[Reprinted from The Richmond Police Station Newsletter of April 29, 2011. To be added to the station’s mailing list, email sfpd.richmond.station@sfgov.org.]
CAPTAIN RICHARD CORRIEA’S MESSAGE
On April 27, 2011 SFPD Captain Greg Suhr was sworn in as our Chief of Police. He is a fourth generation San Franciscan and a thirty-one year veteran police officer with tremendous experience and outstanding credentials. Chief Suhr is well respected by members of the department and, speaking for all of us here at Richmond Station, I can tell you that we are just delighted and inspired by his appointment and we look forward to his leadership.
On Saturday April 23, 2011 Richmond Station participated in the Recreation and Park’s annual Spring “Eggstravaganza” Rib Barbeque cook-off competition. You may recall that last year, much to the chagrin of the other more experienced contestants, we took top honors for our barbequed ribs. Our competitors from other stations and fire houses were ready this year—but not ready enough. Team Richmond took first place trophies for ribs and desserts. We also won the trophy for best presentation. We raised a great deal of money for Recreation and Park Programs and everybody had a great time.
There have been three aggravated assaults in Golden Gate Park in the last ten days, and seven trees have been vandalized. If you notice any suspicious activity in or around the Park please call 911 immediately.
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 Please drop off any outdated or unneeded prescriptions that you may have at home.
NOTEWORTHY ARRESTS
On 04/24/11 at 9:00pm a male who lives on the 2600 block of Sutter contacted the police to report that he was the victim of a burglary. The crime occurred over a two day period while he was away from his home. Officers responded and spoke to the victim as well a neighbor. The neighbor told the officers that on 04/23/11 at 2:30am he heard a loud bang and noises from the victim’s residence. He looked out the window and saw a female placing a computer and other items into a cab. The neighbor noted the cab company and cab number. While Richmond Station Inspectors continued to investigate the incident officers downtown took a female suspect into custody for a shoplifting on 4/25/11. The suspect had in her possession property belonging to the burglary victim. It was later determined that she was the suspect from the burglary and was charged accordingly.
On 04/24/11 at 3:00am officers were called to a fight that was occurring on the 3100 block of Cabrillo. The caller stated he could hear arguing coming from a dark SUV parked in front. Officers located the two subjects inside the vehicle. During the investigation it was determined that the male suspect was in possession of Methamphetamine. The 34 year old was charged with narcotic violations.
On 04/25/11 at 2:50pm officers were called to a fight in progress on Manzanita and Mayfair. The call was updated that the victim was attempting to detain a male who was trying to break into cars. Officers arrived and took custody of the suspect. The victim told the officers that he was walking back to his car when he observed the suspect trying the door handle of the vehicle. The suspect walked away from car and tried the door handles on 4 other vehicles parked along the street. The suspect then went into the Laurel Village parking lot and tried several more door handles. The victim then confronted the suspect, who immediately struck the victim in the face with an open hand. The suspect took off running. The victim gave chase while yelling to passerby’s to call 911. The victim caught up with the suspect and held him until police arrived. The 19 year old male was charged with auto tampering and battery.
NOTEWORTHY INCIDENTS
Between 04/22/11 at 5:45pm and 04/23/11 at 6:30am on the 100 block of 6th Avenue a suspect gained entry into a garage and took coins from the vehicle parked inside. There were no signs of forced entry.
Between 04/22/11 at 11pm and 04/23/11 at 6:15am on the unit block of Atalaya Terrace a suspect gained entry into
a residence while the victims were sleeping and took a bike that was inside. The front door is left unlocked.
On 04/24 at 5:00pm a victim was standing by her parked vehicle on the 300 block of 31st Avenue. The suspect approached her and started a conversation. The victim didn’t respond to the suspect’s overtures. The suspect then grabbed the victim’s cell phone from her hand and fled south on 31st Avenue. The suspect was a male, 17-18 years of age, wearing a blue “Hollister” sweater and blue jeans.
Between 04/25/11 at 5:30pm and 04/26/11 at 7:30am on the 400 block of 7th Avenue a suspect gained entry into a garage and took a Fastrak and tools from a vehicle parked inside. There were no signs of forced entry.
Between 04/25/11 at 9pm and 04/26/11 at 6am on the unit block of Lupine a suspect gained entry into a garage and broke into two vehicles parked inside. The suspect also took a bike. There were no signs of forced entry into the garage.
On 04/26/11 a fraud scheme was perpetrated in the district that resulted in an $80,000 loss. At 11am on that day a suspect approached a victim in a parking lot of a local supermarket. The suspect convinced the victim that he (the suspect) had two bags that contained a large sum of money. The suspect told the victim he wished to donate his cash to a church and the victim agreed to drive him to one that was nearby. When they arrived at the church the suspect exited the vehicle and climbed the front steps and knelt down to pray, but did not go inside. At that time a second suspect arrived and said he wanted to donate money as well. The first suspect told the second that he would need to prove he was trustworthiness if they were to become partners. The first suspect handed the newly arrived suspect a bag purported to contain money and drove around the block with the victim. When the victim and first suspect returned the second suspect was still standing there. The suspects convinced the victim that he should donate a large sum of money as well and that for participating in this deal he would make a large profit. The victim drove with the suspects to his home and removed cash from his safe. All three left the victim’s home. The victim then gave the suspects his money and in return they handed him their bag. The suspects then told the victim that to prove they were trustworthy the victim could drive around the block with their money, and they would hold onto the victim’s money. The victim then drove around the block and when he returned the suspects were gone. The victim checked the suspect’s bag and found it only contained newspaper. The suspects were described as males, 40-45 years of age, both spoke with accents. One of the suspects walked “bow-legged”.
These fraud schemes will continue to thrive, as long as there are victims dumb enough to fall for them. And there certainly was, in this case.
re: 4/26/11. I think this story is a bad case of poor screenwriting. There is no way that anybody would fall for this scheme. Two suspects want to do the same thing at the same time and show up at the same place? The victim happened to have $80k in cash? The victim did not look inside the bags? How do you make a “large profit” by donating?
I simply do not believe this story is true. I think SFPD got duped by the “victim.” People shouldn’t waste SFPD’s time with fake stories. There are my real crimes that need to be solved.
In comment #2 “my” should be “many.” Sorry about that. I have no crimes. I’m a law-abiding citizen and do not fall for scams and stories.
If the victim was dumb enough to fall for a scam like that (if it happened) they should lose the money for being just plain stupid.
Mighty bold for the vic to strike back on the Manzanita and Mayfair incident on 4/25. The police always say to give it up and let perps break into our cars and mug us. However, cops never experience confrontations and muggings because cops are always armed and simply draw down. Cops do not feel the pain, that we citizens are pissed off and if Suhr doesn’t do anything (which he won’t because he never felt our pain), then citizens have to take things into our own hands.
So if you’re up for it, go for it! Maybe the vic was a big husky dude against a scrawny 19-year-old. If you can do it, strike back! WTF!? Aren’t we all sick of this guano?
Variation on the con from the beginning of “The Sting” with Newman/Redford.
This should get the blotter-of-the-week award. Move over Mission (with your routine gangbanger stuff – yawn), Richmond Station has all the juice. ‘Can’t wait for the sequel.