[Reprinted from The Richmond Police Station Newsletter of April 1, 2011. To be added to the station’s mailing list, email sfpd.richmond.station@sfgov.org.]
CAPTAIN RICHARD CORRIEA’S MESSAGE
I received the following letter in the US Mail a couple of days ago and thought I would share it with you.
Dear Captain Corriea:
My name is BL and I live in Richmond District. I am writing to you because I think the intersection at Divisidero and Pacific is very dangerous. I think you should put a police officer right by the north-west corner of Pacific. I think it would make the intersection a lot safer to cross for pedestrians and bicyclists because he or she would make the cars stop at the stop sign. – Sincerely, BL, Age 7
I use information such as BL has provided in crafting our traffic strategies and I think that BL would be good addition to our Police Community Advisory Board. I am inspired by this child’s concern for public safety.
On April 30, 2011 between 10:00AM and 2:00 PM we will be participating in the Drug Enforcement Administration’s National Take Back Program. A receptacle will be set up in the lobby at Richmond Station for folks to deposit unwanted prescription medications for environmentally friendly destruction. Please drop off any outdated or unneeded prescriptions that you may have at home.
RICHMOND STATION ON TWITTER
In our station management staff meetings I can’t help but smile when the group, with collectively over 150 years of police experience, discusses Tweeting best practices, Re-tweeting and Followers. But we are finding that Twitter gives us a powerful tool to keep a lot of folks informed about risks to their safety. We are delighted that we currently have 430 followers and reach as many as 8000 people through Re-tweets.
Please follow us at Richmond_SFPD to receive real time crime updates and other public safety information.
Our next Police Community Forum is on April 19, 2011 at 7:00 PM at Richmond Station.
During the past week in the District there were 16 traffic accidents 4 involving injuries. There were 5 citations issued for driving without a license or driving on a suspended license. There was 1 arrest for driving under the influence.
NOTEWORTHY ARRESTS
On 03/24/11 Richmond Station officers learned of a suspect that had been identified in a series of church burglaries. On 03/25/11 officers started to outreach to Richmond District places of worship to provide burglary prevention advice and show a photo of the suspect to the staff. On 03/25/11 at 12:50pm officers received a call from a staffer at a church on the 4400 block of Geary stating that the suspect was standing at the door asking for food. Officers responded and took the suspect into custody on the 300 block of 8th Avenue. The 45 year old male was charged with burglary and a probation violation. The investigation is ongoing.
On 03/25/11 at 10pm an off-duty officer was walking his dog on the 600 block of 14th Avenue. He heard the sound of glass breaking and walked towards the noise. The officer then saw the suspect reaching inside of an SUV that had its window broken out. The officer asked what the suspect was doing. The suspect said that the car belonged to him and told the officer to mind his own business. The off-duty identified himself as a police officer and told the suspect to get onto the ground. The suspect complied and responding officers took him into custody. The 60 year old male, who is on probation for auto burglary, and also had an outstanding warrant for auto burglary, was again charged with burglary.
NOTEWORTHY INCIDENTS
Between 03/24/11 at 8am and 03/30/11 at 6am on the 300 block of 3rd Avenue a suspect gained entry into a garage and took a bicycle. The suspect left behind an old beat-up bike. There were no signs of forced entry.
On 03/28/11 at 4:30pm a victim was walking south on the 600 block of Arguello texting on her I-phone. She was approached from behind by a suspect who was armed with a handgun and demanded the victim’s purse and phone. The suspect then grabbed the purse from the victim’s shoulder and phone from her hand and ran north on Arguello. When the victim turned around to see where the suspect went she saw that he was accompanied by another male. The first suspect was described as a male, 20-30 years of age wearing dark clothing.
Between 03/28/11 at 7pm and 03/29/11 at 6:30pm on the 500 block of Parker a suspect gained entry into an apartment garage and broke into a vehicle parked inside. It is unknown how the suspect got into the garage.
Between 03/28/11 at 11:15pm and 03/29/11 at 7:30am on the 100 block of Stanyan a suspect gained entry into a garage and took 2 bicycles, a gym bag and clothing. There were no signs of forced entry.
On 03/30/11 between 4:45am and 2:30pm on the 200 block of 26th Avenue a suspect gained entry into an
apartment via an unlocked window. The suspect took a laptop, 2 I-pods and a video game console.
On 03/30/11 between 2:30pm and 5:00pm on the 2100 block of Clement Street a suspect gained entry
into an apartment by unknown means. The suspect took cash, 2 purses and a laptop.
Sadly, it seems that strong-arm robberies are getting more and more common in our area. We all need to be really aware of our surroundings when outside. I don’t walk around my neighborhood talking on my iPhone anymore simply out of fear of being mugged. It’s sad that we have to worry about having a gun pulled on us in the middle of the day. Be careful everyone and be safe.
Wow – from reading the police blotters from the past few months I realize that my biggest concerns are: getting mugged while carrying my cell phone/purse; having my car vandalized; and having my house burglarized (or is it burgled? I forget). Scary to think about being mugged while walking home during daylight hours.
The stretch of California in the Inner Richmond needs some serious attention re: pedestrian safety. I have called the Richmond police station as well as 311 to voice my complaints. I was crossing the street the other day and a stupid Prius swerved AROUND me to avoid stopping for me, then honked at me. There needs to be flashing lights or traffic signals installed along the entire stretch of California st. to Park Presidio. Somebody is going to get killed from these selfish drivers.