The neighborhood debate over whether the Jack in the Box on Geary is an appropriate after-hours environment rages on.

On January 24th, the Entertainment Commission approved the restaurant’s request to stay open after hours, with some conditions. Rather than stay open 24 hours, the Commission ruled that Jack in the Box must close between the hours of 4am and 6am.

The Entertainment Commission’s ruling confused many residents, especially those who had rallied via a petition to ask that the Jack in the Box be forced to close from 2am until 4am, not 4am until 6am. It’s during the 2am to 4am hours when nearby residents claim there is the most noise and disruption at the restaurant due to patrons leaving nearby bars when they close.

Unhappy with the decision of the Commission, a resident group has filed an appeal that states, “We do not believe Jack in the Box can operate safely and within rules required by the permit between the hours of 2am and 4am. The restaurant’s small size makes it impossible to prevent excessive noise, traffic and loitering, and statistics unambiguously demonstrate that after hours patronage has caused an increase in violent crime and created impermissible noise and litter in a residential area.”

The appeal was filed on behalf of the Richmond Residents Association and The Chinese American Voters Education Committee (CAVEC). Both are headed up by David Lee, a neighborhood resident and owner of a State Farm Insurance branch located near the Jack in the Box. He also sits on the city’s Recreation & Parks Commission.

Lee was also behind the petition that gathered over 1,500 signatures from residents prior to the January 24 hearing, asking the Entertainment Commission require that Jack in the Box remain closed from 2am until 4am.

So why did the Entertainment Commission ignore the requests of petitioners and even nearby bar owners who want the Jack in the Box closed from 2am until 4am? In a neighborhood meeting just days before the hearing, the SFPD indicated they were in favor of Jack in the Box staying open 24 hours, despite police calls from the business being down since they reduced their hours in early December.

Even more surprising was Commissioner Audrey Joseph’s rationale for approving the permit. “It’s very important that we have food [available late at night]; it helps people not be as drunk,” she said at the January 24 hearing.

One RichmondSFBlog reader called Joseph’s argument “ignorant and reckless”. “You don’t sober up in 30 minutes and you don’t sober up from eating. It might make you FEEL better, but it does nothing to change blood alcohol level,” commenter kayvaan wrote.

Jack in the Box’s status in the neighborhood initially came into question after a tragic incident. In the early hours of Thanksgiving morning, a fight inside the Jack in the Box later led to a brutal hit and run accident on the corner of 9th and Geary.

The victim, 29 year old Albert Bartal, remains hospitalized with serious brain trauma. Bartal’s family started a Facebook page and a website to raise funds for his recovery. According to a post from his mother earlier this week, Albert remains in serious condition. “Albert was re-admitted to Kaiser Sacramento. No fever but he has ‘brain storms’ that cause his heart rate to soar, his body to contract, and he perspires A LOT!!” she wrote.

Police eventually arrested Eduardo Shaparo Esquivel, a 22-year old South San Francisco man who was identified from security footage from inside the Jack in the Box during the initial fight.

Since the incident, it was revealed that the Jack in the Box was staying open 24 hours a day, despite not having the required city permits to do so. As a result, they were forced to cut their hours and close at 2am every night. Then on January 24, the Entertainment Commission approved their permit, but with the condition that they close between the hours of 2am and 4am.

The appeal from Richmond Residents Association and The Chinese American Voters Education Committee will be heard by the Board of Appeals on February 29 at 5pm in City Hall, Room 416. The public is invited to attend the meeting and speak on the issue to the Board.

In the meantime, the permit that was issued on January 24 to Jack in the Box has been suspended. The restaurant will once again be forced to close between 2am and 6am until the matter is settled.

Sarah B.

CAPTAIN ERIC VINTERO’S MESSAGE
The Officers at Richmond Station have been working extremely hard this past week as we continue our efforts to reduce crime levels, ensure public safety, and manage traffic concerns. I would like to thank each and every one of you who e-mailed me areas of concern for traffic enforcement. I have shared these concerns with the Officers at Richmond Station and we will do our best to address all of these issues. The Officers at Richmond Station issued approximately 275 citations this past week. Many of the citations were for speeding and for failing to yield to pedestrians in a crosswalk. Many of the vehicles were towed due to the fact that the driver had a suspended driver’s license. Traffic safety is a high priority and we will continue to conduct various operations to promote vehicle and pedestrian safety.

A well know prolific auto-burglar (who is on parole for burglary) was arrested in Golden Gate Park this week by two plain-clothes Officers from Richmond Station. The parolee had a screwdriver in has hand and also had narcotic paraphernalia on his person. It is a well known fact that a small percentage of criminals are responsible for a vast majority of crime (especially when it comes to property crime). We are hoping that this fine arrest will reduce the number of auto-burglaries in the area. Officers at Richmond Station will be conducting extra patrols and enforcement operations in areas where we see patterns of crimes develop. Please do no hesitate to call the police to report any suspicious activity. I also encourage you to take advantage of San Francisco SAFE (Safety Awareness for Everyone www.sfsafe.org) San Francisco SAFE engages, educates, and empowers San Franciscans to build safer neighborhoods through crime prevention education and public safety services that result in stronger, more vibrant and resilient communities. They also provide free residential security surveys and can educate you on ways to make your home more secure.

We have had several reports of elderly victims falling for the Grandmother/Grandfather scam so I have included in this newsletter a release sent out by our Economic Crime Unit. Please warn the elderly members of your family that this is occurring and provide them with the information included in the release.

The next Richmond District community meeting will be held at Richmond Station on Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 7pm.

WESTERN UNION GRANDMOTHER/GRANDFATHER SCAM
The San Francisco Police Department has noticed an increase in occurrences of the “Western Union Grandmother/Grandfather” scam. This is a fraud in which a suspect telephones a victim, claiming to be a relative. The calls are intended to lower the victim’s guard using feigned familiarity and frighten them into wiring money with the report of a tragedy. When a victim picks up the phone, she may hear something like, “Grandma! It’s me! I’m in jail.”

The suspect addresses the victim in familiar terms—like “Grandma” or “Uncle”—to gain the victim’s confidence. The caller claims to be in some sort of peril at a distant location and in need of money immediately. For instance, the caller claims to have been mugged or arrested while traveling on vacation. The suspect asks the victim to wire money by Western Union , Money Gram or similar means. The money is relayed electronically to a remote account, often out of the country. The caller will often express embarrassment and ask the victim to keep the information “just between us.”

The San Francisco Police Department is advising people to be on guard for this scam. Anyone receiving a call that they suspect may be fraud can take the following steps to safeguard themselves.

- Be wary of unsolicited calls requesting an urgent wire transfer of funds.

- When receiving a suspicious call, don’t provide information and verify the caller. If the caller claims to be your son or granddaughter, ask, “Which one?”

- Ask questions that you would both know, but a stranger would not, like “What is the name of your dog?” or “Where did you go to elementary school?”

- Call back the family member who claims to be in distress. Don’t ask the caller for the number; if you don’t have the number; call another family member for the number.

- Scammers will often share information with each other about gullible victims. If you recognize the fraud, tell the caller you know, and then hang up.

NOTEWORTHY ARRESTS
On 01/26/12 at 10:25pm, the caller reported 3 suspicious persons, who had followed behind the caller and her husband as they walked to their apartment building. The 3 suspects then went to a vehicle parked nearby. Officers responded and located the vehicle and suspects. Two of the three suspects were in possession of narcotics and one had an outstanding warrant for his arrest from Modesto Police. They were booked accordingly.

On 01/29/12 at 2:36am, officers were on patrol eastbound on Clement St at 12th Ave. The officers could hear loud
music coming from the vehicle behind them which also did not have it’s headlights on. The officers pulled over to let the car pass and then conducted a traffic stop at 9th and Clement. When the officers asked for his driver’s license he told them he did not have one. When they asked who the car belonged to he told them it belonged to a “friend” but he couldn’t remember “her” name. The officers then told the suspect the car was registered to a male the suspect said, “I stole it.” Officers were able to track down the owner who said that his wife was using the car and she was at work on the 800 block of LaPlaya. Upon speaking to the wife, she told them she had left her keys in the pocket of her vest which had been hanging at the end of an aisle. The suspect also was in possession of the victim’s cell phone and coin purse. The 30 year old male was charged with stolen auto, possession of stolen property and traffic violations.

On 01/29/12 at 10:38am, plainclothes officers went to the 700 block of 31st Ave , to locate a subject who had a
parole warrant as well as an outstanding felony warrant from Belmont PD. As they arrived they saw the suspect standing outside of the house and upon identifying themselves as police officers, the suspect made eye contact and ran into the house locking the door behind him. As one officers stayed at the front, the other officer was making his way to the back of the house through a neighboring street. The officer at the back could see the suspect hopping fences finally jumping onto the roof of a shed in a neighboring backyard where he was taken into custody. The 47 year old male was charged with his warrants.

On 01/29/12 at 7:30pm, officers were called to the 5300 block of Geary on a report of a male who had stolen from the shop and tried to break the front window. Officers arrived on scene and the caller pointed out a male who was standing on the opposite side of Geary Bl. As the officers approached the male, he looked up and saw them coming and took off running. He first fell to the sidewalk and when he got up, he ran into the middle of Geary Blvd and as he crossed the center median, he fell on the ice plants. Officers were able to detain him and saw that he appeared agitated and confused. The male told the officers he had ingested some “shrooms.” Upon speaking to the caller she told the officers that the suspect had come into the shop and was acting strangely. He approached the counter and proceeded to knock all the pastries off of the counter. He then took a cookie and began to eat it. When confronted the male kicked open the glass front door and took off. The 21 year old male was charged with theft, trespassing and delaying arrest.

On 01/30/12 at 2:40pm, plainclothes officers were in the area of JFK Drive , near the Conservatory of Flowers when they observed the suspect walking along a pathway. The officers were very familiar with the suspect from previous arrests for auto burglary in Golden Gate Park. When the officers approached the suspect he dropped an item from his hand onto the grass. The officers saw that it was a screwdriver, which they knew he uses to make entry into vehicles. He was also in possession of narcotic paraphernalia and a knife. The 52 year old male was charged with a parole violation and possession of a knife and burglar tools.

On 02/02/12 at 2:30pm, plainclothes officers were in the area of Euclid and Parker when they observed the suspect walking along the curb line, peering into the windows of the cars parked along Euclid . They followed him for several blocks when he finally stopped at a Red Nissan. He turned and walked back in the direction towards one of the officers and they made eye contact. The suspect and the officer then recognized each other from a previous arrest. The suspect was detained and it was determined he was on probation. He was in possession of a knife, channel lock pliers, and several screwdrivers. He had also secreted in his mouth, porcelain spark plug chips which are commonly used by auto burglars to shatter car windows. The officers were also able to determine that the red Nissan had been driven to the area by the suspect and the Nissan had been reported stolen. The suspect, a 43 year old male was charged with possession of stolen property and burglary tools.

On 02/02/12 at 10:45pm, officers were called to the 400 block of 25th Ave , on a burglary that had just occurred. The caller stated that she was in her apartment when her buzzer rang. Believing it was her son coming home she buzzed the person in. The caller stood by the front door to greet her son, but no one came up the stairs. The caller then heard noises coming from the garage and she called her son on his cell phone. When the son said he was still a distance away from the home, the caller exited her apartment and looked down the stairs. She saw the suspect standing in the lobby with a metal cart full of her belongings that had been in the garage. She began yelling at the suspect who fled the scene, leaving the cart and contents behind. At this point the son came home and saw the suspect leaving the building and followed him to 23rd and Clement where the suspect tried to get into a cab. The son told the cab driver not to take the suspect as he was a burglar and the suspect got out of the cab. Officers arrived on scene and took the suspect into custody. The suspect, a 42 year old male was charged with burglary and possession of stolen property.

NOTEWORTHY INCIDENTS
On 01/26/12 at 9am an 87 year old female who resides in the Richmond District, received a phone call from a male claiming to be her grandson. The caller stated he was in Mexico and in trouble and needed her to wire him $2900. The female went to a money wiring service and did as instructed. She became suspicious when she did not receive a conformation call from her grandson the next day and upon contacting him, learned in fact that he was not in Mexico , nor did he place the phone call.

On 01/27/12 at 9am, another elderly resident of the Richmond District, a 93 year old male, received a phone call from a male claiming to be his grandson. The caller stated that he was in jail in Mexico and needed the victim to wire him $3000 to be released. The 93 year old male went to one wire service and they told him it was a “Scam” and not to send the money. The victim did not believe the employee and went to another wire service store and sent the money. The victim has since spoken to his grandson who lives in another state and did not call the victim.

Between 01/27/12, 9am and 01/28/12, 1:50pm on the 300 block of 8th Ave , a suspect made entry into a garage and took a bike. There were no signs of forced entry

On 01/27/12 between 9:30am and 6:30pm on the 700 block of Parker Ave , a suspect gained entry into a multi-unit garage and took a bike. There were no signs of forced entry.

On 01/27/12 between 2:00pm and 2:30pm on the 1800 block of Lyon , a bicycle was taken from a garage. The tradesman door may have been unlocked.

Between 01/28/12, 10am and 01/30/12, 12pm on the 400 block of 8th Ave, a suspect pried open the mail key box
which was affixed to the front iron gate. With the key the suspect was able to get in through the gate and front door and into the garage. It is unknown at this time what was taken.

On 01/28/12 between 3pm and 3:05pm, on the 2100 block of Scott St , the victim wheeled her bike to her apartment which is at the rear of the building. She laid her bike against the wall and went inside. When she returned 5 minutes later it was gone.

On 01/28/12 between 3:30pm and 5:30pm on the 800 block of 32nd Ave , a suspect entered an apartment by prying
open a side door and climbing into the window of a kitchen. Once inside the suspect took a handgun and cash.

On 01/29/12 at 10:15am, an employee got to work on the 500 block of Point Lobos and locked up his bike in the parking lot. When he got off at 6:00pm his bike was gone. Surveillance video shows a tan vehicle pulling into the parking lot and the driver getting out and riding off with the bike. The passenger in the vehicle then drives the car out and they fled in an unknown direction.

On 02/01/12, between 7:30pm and 9:00pm on the 700 block of 33rd Ave , a suspect pried open an iron gate leading to a tunnel entrance way to a home. From the entrance way the suspect took a bike and a skateboard.

Tips for Pedestrians:

Always use crosswalks and pedestrian-activated signals when they are available and cross only at intersections if they are not.

Never jaywalk. Drivers are not anticipating pedestrians crossing in the middle of the street so they may not have enough time to avoid hitting you.

Wear bright reflective clothing at night, in the evening and in the early morning hours.

Walk on the sidewalk. If there are no sidewalks, walk off the road facing traffic.

Watch for cyclists and vehicles backing up in driveways or parking lots.

When crossing driveways and alleys, always look left and right just as you would when crossing a street.

When crossing a street, walk, don’t run. This will allow drivers more time to see and come to a safe stop.

Watch for vehicles turning right on a red light. They may not be looking for you.

Most pedestrians overestimate the distance at which drivers can see them. Alcohol can limit your ability to judge situations – even as a pedestrian.

PAUSE until all vehicles are stopped. Assume drivers don’t see you and never step out into traffic until you have made eye contact with drivers and you are certain they will stop. When you step off the curb in front of a vehicle that has stopped to let you cross, don’t proceed until you have checked the traffic in all other lanes. Drivers may not realize other vehicles have stopped for pedestrians.

PROCEED with your arm extended, when all vehicles have stopped. Keep scanning both sides of the road as you cross. Stop in the middle of the crosswalk if you have to and make sure all oncoming vehicles intend to stop.

Don’t let children run out ahead of you. Children are less visible than adults and children cannot always exercise good judgment about safety – so stay close enough to pull them to safety.

Tips for Drivers:

When you are in a busy area such as main intersections, schools and playground zones anticipate someone crossing the street and slow down. Decreasing your speed by a few miles per hour will give you more time to stop.

Make sure your lights and windshield are clean.

Be aware of what other motorists are doing around you. If you are unsure why a vehi­cle has stopped, use caution, slow down and be prepared to stop in case the vehicle is stopped for a pedestrian.

When stopping for a pedestrian, don’t block the crosswalk. If you pull right up to the painted crosswalk lines, your vehicle may obscure the view of other drivers who then may not realize someone is crossing. Wait until the pedestrian has completely cleared the adjacent lanes before proceeding. By waiting, you alert other drivers that there is someone crossing the street. A hand signal (left arm extended out the window and straight down) can help draw attention to the situation. If you notice vehicles approaching the intersection quickly, flash your brake lights a few times or honk your horn. This may alert the driver as well as the pedestrian.

Be aware of left turns. When waiting to turn left at an intersection, be especially aware of pedestrians crossing the street to your left. Turning left across the oncoming traffic is tricky as you may be concentrating on the approaching traffic and fail to notice the pedestrians crossing. When you spot a gap in traffic, make sure nobody is in the crosswalk before you make your turn.

Watch out for jaywalkers. Although drivers have the right of way over jaywalkers, in the event of a collision no one wins.

The handrail on 48th Avenue at Balboa. The circled area is where a portion was sawed off on Thursday afternoon.

In May of last year, after urging from residents and Supervisor Eric Mar, the DPW installed a new handrail alongside some very steep stairs on 48th Avenue at Balboa.

The railing had been wiped out by a truck with runaway brakes a few years back. After an elderly resident fell and injured herself on the hill, neighbor Gabriel Lampert went on a personal crusade to get the handrail replaced. With help from Supervisor Mar’s office, the DPW stepped up and replaced it.

But as they say, no good deed goes unpunished. Gabriel returned home on Thursday afternoon to find that a portion of the handrail had been sawed off by vandals.

“Skateboarders had been out here often mumbling to themselves that the segment impeded their best jumps, so I’m guessing that’s who did this,” Gabriel told us.

The vandals removed the top portion of the longest stretch of the handrail.

Certainly not the crime of the century, but a shame to see something that many worked hard on be so carelessly vandalized.

Sarah B.

CAPTAIN ERIC VINTERO’S MESSAGE
Traffic Concerns
Traffic safety is a very high priority for the Officers at Richmond Station. I value all of the e-mails regarding locations in the District where individuals are violating traffic laws, and I take your concerns very seriously. We have experienced several serious traffic collisions this week, especially on Fulton Street . Officers are deployed to locations around the district based on the analysis of motor vehicle collision data and community input. This week I analyzed the data for over 300 traffic accidents which occurred in 2011. The three main corridors where accidents occurred were:

1) Geary Boulevard
2) Fulton Street
3) Park Presidio Boulevard

The primary collision factor for the majority of these accidents was unsafe speed (speeding).

Yesterday, Officers at Richmond Station conducted a pedestrian decoy operation at Fulton and 37th Avenue and Geary Boulevard @ 22nd Avenue . 35 citations were issued to drivers who failed to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk. There were two arrests for persons driving on a suspended license. In addition, radar speed trailers have been strategically placed on Fulton Avenue and on Point Lobos Ave. Richmond Station Officers will continue to conduct weekly pedestrian and radar sting operations at various problematic locations in an effort to reduce collisions and improve community safety. Please drive carefully and be mindful of all traffic control devices, speed limits, and of pedestrians and bicyclists on the roadways. With the rainy season finally here, it’s also a good time to conduct a vehicle light and safety inspection. Please ensure that all of your vehicle lights are in proper working order, tires have proper tread, and that the windshield wipers are not worn out. All of these factors make your vehicle more noticeable and improve your safety on the road.

The next Richmond District community meeting will be held at Richmond Station on Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 7pm.

NOTEWORTHY ARRESTS
On 01/23 at 11:15am, plainclothes officers were in the area of 38th and Geary Bl when they observed a male from
previous arrests and knew he was on probation. The officers stopped to speak to him and conduct a probation search. In the suspect’s backpack they found a computer monitor and 2 video surveillance cameras. They also located a large amount of methamphetamine. The 38 year old male was charged with probation and narcotics violations.

On 01/25 at 12:50am, officers were in the area of 38th Ave and Fulton and observed a vehicle traveling east on
Fulton . As the officers turned onto Fulton from 38th Ave , the vehicle made an abrupt left turn onto 35th without signaling. The officers conducted a traffic stop and the driver of the vehicle immediately exited saying he was lost. When the officer asked the driver to sit, the driver began to walk away while removing his jacket. The officers detained the male and had the female passenger exit the vehicle. The officer illuminated the interior of the vehicle and saw a large Ziploc baggie containing a large amount of cocaine, packaged for sales and cash. The 27 year old male was charged with various narcotic violations.

NOTEWORTHY INCIDENTS
Between 01/22, 10:15am and 01/23, 7am on the 5900 block of California St, a suspect entered a rear garden area and entered an unlocked storage area. The suspect attempted to gain access into a locked container but was unsuccessful. The suspect then entered the rear of the business by a side door. The suspect opened the cash register but there was no money inside.

Between 01/22, 8pm and 01/23, 7:30am on the 2000 block of Baker, a suspect gained entry into a garage and took 2 bicycles. The garage door may have been malfunctioning.

Between 01/23, 11pm and 01/24, 9am on the 3500 block of Balboa, a suspect gained entry into a restaurant by smashing the glass panel on the front door. The suspect took cash from the register.

On 01/24 at 10am, 3 female suspects entered a clothing store all carrying bags. They stuffed the bags with clothes from the racks and ran out the door. The suspects were described as females in their early 20’s, one wearing a purple knit hat and one with a hooded black windbreaker with the interior lining of the hood being white.

On 01/25 at 4:35am, a male was walking by the bus stop on Fulton near 16th Ave. He observed what he believed marijuana inside a torn garbage bag on the sidewalk. The officers responded and located the bag and estimated the weight to be about two pounds. The marijuana was sent to the lab for destruction.

On 01/25, between 8:30am and 9:30pm on the 2900 block of California St, a suspect gained entry into an apartment by forcing open a rear door. The suspect took jewelry and two laptops,

On 01/26 at 12:30am, a caller was reporting that he had observed a female spray painting the side of a truck. The caller heard the sound of a spray can being shaken and saw the suspect standing with another male. The caller asked the woman if she had a spray can and she said “no.” They both walked away and the caller then observed her spraying the side of a truck. The caller stopped her and called the police. The 18 year old was charged with vandalism and possession of graffiti tools.

Residents met with police and city officials on January 20th about the Jack in the Box
after hours permit request. Photo by David H.

Last Friday afternoon, the Richmond District police station hosted a community meeting about the Jack in the Box restaurant on Geary at 11th Avenue. At tomorrow’s Entertainment Commission meeting, the restaurant will be asking for their after-hours permit to be renewed, allowing them to remain open between the hours of 2am and 6am.

About ten neighbors attended the meeting, along with owners of two local bars – The Hearth and Would You Believe? – that are located just across the street from the restaurant. Others in attendance included new Richmond District station Captain Eric Vintero, two members of the Entertainment Commission, a representative from Jack in the Box, and Supervisor Eric Mar, who led the meeting.

Up for discussion was whether or not Jack in the Box should be permitted to stay open 24 hours. A fight began early on Thanksgiving morning in the restaurant, which then led to a brutal hit-n-run crime a couple of blocks away. After the incident, the city took a closer look at the restaurant and realized it no longer had the proper permits to operate after hours. So since early December, the Jack in the Box has been closed between 2am and 6am.

Neighbors who live nearby say it’s been a great improvement since the restaurant reduced its hours. There’s been less noise and a general sense of feeling safer.

“People have said for years it’s been like an alarm clock at 2 a.m.,” Lee said. “Now we can sleep through the night, and we feel safer to be shopping and walking around. It has transformed our neighborhood immediately around Jack in the Box, and we are here to fight to keep it this way,” resident David Lee told The Examiner.

The Examiner reports that police calls are down. The SFPD has received only 3 calls in the 7 weeks since Jack in the Box reduced their hours. In the months prior, when the restaurant was open 24/7, they were averaging 7 calls a month; a total of 270 calls in 2010. The majority of those occurred between 9pm and 4am.

While many residents are opposed to Jack in the Box being granted an after-hours permit, the SFPD are not. At the meeting, the police said they supported Jack in the Box being open 24 hours a day, with the stipulation that they increase their security.

Last year, the manager at the Jack in the Box worked with the Richmond Police Advisory Board and SAFE to make security improvements to the property, including improved lighting, adding security guards on Thursday through Saturday nights, and trimming overgrown landscaping.

Things seemed to be improving after the security changes, but the Thanksgiving day incident brought a high-powered microscope over the restaurant, one of only two businesses in the Richmond District that is open 24 hours a day.

The other is the Subway sandwich shop (5650 Geary at 21st Avenue) which, as it turns out, also does not have the proper permits to stay open after hours. The city is working to get them in to compliance. At last Friday’s meeting, Clement Street’s Rockit Room was mentioned several times as another source of neighborhood problems, resulting in police calls. Residents claim that so far, the club’s owners have not responded to the offer of a free security survey offer from SAFE, like the one that was provided for Jack in the Box last year.

The real fireworks will come at tomorrow’s meeting of the Entertainment Commission (6:30pm at City Hall, Room 400), when arguments will be heard from both sides about whether or not Jack in the Box should be allowed to operate after hours.

David Lee, a Richmond District resident and business owner, will no doubt present his petition for which he has gathered nearly 1,500 signatures from neighbors, all opposing Jack in the Box extending its hours.

But with the SFPD supporting a 24 hour operation and there being so few in the neighborhood, it’s possible that Jack in the Box could get its permit back.

Which way would you vote? To let Jack in the Box stay open 24 hours, or stay with their reduced hours?

Special thanks to cub reporter David H. for the details and photo from last Friday’s meeting.

Sarah B.

Captain Vintero included his full bio below in this week’s police blotter. Highlights include 17 years with the SFPD, and stints at many station houses. Vintero grew up right here in the Richmond District, attending Frank McCoppin Elementary School, Roosevelt Middle School, and George Washington High School.

“I am honored to be the Captain of Richmond Station and I look forward to working with the Community to make this the safest district in the City,” Vintero said.

Welcome back to the neighborhood, Captain Vintero!

Sarah B.

=======================

POLICE BLOTTER – January 20, 2011

[Reprinted from The Richmond Police Station Newsletter of January 12, 2011. To be added to the station's mailing list, email sfpd.richmond.station@sfgov.org.]

CAPTAIN VINTERO’S MESSAGE
This has been my first week on the job as the Captain of Richmond Station. I have been with the SFPD for nearly 17 years and have worked at the following stations and units; Richmond Station, Northern Station, Ingleside Station, Southern Station, SWAT team, Tenderloin Station, Taraval Station, Robbery Detail, Park Station, Mission Station, Bayview Station, and the Legal Division. I was born and raised in San Francisco and grew up in the Richmond District, attending Frank McCoppin Elementary School, Roosevelt Middle School, and George Washington High School. I have an A.S. Degree in Criminology from City College of San Francisco, and a B.S. Degree in Public Administration from the University of San Francisco . I am happily married and have 5 beautiful children. I am honored to be the Captain of Richmond Station and I look forward to working with the Community to make this the safest district in the City.

There have been several serious traffic accidents this week. Richmond Station will be conducting several traffic enforcement operations at problematic intersections to increase traffic and pedestrian safety. Attached to this bulletin are safety tips for drivers and pedestrians.

Captain Eric Vintero
Eric.vintero@sfgov.org

NOTEWORTHY INCIDENTS
Between 01/10/12, 9:15pm and 01/11/12, 7:15am on the 2700 block of Bush St, a suspect gained entry into a garage and entered the vehicle parked inside. The suspect took a wallet, cash and identification from the car, and a bike and skill saw from the garage. There were no signs of forced entry.

On 01/12 between 8am and 7pm on the 500 block of 7th Ave , a suspect gained entry into a garage and took a bicycle. There were no signs of forced entry.

Between 01/13/12, 6pm and 01/16/12, 9:30am on the 400 block of 9th Ave, a suspect gained entry into a garage and broke out a window of a vehicle parked inside. The suspect took a bag of clothing and a charger. There were no signs of forced entry into the garage.

On 01/15/12 at 10:37pm, the victim was on Fulton near 4th Ave. The suspects were walking towards him
and as they began to pass, one of the suspects grabbed the victim around his body, and the second suspect brandished a handgun. As victim struggled to get free the suspects punched him about his body then threw him to the ground. The suspects searched his pockets but were not able to locate any items. They fled north on 4th Ave , towards Cabrillo. The suspects were described as males in their early 20’s, one wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, the other in a gold jacket with a white hood.

On 01/16/12 at 1pm, the victim locked her bike to a tree at Clement and 8th Ave. When she returned at
1:30pm, the bike and lock were gone.

On 01/17/12 at 9:45am, the victim was inside her home on the 3200 block Pacific when she happened to look at her window. She saw that the suspect had opened the driver’s side door of her vehicle and was leaning into her vehicle taking her property. The victim remembered she had left her wallet in the car and ran out of the house yelling at the suspect to give her the wallet back. The suspect ran to his car and jumped in the driver’s seat, but the victim was able to hold open the suspects door, all the while yelling at him. With the victim still holding onto the open door, the suspect tried to back out of the parking place but didn’t have enough room. The suspect became agitated and finally threw the victim’s items out into the street. He then threw the car into reverse, struck the car parked behind him and fled west bound on Pacific Ave. The victim was uninjured. The suspect was described as a male in his early 20’s wearing a dark beanie cap, black jacket and blue jeans. The vehicle was described as a blue SUV, possibly a Toyota.

On 01/17/12 between 1pm and 11:30pm on the 400 block of 8th Ave , a suspect gained entry into a
garage and took a bike. There were no signs of forced entry.

CAPTAIN KEITH SANFORD’S MESSAGE
The New Year 2012 is upon us and I hope that everyone had a wonderful holiday season. 2011 was an active year with numerous events in the Richmond District. I appreciate all the assistance from business owners, community members and city agencies that contributed to our successes. I look forward to 2012 in maintaining our efforts in resolving crime, traffic issues and participating in our business/community events with members from our police stations being actively involved.

The Chinese Lunar New Years is coming soon and we are working with Project SAFE in being active in our business corridors, handing out safety/crime prevention material relating to extortion, burglaries, robberies and crimes of opportunity. Supervisor Eric Mar, SAFE representatives, business members and Richmond Station Officers will walk the Clement Corridor on January 19th at 1PM, meeting at 4th Ave. /Clement.

I anticipate working with Project SAFE, Senior Action Network, MUNI, SF WALK in having a traffic safety enforcement operation on January 30th in the area of Geary Blvd, Palm and Arguello.

Speaking of Traffic Safety, I am sorry to report that Richmond Police Station has lost to retirement, Sergeant John Fewer. John was our supervisor overseeing the motorcycle officers at Richmond Police Station. We now have three motorcycle officers assigned to our district. John has been instrumental in policing for over 30 years and I had the pleasure of working for John when he was my Sergeant at Central Police Station. John oversaw all the foot beat officers working 7pm-3am, in the Tenderloin, Fisherman’s Wharf, Union Square and Broadway. John demanded the best from his officers in work efforts, professionalism and community service. John has been an asset to the City of San Francisco and the San Francisco Police Department. I know that John will enjoy his retirement and I want to thank you for all your service as well as your assistance to me in my police career. We will miss you!

Our PCRF will be held on January 17th at 7pm in the Richmond Police Station community room. Refreshments will be served.

NOTEWORTHY ARRESTS
On 01/08/12 at 6:57am, officers were called to a suspicious vehicle parked on the 100 block of Commonwealth. The caller was reporting that there was at least one person in the car, who appeared to be looking around with a flashlight. Officer arrived and located 3 persons in the car and they told the officers that their car had broken down and they were waiting for a ride. Upon running the license plate they determined that the vehicle was stolen. The three parties, all of whom were on parole were detained by the officers. Eventually the driver of the vehicle, a 30 year old male was charged with stolen auto. The other two were released.

NOTEWORTHY INCIDENTS
On 01/06/12 at 3:40am, a caller reported that she had heard glass breaking outside her home on the 100 block of Palm Ave. When she looked out her window she saw the suspect standing next to her neighbor’s car with his arm inside the driver’s side window. As the suspect approached the caller’s vehicle she yelled out that she was calling the police and he had better start running. The suspect ran out of sight but the caller could hear glass breaking and an alarm going off down the street. In total 6 vehicles had their windows broken, but after located registered owners only one could report a loss. The suspect was described as a male wearing a brown leather jacket, and a medium build.

On 01/06/12 at 1:20pm, the victim was approached by the suspect on the 1300 block of Lake St. The suspect told the victim that he had been entrusted with $200,000.00 dollars to distribute to various churches and charities. The suspect asked for a ride to pick up another party who was supposed to be a deacon at an unnamed church. During the ride the suspect told the victim that he would give the victim some of the money but as a good faith measure both the victim and the “deacon” would have to withdraw cash from their own accounts to show good faith. The deacon went into his bank first and upon returning to the vehicle, gave the suspect an unknown amount of cash. The suspect handed the deacon a red bandana that supposedly held the deacons portion of the money and the deacon left. They then went to the victim’s bank where he withdrew $4000.00 and gave it to the suspect. The suspect then handed the victim a red bandana and left the area. When the victim opened the bandana a short time later, he discovered it was full of sheets of folded up newspaper. The suspect was described as a male, 60-65, who was semi-bald and walked with a limp. The deacon was described as a male with mirrored sunglasses, dark pants and carrying a briefcase.

Between 01/06/12, 3pm and 01/08/12, 5pm on the 100 block of 10th Ave , a suspect gained entry into a garage and took a bike. There were no signs of forced entry.

On 01/07/12, between 1:15pm and 10:45pm on the 2500 block of Sutter, a suspect gained entry into an apartment and took a bag containing ID, a passport and Clipper Card. There were no signs of forced entry.

On 01/08/12 at 1:40am, the victim was walking on Fulton approaching 10th Ave. The suspects step out in front of him and told him to give up his property. The suspects began to go through his pockets and took his iphone, ipod and wallet. The suspects fled in an unknown direction and due to poor lighting the victim was unable to get a good look at the suspects but stated that they were all wearing hats with flaps over the ears.

Between 01/09/12, 7pm and 01/10/12, 7:30am on the 400 block of 9th Ave, a suspect gained entry into a garage and took a bike. There were no signs of forced entry.

Between 01/09/12 11pm and 01/10/12, 7:30am, a suspect gained entry into a garage and took items from vehicles parked inside. There were no signs of forced entry.

Between 01/10/12, 9:15pm and 01/11/12, 7:15am on the 2700 block of Bush St, a suspect gained entry into a garage and took items from the vehicle parked inside. The suspect also took a bike and a skill saw. There were no signs of forced entry.

The vandalized trees on the 500 block of Funston. Photo by Kay Voyvodich

In the past week, two incidents of tree vandalism were discovered by residents that live along the 400 and 500 blocks of Funston Avenue, just on the other side of the greenbelt along Park Presidio Boulevard.

Recently, the city planted three new trees on the 500 Funston block near Anza Street. Less than three days later, the trees were torn in half and left broken on the grass.

“Just disgusting. Makes me sick,” wrote one member of the Yahoo! Group BoulevardNeighbors, made up of residents that live along the greenbelt. Many of them volunteer their time to care for the greenbelt that sits across from their homes on Funston and 14th Avenue.

Photo by Kay Voyvodich

Just a week earlier, another resident noticed tree branches on the 400 block of Funston had been snapped and torn off. “It was disheartening to see,” wrote group member Jeffrey. “Do we have a deranged tree killer on the loose?”

Tree vandalism is nothing new to the Richmond District. In the summer of 2010, a total of 44 trees and some rose bushes were destroyed in Golden Gate Park. Among them were 17 elm trees that were sawed in half in the dark of night in the Music Concourse. They were later replaced at a cost of $30,000 thanks to a donation from Chase Freedom.

During the summer spree, the Rec & Park Department even offered a $2,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the tree vandal, but nothing ever came of it. At one point, police were staking out potential targets 24 hours a day with undercover and uniformed cops patrolling more than 40 hot spots in the park.

Towards the end of the spree, there were even some bushes destroyed along the Park Presidio greenbelt near Fulton.

Tree branches were snapped off on the 400 block of Funston. Photo by Jeffrey Gray

Who is responsible for these latest acts of vandalism? No residents have witnessed the vandals at work, but some think it may be coming from the illegal campers that reside in the greenbelt.

“There are frequently campers on that block. They can only be seen from the Presidio side,” one BoulevardNeighbors group member wrote.

Illegal encampments are a frequent topic of discussion on the group’s message boards. In November, a longtime encampment was finally removed after one neighbor complained to a passing motorcycle officer.

“I told him how frustrating it was to have to call all the time and that now there were two encampments. He got some fellow officers and they cleaned out two very large encampments and stayed and waited for Public Works to show up to get stuff,” wrote the neighbor.

Members of the group frequently exchange reports of encampments. Police encourage them to call the SFPD dispatch line at 553-0123 whenever they see a new one developing.

Despite the clearing, the camper returned quickly and police had to be called again. “This particular camper is breaking branches off of small bushes and really setting up house,” wrote the group member.

Whether this latest act of vandalism is due to the homeless living close by, or some other anti-tree activist remains to be seen. Let’s just hope it subsides so we don’t have to look to donations to help replace our ruined trees.

Sarah B.

Some Richmond District residents are signing an online petition to prevent the Geary Street Jack in the Box from reclaiming their after hours permit.

The fast food restaurant, located on the corner of Geary and 11th Avenue, has been a longtime sore spot for local residents and police. Until recently, the restaurant was open 24 hours a day and was a magnet for rowdy patrons leaving nearby bars at 2am.

In the early hours of Thanksgiving morning, a fight inside the Jack in the Box later led to a brutal hit and run accident on the corner of 9th and Geary. The victim, 29 year old Albert Bartal, remains hospitalized in serious condition. Police eventually arrested Eduardo Shaparo Esquivel, a 22-year old South San Francisco man who was identified from security footage from inside the Jack in the Box during the initial fight.

Since the incident, it was revealed that the Jack in the Box was staying open 24 hours a day, despite not having the required city permits to do so. As a result, they were forced to cut their hours and close at 2am every night.

But the restaurant is returning to the Entertainment Commission on January 10 to ask that their after hours permit be reinstated. A new permit would enable them to stay open between 2am and 6am every night.

That prompted action from David Lee, president of the Richmond District Police Advisory Board, who began circulating a petition late last week, asking that the Commission deny the restaurant’s permit. His goal is to obtain 1,000 signatures in time for the hearing.

As neighbors, we believe that the neighborhood would be much better off if Jack in the Box closed between the hours of 2am and 4am. Moreover, the repeated police calls at Jack in the Box drain precious police resources from the rest of the neighborhood in the late hours when they are most needed.

Earlier this year, the manager at the Jack in the Box worked with the Richmond Police Advisory Board to make security improvements to the property, including improved lighting, adding security guards on Thursday through Saturday nights, and trimming overgrown landscaping.

Nevertheless, the location remains a source of distress to nearby residents and police who respond to regular incident calls from the restaurant.

The Jack in the Box after-hours permit application will be on the agenda at the January 10, 2012 meeting of the Entertainment Commission, which takes place at 6:30pm in room 400 at City Hall. The online petition urging the Commission to deny the permit can be found here.

Sarah B.

CAPTAIN KEITH SANFORD’S MESSAGE
As this is our last newsletter of 2011, I would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. We here at Richmond Police Station are fortunate to work in a neighborhood with so many caring and concerned citizens and community groups. We want to continue to work together to keep our district safe and make sure that 2012 proves to be the best yet!

I would also like to thank those of you who were so generous in donating toys to our station’s Toy Drive for SFPD Operation Dream. One of our offices here is chock full of toys and your thoughtfulness will make many children happy.

NOTEWORTHY ARRESTS
On 12/15 at 1:55am officers were called to the area of 3rd and Geary on a report of males “tagging” the side of a PG&E truck. Officers were flagged down by the caller who pointed out a male and told the officers that he was one of the suspects. Officers detained the male who said, “Is this about the truck? Sorry about that.” The caller stated that his truck was parked on the 300 block of Clement St, and when he was walking to it he saw the suspect and one other male, writing on the side of his truck. As he walked up to them they took off running. The 29 year old male was charged with vandalism.

On 12/19 at 11pm, officers were called to 33rd and Geary on a report of a robbery that had just occurred. The victim had been on a 38 Geary MUNI and as the bus came to a stop at 33rd Ave, one of the suspects ripped her iPhone from her hand and fled out the door with the second suspect. The victim screamed and then ran after them. A witness called 911 and provided a description and direction of the suspects. Numerous officers responded to the area and the suspects were located on the 400 block of 25th Ave. The suspect tried to conceal the phone in a planter box nearby but the officers observed this action and recovered the phone. The two suspects, both 15 years of age, were charged with robbery and possession of stolen property.

NOTEWORTHY INCIDENTS
On 12/14 between 11:30am and 4pm on the unit block of Jordan, a suspect entered a residence by prying open a rear door. The suspect took jewelry and cash.

On 12/14 at 12:40pm, the victim went into a restaurant on the 1600 block of Divisadero. He placed two bags on the floor near him and placed an order. When he turned around the bags, containing a laptop and ipad were gone.

Between 12/14, 3:30pm and 12/15, 4pm on the 700 block of Spruce St , a suspect gained entry into a garage and took tools. There were no signs of forced entry.

On 12/14 at 10pm, on the 2900 block of Lake St , the victims were in the upper level of their residence when the burglar alarm sounded. One of the residents went downstairs to investigate and found a sliding glass door open. The victim’s exited the home and waited for the police. Officers discovered that the suspect had removed louvered windows from a back door and made entry taking several items. The suspect then fled through the sliding door.

On 12/15 at 7:50pm, the victim was opening the front gate of his home on the 400 block of 26th Ave when the suspect came up from behind him and closed the gate, preventing the victim from leaving. The suspect told the victim to remain calm and quiet and when the victim began to yell for help, the suspect pointed a knife at his face. The suspect asked for money but was then scared away when a relative of the victim pulled up to the driveway. The suspect was described as a male, early 30’s wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and black pants and he fled east on Clement St toward 25th Ave. The victim was uninjured.

On 12/16 between 2:30pm and 5:45pm on the 1500 block of Balboa, a suspect gained entry into a garage and took a bike. The rear of the garage is open and accessible.

On 12/16 at 4:54pm, 3 suspects, all wearing masks entered a jewelry store on the 5500 block of Geary Bl. One of the suspects smashed the display cases and took jewelry while the other two rushed the employees who began to fight with the suspects. One of the victims sustained a minor injury and the suspects, two of which were armed, fled south onto 20th Ave. The investigation is on-going.

Between 12/16, 5pm and 12/19, 9am near MLK Drive and Lincoln Way, a suspect removed copper drain pipes from a Rec and Park pump house.

On 12/19, between 9am and 5:30pm on the unit block of 7th Ave, a suspect gained entry into an apartment building and pried open the door to the garage. The suspect took golf clubs.