identify the suspect and alerted investigators to the fact that he is known to frequent the mid-market corridor. On Nov. 3, officers located the suspect at Market and Fourth Streets as he waited to board a bus. He was informed of his Miranda rights, and he admitted it was he on the crime alert flyer. He refused to elaborate further.
VLAD THE IMPALA
Nov. 3, 5:27 p.m.
Fulton and Steiner Streets
Street Crimes officers observed an auto burglary occur, and noted the involvement of a black Chevrolet Impala with tinted windows. They had been investigating a series of auto burglaries in the district and had heard that this type of vehicle was involved with a known suspect. They contacted the sheriff who had access to the suspect’s ankle monitor, and Northern Station units tracked him to his home in the Bayview District. The suspect and the vehicle were both located and taken into custody without incident.
