[Reprinted from The Richmond Police Station Newsletter of June 4, 2010. To be added to the station’s mailing list, email sfpd.richmond.station@sfgov.org.]
CAPTAIN RICHARD CORREIA’S MESSAGE
Library of Horticulture burglary
On April 9-10, 2010 a burglary occurred at the Library of Horticulture in Golden Gate Park. The loss from that burglary included several dozen pieces of artwork, mainly comprised of prints of plants and flowers. Many of the items were of both historical and artistic value. The loss was estimated to be $25,000.
The initial investigation produced few solid leads. During the month of April and May a Richmond Station Police Inspector interviewed library employees and volunteers, and ultimately focused on a then unidentified person of interest.
On June 1, 2010 at 6:30 PM Richmond Station plain clothes Officers responded to the Library to search for the suspect who had been spotted the in the vicinity. The officers detained the suspect after a search of the area. Our Officers arrested the suspect and recovered most, if not all, of the property taken in the burglary. The suspect was charged with burglary and possession of stolen property. In addition to recovering the items taken in the Library burglary, officers recovered numerous other works of art.
Members of the Department’s Criminal Investigations Unit joined in the follow up and have since connected some of the items seized with at least eight other burglaries or grand thefts that occurred in San Francisco . The value of the items seized is yet to be fully determined; however, it is expected to be above one hundred thousands dollars.
Park District robbery arrest leads to arrest in Richmond District robbery
On May 19, 2010 at 10:00PM, officers from Park Station responded to the area of Fulton and Masonic on a call of a street robbery with gun that had occurred quite near the boundary of the Park and Richmond districts.
Richmond Station officers responded to the call as well. Following up on good leads Richmond Station Officers were able to arrest several individuals for the Park District robbery.
Prior to the Park District robbery there was street robbery with a gun in the Richmond on May 12, 2010 at 10:00 PM. Officers were able to connect one of the suspects from the Park District robbery with the May 12, 2010 robbery in the Richmond .
Arrest in robbery near USF
On May 25, 2010 at 8:00 PM a robbery with a gun occurred at the intersection of Golden Gate Avenue and Chabot Street. Two suspects, one of whom was armed with a handgun, robbed a victim of several items of personal property. Helpful witnesses provided information that led Officers to arresting a suspect in an East Bay city several days after the crime. The suspect was arrested for two counts of armed robbery.
During the past week, there were 24 traffic accidents, 5 involving injuries. There were 3 citations issued for driving without a license or driving on a suspended license.
Please join us at our next Police Community Relations Forum at Richmond Station (461 6th Avenue ) on June 15, 2010 at 1pm.
NOTEWORTHY ARRESTS
On 05/29/10 at 7:30pm officers responded to a call of vandalism suspect in a grocery store on the 6300 block of Geary. Officers arrived and found the female suspect screaming incoherently, holding a bottle in her hand. The suspect was in the liquor aisle of the store and had broken over $9000 worth of alcohol and was standing in a river of beverage alcohol. Witnesses reported that she was not only throwing bottles to the ground, but she was also throwing them at people in the store. The 48-year-old female was charged with aggravated assault and felony vandalism.
On 05/30/10 at 11:20 pm officers responded to a call of a male breaking into a car on the 800 block of 31st Avenue. The caller described the car the suspect had arrived in, along with the car that was the target of the theft. When the officers arrived they saw the suspect walking away from the car and detained him. It was determined that the car the suspect had arrived in was stolen and there was nothing taken from the car he had broken into. The 32-year-old male, who was on probation, was charged with stolen auto, possession of stolen property and a narcotics violation.
On 05/30/10 at 12:30am a caller reported that a male was spray painting a building on the corner of 26th Avenue and Geary Boulevard . Officers arrived and observed a 33-year-old vandal with a spray can in his hand painting the wall of a building. When the suspect saw the officer he attempted to hide the spray can. The officers observed fresh markings on the wall and paint on the suspect’s hand. They located etching tool in the suspect’s possession as well. The suspect was charged with felony vandalism.
On 06/01/10 at 4:40 pm a victim was walking on 25th Avenue from Geary and noticed a 16 year old female suspect
following him. When the victim got to California Street the suspect asked him if he had any money. The victim gave the suspect 75 cents. The victim walked west on California and was again asked by the suspect for money. When he replied that he didn’t have any, the suspect pulled out a knife and demanded more money. The victim turned over his wallet and the suspect grabbed the victim’s IPad and IPod and ran away. The victim went home and called 911 and informed the dispatcher that his IPad had GPS and was currently located at 25th & Geary Boulevard. Responding officers located the suspect on a 38 Geary bus at 25th Avenue & Geary and recovered the stolen property. The juvenile suspect was charged with robbery and possession of stolen property.
On 06/01/10 at 6:38 pm, officers responded to a call at the library at the Botanical Gardens inside Golden Gate Park. The caller stated that a male who was a suspect in a previous theft had returned. Officers detained the 53-year-old male and a lengthy investigation followed which amounted to the recovery of numerous stolen art pieces. The suspect was charged with burglary and possession of stolen property. [Read more about this story on SFAppeal – SB]
NOTEWORTHY INCIDENTS
Between 05/27/10 at 6:00pm and 05/28/10 at 8:00am on the 2300 block of Sutter Street, a suspect gained entry into
two offices by forcing open the office doors. The loss is being determined.
Between 05/28/10 at 7:30am and 05/31/10 at 6:00pm on the 2900 block of California Street, a suspect gained entry
into an apartment and took a television, laptop, camera and jewelry. There were no signs of forced entry.
Between 05/28/10 at 9:00pm and 06/01/10 at 7:00am on the 2200 block of Post Street, a suspect gained entry into
an office and took a laptop. There were no signs of forced entry.
On 06/01/10 at 10:30am a victim was walking on Fulton near 6th Avenue when he was approached by a suspect who
asked for a cigarette. The victim was about to hand the suspect a cigarette when the suspect pulled out a knife and told the victim to give up his wallet. The victim complied but asked that he be able to keep his passport. The suspect took all items and fled eastbound on Fulton. The victim reported the incident two hours later.