Police Blotter – October 9, 2009

[Reprinted from The Richmond Police Station Newsletter of October 9, 2009. To be added to the station’s mailing list, email sfpd.richmond.station@sfgov.org or visit their website.]

CAPTAIN RICHARD CORREIA’S MESSAGE

During the month of September Richmond Station officers arrested ten individuals for DUI. Year to date we have arrested ninety-nine individuals for DUI.

Auto burglaries continue to be a significant problem in the District. The number of incidents reported each month has been rising over the past three months. In nearly every break-in there were items of value left visible in the passenger area of the victim’s car.

Criminals target cars that contain items that have a potential for profit. If your car’s passenger compartment is empty, the odds are that the thief will go elsewhere. So, please don’t leave anything inside the passenger compartment of your car when it is unattended. This includes CDs, coins and even empty paper bags.

Items most often reported taken include: GPS devices, lap-top computers, brief cases, luggage, purses, coins, cigarettes and empty packages of all types.

Here are some tips to minimize the chance of being victimized:

• Don’t leave ANY personal or valuable items inside a vehicle.
• Lock all valuables inside the trunk before arriving at your destination. If your vehicle has a passenger compartment trunk release, items in your trunk are at risk.
• Doors should be locked and windows rolled up.
• Use anti-theft devices like “The Club” or an alarm system.
• Removable stereo systems should never be left in a vehicle.
• GPS mapping devices – dash or windshield mounted– should never be left in a vehicle.
• Report break-ins and thefts to the San Francisco Police Department at (415) 553-0123, at any district police station, or online at www.sfgov.org/police.
• Call the police if you see someone tampering with a vehicle.

To report a crime in progress call 9-1-1

Please attend the next Community/Police Forum on October 20, 2009 at 1 p.m. at the Richmond Village Beacon, which is located at Washington High School. The Beacon is best reached through the 30th Avenue gate located just south of Anza Street. Officers will be posted nearby to provide direction to the meeting.

We are in the process of forming a community advisory board for the Richmond Police District. If the notion of participating interests you, kindly send me an email and I will send you some literature that describes the functions of the board, time commitments and objectives.

During the past week, there were 23 traffic accidents, 7 involving injuries. There were 7 citations issued for driving without a license or driving on a suspended license. There was one arrest for driving under the influence.

NOTEWORTHY ARRESTS

On 10/02/09 at 5:40pm, officers were flagged down in the area of 2nd Avenue and Geary by a witness who saw a male suspect doing graffiti. The suspect had a black marker and had vandalized a garbage can. With the assistance of the witness, the suspect was located at Clement and Arguello. The officers found a black marker in the suspect’s jacket pocket. He denied the marker was his or that he had done the graffiti. He could not explain the black ink all over his hands. The 18 year old suspect was charged with vandalism.

On 10/03/09 at 9:27am a foot beat officer was flagged down in the area of 6th Avenue and Geary regarding a male suspect who was walking eastbound with a can of spray paint in his back pocket. The officer observed the male suspect walking ahead of him and saw him turn south on 2nd Avenue. As the officer turned the corner, he saw the suspect crouched down spray painting the wall of a business on the corner. The 18 year old suspect was charged with vandalism and possession of an aerosol container.

On 10/06/09 at 11:20am officers conducted a traffic stop at Anza and Masonic on a vehicle with expired registration. They determined that the driver had a suspended license and was on court probation. Narcotics were located in the vehicle and the driver, a 20 year old female, was charged with possession of narcotics, driving with a suspended license and a probation violation.

On 10/06/09 at 1:30pm plainclothes officers were in the area of Broderick and Post Street when they observed a male who they knew had an outstanding warrant. The male was detained and the officers also located narcotics in his possession. The 27 year old male was charged with a narcotics violation and the warrant.

On 10/07/09 at 5:25pm officers met with USF Public Safety Officers regarding a trespasser on campus. The trespasser, who is not a student, had been arrested on USF property in July and had been warned not to return. Officers took custody of the 40 year old male from USF personnel and charged him with trespassing and narcotic violations.

NOTEWORTHY INCIDENTS

On 10/02/09 between 8:40am and 10:50pm on the 500 block of Funston a suspect entered into a residence and took a television, jewelry and watches. The point of entry was a window which had been left slightly ajar.

On 10/02/09 between 9:15am and 8:00pm on the 100 block of 20th Avenue a suspect entered into two apartments and took jewelry and a camera. The suspect gained entry via the light well.

On 10/03/09 between 7:00am and 3:00pm on the 400 block of Arguello a suspect entered into an apartment garage and broke into a storage unit. The suspect took sporting equipment from the storage unit. The victim had seen a male in the garage earlier in the morning, but thought he was a new tenant of the building. That suspect is described as 25 to 30 years of age, curly brown hair, with a blue hooded sweatshirt and blue jeans.

On 10/03/09 at 2:45pm a victim parked her vehicle on Gough Street near Eddy and placed her purse in the trunk of her car. When she returned to her car, the trunk had been forced open and her purse containing her house keys and wallet were missing. The victim then returned home to the 3600 block of Sacramento and determined that a burglar had entered into the apartment and took three computers and jewelry.

On 10/03/09 at 8:15pm the victim was on an outbound 38 Geary MUNI bus with her cell phone in her hand. As the bus came to a stop at 38th Avenue and Geary, the suspect grabbed the phone from her and exited the bus, fleeing eastbound on Geary. The male suspect is described as 40-45 years of age wearing a black beanie, black jacket and black pants.

On 10/04/09 at 12:10am a victim was walking south on Scott Street towards Sacramento Street. A vehicle pulled along side of him and the driver asked for the time. The victim answered the male then drove off. A minute later, three males walked up to the victim and one made mention of their friend in the vehicle. The suspects demanded the victim’s laptop and the victim started to run. The victim was pushed from behind and fell to the ground, and a struggle ensued over the laptop. The suspect punched and kicked the victim several times and then escaped with the laptop. The suspects, one wearing a white t-shirt, one with a black sweatshirt with gold writing, and one in a red sweatshirt all fled west on Sacramento Street.

On 10/06/09 at 1:53pm a victim was sitting on the grass reading a book near the rear of the De Young Museum. Her back pack was next to her. A suspect ran up from behind and grabbed the back pack, then escaped in a Subaru station wagon. Witnesses who heard the victim’s call for help ran to the suspect’s car and tried to open the driver’s door, but it was locked. The suspect then fled west on JFK Drive. The suspect is described as being 25-27 years of age, wearing a black and white jacket and blue jeans.

On 10/06/09 between 2:40pm and 9:45pm on the 500 block of 27th Avenue a suspect entered into an apartment by breaking a rear window. The suspect took a laptop.

On 10/06/09 between 5:00pm and 9:25pm on the 2300 block of Golden Gate Ave, a suspect entered into a flat and took a laptop and watch. A side door may have been left open.