[Reprinted from The Richmond Police Station Newsletter of April 9, 2010. To be added to the station’s mailing list, email sfpd.richmond.station@sfgov.org.]
CAPTAIN RICHARD CORREIA’S MESSAGE
The arrest of an auto burglar that is recounted below presents a scenario that we encounter often; a repeat offender that returns to a “profitable” and familiar area to smash car windows and take property. Many of these felons are well known. Officers, especially our plain-clothes ones, are always vigilant for the presence of known offenders in our community. Nonetheless these stealth felons, and their lesser known contemporaries, are likely to burglarize a significant number of vehicles before they are arrested again.
I know that arrests alone will not abate our district’s vexing and continuing problem with auto burglaries. Police will of course continue to endeavor to make arrests. For the community’s part, please do not leave anything in your car. Every time you leave your vehicle please look inside and if you see anything of value or anything that suggests value, remove it. Since value is relative please consider that a criminal will break into your car for quarter in an open ashtray. As for items that suggest value, your phone charger and an empty lunch bag will both make your vehicle a desirable target.
On Wednesday April 14, 2010 Officers will be focusing traffic enforcement efforts on Geary and Fulton Boulevard between Park Presidio and 25th Avenue.
Please attend the next Community/Police Forum on April 20, 2010 at 1:00p.m. at the Richmond Recreation Center, which is located at 251 18th Avenue. Our guest speaker will be a representative from the Department of Emergency Management. The speaker will be able to answer your questions about police and fire dispatching and emergency preparedness.
NOTEWORTHY ARRESTS
On 04/04/10 at 9:00pm officers responded to a call of a male suspect breaking into a car on Fulton at 17th Avenue. The caller stated that he looked out of his window upon hearing a car alarm and saw the suspect crouching down at the passenger side window. The caller provided a description of the suspect who was detained by officers at 19th Avenue and Fulton. The suspect had broken into two car parked on the block. This same suspect, who is on parole, was arrested by Richmond officers for Auto Burglary on 10/20/09 at 44th Avenue and Fulton.
On 03/30/10 at 4:15pm, a violent, wanted parolee led numerous police units on a chase in the Taraval District. Officers lost sight of the suspect in the area of Sunset Boulevard and Sloat. On 04/06/10 at 12:00pm, officers learned that the suspect, a known felon, was seen in the Richmond District. Officers commenced a wide area search and at 2:00pm they located the suspect driving in the area of Geary Boulevard and 17th Avenue. The vehicle was stopped and the suspect was detained without incident. The suspect, a 34 year old male, was charged with a parole violation and an aggravated assault and robbery charge from a previous incident.
NOTEWORTHY INCIDENTS
Between 04/02/10 at 5:00pm and 04/05/10 at 7:50am on the 200 block of 27th Avenue a suspect entered a home and took tools. There were no signs of forced entry.
Between 04/03/10 at 3:00pm and 04/04/10 at 10:30am on the 600 block of 16th Avenue a suspect entered garage and took a bike. There were no signs of forced entry.
On 04/04/10 between 2:00am and 7:30am on the 200 block of 9th Avenue, a suspect gained entry into an alleyway by breaking the glass on the tradesman’s door. Once inside the suspect took two bicycles.
On 04/05/10 between 12:00pm and 2:15pm a suspect entered an apartment on the 100 block of 11th Avenue. The suspect took a laptop and jewelry. There were no signs of forced entry.
more neighborhood watches are needed.