Police Blotter – April 1, 2016

SFPD Richmond District Police Station
Weekly Update 04-01-2016

From Captain Paul Yep:

Happy April Fools’ Day Everyone!

Beware of pranksters today. I have already personally been the victim of a prank this morning! You know who you are!

Unfortunately, the crimes and public safety issues that are currently occurring in the Richmond Police District are not a joking matter. The most challenging are auto break-ins (property theft from vehicles), burglaries from garages, traffic collisions and assisting persons with mental health issues and/or persons in crisis (substance abuse, life altering events…).

I will be updating you with crime fighting strategies and information about all of these matters in the next few weeks.

Let’s start with auto break-ins (Auto Burglary). The officers of Richmond Station are on a mission to deter and prevent this crime. I am seeing a continuous pattern with roughly two hundred reported incidents per month in our District. This is unacceptable!

BEWARE! The most problematic areas are at the Great Highway and Point Lobos Avenue, throughout Golden Gate Park (especially by the Academy of Sciences and Stow Lake) and in all of our major commercial corridors (Geary Boulevard, Clement Street, California Street) and main thoroughfares (Great Highway and Fulton Street).

I have a commitment from Captain John Jaimerena from our neighboring Northern Police Station to run a few joint enforcement operations in our neighborhoods in April. He has one of the best plain clothes teams in our City and they will be working with the Richmond Station Investigations Team to take enforcement action.

Additionally, I am in contact with the Municipal Transportation Agency (MTA) to have “Auto Burglary Prevention” signs posted in some of our most frequently victimized public parking lots. The thieves often will target rental cars and unsuspecting tourists and visitors.

YOU CAN HELP! Tell anyone and everyone to not leave any property in their parked cars in public places at any time.

At a community member’s request, Richmond Station is offering the following advice if a person comes to your door claiming to be a PG&E worker:

– Customers should always ask to see identification before allowing anyone claiming to be a PG&E representative inside their home. PG&E employees always carry their identification and are always willing to show it to you.
– If a person claiming to be a PG&E employee has identification and you still feel uncomfortable, call PG&E’s customer service line at 1-800-PGE-5000 to verify an appointment and/or PG&E’s presence in the community. If you feel threatened in any way, you should notify local law enforcement immediately. Do not allow anyone who makes you feel uncomfortable access to your home.
– Customers who have an appointment with PG&E will receive an automated call back within 48 hours prior to a scheduled visit, or they will receive a personal call from a PG&E gas service representative prior to a scheduled visit.
– PG&E’s Credit Department will not ask for personal information or a credit card number over the phone. Anyone who has received such a phone call and provided credit card or checking account information should report it immediately to the credit card company or bank and law enforcement.
– Customers with concerns about the legitimacy of a call about a past due bill, a service request or a request for personal information are encouraged to call PG&E at 1-800-PGE-5000.

PG&E takes security seriously and will actively work with law enforcement to help stop any scam impacting customers. Anyone who has received a call or visit similar to the one described above can report it immediately by calling PG&E at 1-800-PGE-5000.

Here are some of the incidents that occurred in the Richmond Police District this week:

*There were several traffic collisions in the Richmond District this past week, including three along Fulton Street. Remember to always be aware of the vehicles, bicycles and pedestrians around you while operating a motor vehicle. Please drive at the speed limit, refrain from using your mobile phone when driving, and obey all posted signs. Expect the unexpected, and be prepared to brake suddenly or take evasive action to avoid a collision. The life you save may be your own!

BURGLARY
03/24/2016 07:25 AM
Geary & 12th Ave.
The victim arrived at his place of business to find it had been burglarized. On the floor in the middle of the room was a torn open envelope that the victim had been using to store a large amount of cash, which was now missing. As the victim walked through his business he realized a window had been broken and the store was in disarray. When Officers arrived on scene they walked through the premises but were unable to locate any suspects. There is no suspect description at this time, and the investigation is ongoing.

ARREST: WARRANT
3/24/2016 12:12 PM
Fulton & 43rd Ave.
Officers observed a man in the street yelling and waving his arms around as if he was upset. When Officers stopped to check on the man and offer assistance, one of the Officers recognized him from prior contacts while working auto burglary abatement in Golden Gate Park. The Officers ran a records check of the man and discovered he had an outstanding warrant for his arrest. The male was arrested and later booked into County Jail on the warrant.

ARREST: METHAMPHETAMINE POSSESSION FOR SALE; PROBATION VIOLATION
3/24/2016 03:36 AM
26TH Ave. & Geary Blvd.
Officers on patrol noticed a car parked illegally in a red zone blocking a fire hydrant. Officers then observed a male suspect walking towards the car. When the Officers asked the man questions, he pretended not to hear them and continued to walk away. Officers were finally able to stop the man and he began to act strangely, darting his eyes back and forth and sliding his feet back and forth on the ground. The suspect told the Officers he was on felony probation out of SF County. As other Officers arrived on scene they noticed a large amount of white crystals on the ground where the man was sliding his feet. Based upon their training and experience, the officers suspected the white crystals to be methamphetamine. A probation search of the suspect revealed a large amount of money in his pocket, which combined with the suspected methamphetamine, led the officers to believe the man was involved in drug sales. The man was arrested and booked into county jail for possessing methamphetamine for sale and a probation violation.

ARREST: WARRANT
3/25/2016 10:00 PM
32ND Ave & Clement St.
Officers on patrol observed a man lying on the ground on the upper level of a parking structure. When the Officers approached the man they asked him his name and ran a computer check. The check revealed the man had a “no bail” warrant out of Sonoma County for his arrest. The man was arrested and booked into jail on the warrant.

ARREST: DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL
3/27/2016 6:47 PM
Great Highway & Balboa
Officers were called to the Cliff House Restaurant regarding a rowdy patron. By the time Officers arrived, they were told the suspect had left the restaurant and was last seen driving her car southbound on the Great Highway. Officers searching the area observed a vehicle blocking southbound traffic on the Great Highway so they conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle. The Officers identified the driver of the vehicle as the same person that was causing a scene in the restaurant. Officers noticed the suspect’s eyes were droopy and blood shot. The smell of alcohol was also emanating from the suspect’s breath. The suspect performed several sobriety tests and was ultimately arrested for suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol.

BATTERY
3/28/16 11:21 AM
Geary & 11th Ave.
Two men got into an altercation regarding one of the men riding a bicycle on the sidewalk. Both subjects exchanged heated words. The man who was walking became angry, pushed the bicyclist up against the wall and punched him 3-4 times in the head. A person nearby intervened and broke up the fight. When Officers arrived and heard both sides of the story, they determined neither party wanted to press charges against the other. Both men were released with warnings.

ARREST: MALICIOUS MISCHIEF VANDALISM TO A VEHICLE
03/30/16 12:51 PM
Geary & Funston
The victim was driving his vehicle westbound Geary Blvd., when a driver in the lane next to him began to yell at him. At a red light, the suspect then got out of his car and hit the victim’s trunk with his fist, causing a dent. The victim called police and when they arrived, stated he had accidentally changed lanes in front of suspect, who was in his blind spot. The victim told Officers he didn’t intentionally cut the man off. The suspect was detained at the scene, cited for vandalism to a vehicle, and released.

Contact Us:
Richmond Station
461 6th Ave.
San Francisco, CA 94118
415-666-8000
E-mail: SFPDRichmondStation@sfgov.org