[Reprinted from The Richmond Police Station Newsletter of July 31, 2009. To be added to their mailing list, email the station at sfpd.richmond.station@sfgov.org or visit their website.]
CAPTAIN RICHARD CORREIA’S MESSAGE
Since the first of the year officers have been focusing traffic enforcement efforts in response to your complaints about particular problems as well as at locations that we know to be especially dangerous. In June officers issued 500 citations for moving violations and our speed indicator trailer was deployed daily around the District. I am delighted to report to you that the number of injury traffic collisions has declined rather precipitously in the last two months. At the end of April we stood at 108 injury accidents for the year, an average of 27 per month. In May the number of collisions declined to 19 and in June there were 12.
Reports of robberies and burglaries are both lower in the month of June.
There were 12 robberies in April, 16 in May and 8 in June. These incidents, mainly street robberies, have been occurring throughout the district and at times ranging from mid-afternoon to the late evening. These crimes tend to occur on streets immediately adjacent to Geary Boulevard and victims are usually walking alone. These robberies are most often perpetrated by two or more suspects. The suspects seem drawn to victims who are listening to music on earphones or talking on a cell phone, likely because they can sneak up on the victim without being heard.
In June of 2008 there were 24 burglaries in the District. The three-month trend is as follows: 30 burglaries in April, 32 in May and 14 in June. If you see anyone suspicious in your neighborhood, please call the police immediately. Remember most residential burglaries are committed in the daytime hours and often no force is used to gain entry. I encourage you to contact San Francisco Safety Awareness for Everyone (SFSAFE) to learn how you can protect your home from being burglarized. Telephone SAFE at 415.553.1984 or visit their website at http://sfsafe.org.
The King Tut exhibit opened recently at the deYoung Museum. We had anticipated significant traffic problems due to the exhibit; however, it seems that with tickets being sold for particular admission times, traffic is spread out more evenly over the entire day. Public transportation is still recommended since the museum’s garage fills to capacity by mid-morning most days and there is very little street parking.
The increase in summer visitors to the Academy of Sciences and the de Young Museum has not slipped the attention of auto burglars, who are especially active in Golden Gate Park between Arguello and Crossover drive. We had 92 auto burglaries in April, 59 in May and 69 in June.
On July 25, 2009 Richmond officers’ working in plain clothes staked out a car at Middle Drive and Bowling Green Drive in Golden Gate Park. There were several items of value in the car, including, a backpack, computer and an IPOD. The officers knew from experience that an auto burglar would find the car an appealing target. Indeed, several hours into the stakeout an individual burglarized the car, and he was immediately arrested. A subsequent search of the suspect turned up evidence from a theft committed nearby earlier in the day and narcotics. The suspect, who has been arrested forty-nine times, including thirty-one times for felonies, was booked for burglary, possession of stolen property, theft and a narcotics violation. This individual is likely responsible for several auto burglaries daily.
During the past week, there were 17 traffic accidents, 2 involving injuries. There were also 2 arrests for driving under the influence.
NOTEWORTHY ARRESTS
On 07/23/09 at 6:30 am a vehicle was stopped at the intersection of Arguello Boulevard and Geary Boulevard for a speeding violation. A computer check revealed that the driver had an expired license. The Driver was arrested, cited, and released on scene. The vehicle was towed per the vehicle code.
On 07/23/09 at 8:40 am a vehicle was stopped at the intersection of 23rd Avenue and Balboa Street for a stop sign violation. A computer check revealed that the driver had an expired license. The Driver was arrested, cited, and released on scene. The vehicle was towed per the vehicle code.
On 07/23/09 at 12:26 pm Officer Marcelo was on foot patrol in the area of Geary Boulevard and 33rd Avenue when he heard a citizen yelling for the police. Officer Marcelo hurriedly walked around the corner and saw a citizen detaining a juvenile suspected of vandalizing a MUNI bus. Officers located the bus that was riddled with fresh graffiti. The graffiti matched the paint on the suspect’s hands and the markers found inside his pocket. The juvenile suspect was cited.
On 07/23/09 at 7:44 pm a vehicle was stopped at the intersection of Geary Boulevard and 28th Avenue for not having a rear license plate. Upon a computer check, it was discovered that the driver had a suspended license. The Driver was arrested, cited, and released on scene. The vehicle was towed per the vehicle code.
On 07/24/09 at 8:10 pm, officers responded to Parker Avenue and McAllister Street regarding a report of a citizen detaining a subject. Officers met with USF Officers who told them that they had detained the subject for theft and that the suspect had two glass pipes and a clear baggy containing a white crystalline substance suspected of being crystal methamphetamine. The arrest was taken from the USF officers and the suspect was booked at Richmond Station.
On 07/25/09 at 3:35 pm officers working the plain clothes unit were tasked to monitor the increasing auto boosting incidents within the Richmond District. They concentrated their efforts inside Golden Gate Park where they saw an individual burglarize a vehicle. The suspect was booked on felony burglary charges and for possession of narcotic paraphernalia.
On 07/25/09 at 7:47 pm a vehicle was stopped at the intersection of Geary Boulevard and Collins for not having license plates. A computer check revealed that the driver had an expired license. The Driver was arrested, cited, and released on scene. The vehicle was towed per the vehicle code.
On 07/26/09 at 5:29 am officers responded to the 300 Block of Balboa Street regarding a report of a domestic violence incident. The investigation revealed that the victim was struck with a hard plastic photo cube, causing injury to the left side of her face. The suspect was arrested and booked for a felony charge of inflicting injury upon a cohabitee.
On 07/26/09 at approximately 2:40 pm officers responded to the area of Sacramento Street and Walnut Street regarding a burglary in progress. Officers detained a suspect at UCSF, located at 3333 California Street that matched the suspect’s description. A search of the suspect revealed various stolen items including a laptop, cell phones, cut up credit cards, checks, and various burglary tools. Also during the search, an ankle tracking device was discovered on the suspect and officers determined that the suspect was on parole. An employee of the store positively identified the laptop found on the suspect as their property. Upon further investigation, it was discovered that the suspect also broke into two other adjacent offices in the area. The suspect was arrested and booked for charges, including burglary, possession of stolen property and a violation of parole.
On 07/28/09 at 7:44 am a vehicle was stopped at the intersection of Geary Boulevard and 6th Avenue for a red light violation. A computer check revealed that the driver had an expired license. The Driver was arrested, cited, and released on scene. The vehicle was towed per the vehicle code.
On 07/28/09 at 9:44 am officers responded to the 3700 Block of Balboa Street regarding a vehicle collision. A computer check revealed that the driver had an expired license. The Driver was arrested, cited, and released on scene. The vehicle was towed per the vehicle code.
On 07/28/09 at 10:59 pm officers stopped a vehicle for a license plate violation. Upon making contact with the driver, a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage emanated from the driver’s breath. The driver exhibited physical and motor behavior consistent with that of an intoxicated person. A field sobriety test was conducted and the driver was unable to perform any of the tests. A Preliminary Alcohol Screen (PAS) test was conducted and the driver was determined to have alcohol in his system in excess of the lawful limit. The driver was arrested and a computer check revealed that the driver had a suspended out of state driver’s license. The vehicle was towed from the scene.
NOTEWORTHY INCIDENTS
On 07/23/09 at 4pm a homeless victim was attacked by while sleeping in the bus shelter at Cabrillo Street and 48th Avenue. The victim was transported by ambulance to the VA Hospital. A search of the area for the suspect was conducted with negative results.
On 07/27/09 at 5:40 pm officers responded to the 1000 Block of Clement Street regarding a burglary. The victim stated that someone unlawfully entered their business and stole a laptop from their 3rd floor office. The victim said the incident was captured on their video surveillance system and an unknown suspect wearing a baseball cap, dark sunglasses, white T-shirt and blue jeans was seen entering and leaving their office.
On 07/25/09 at 3:37 pm officers responded to the 5000 Block of Geary Boulevard regarding a fight. The investigation revealed that a fight occurred at the sidewalk and that an unknown suspect had pushed the other party against a vehicle, causing minor damages to the side of the vehicle. The suspect stated that he saw numerous unknown males fighting on the sidewalk on 14th Avenue near Geary Boulevard and that he attempted to break it up. The suspect was cited and released on scene.
On 07/29/09 at 3:40 am officers responded to Fulton and 28th Avenue regarding an auto burglary and detained 3 male juveniles. A had witness heard glass shattering and saw the 3 suspects acting suspiciously next to a Ford Mustang. The witness yelled at the juveniles and the juveniles ran towards the park. One of the suspects returned to the vehicle after two minutes and entered the rear passenger door of the same vehicle. The witness yelled at the suspect again and the suspect fled towards the park. The juvenile suspects said they were walking down Fulton from a friend’s house and, being bored, attempted to get into a vehicle that had a broken window but they were unable to gain entry. One of the juveniles said he wanted to see how it was like to break a vehicle window so he used a rock to smash the rear passenger side window. The juvenile that smashed the window was cited and released to his father. The other two juveniles were admonished and released to their parents. An attempt to locate the owner of the vehicle had negative results.
Car burglaries are very difficult cases to solve as there is usually very little physical evidence left behind after one has occurred.