Police Blotter – February 17, 2012 | Tips on how to prevent break-ins

[Reprinted from The Richmond Police Station Newsletter of February 17, 2012. To be added to the station’s mailing list, email sfpd.richmond.station@sfgov.org.]

CAPTAIN ERIC VINTERO’S MESSAGE

APARTMENT BURGLARIES
Richmond Station Officers continue to take burglary reports where bikes tend to be the loss. The majority of these burglaries involve multi-unit apartment buildings. The burglaries are scattered all over the district and there is no real pattern. It should be noted that this trend is also affecting many other police districts in the City. I review every arrest and non-arrest report daily and I would like to share with you some of the methods used for gaining entry:

– Suspect “jimmy’s” front door of apartment. Suspects often use a bent credit card to accomplish this task.
– Suspect “pry’s” open front gate or door using a crowbar or similar tool.
– Suspect rings multiple doorbells of apartment complex and gets buzzed in by unsuspecting resident who thinks they are buzzing in family or friends. The suspect quickly goes straight to the garage common area and usually steals bikes.
– Suspect cracks a window pane of garage door and uses a hanger to pull down the manual release lever. The suspect then lifts the garage door and usually steals bikes.
– Suspect will use a wedge and a bent hanger and will pull down the manual release lever on the garage opener (GO TO “YouTube,” and type in “how to break into a garage in 6 seconds” you will be amazed at how easy this is.”

Another (not so common) method of gaining entry into garages is called “code grabbing.” Older garage door openers were vulnerable to thieves. Because their remote controls functioned with a fixed code, someone with a special device could sit outside your house and find/steal the code, allowing them to open the garage door. New garage door openers have a “rolling code” feature, which changes the code every time the unit is used. Bad guys can no longer duplicate the code and get into your garage uninvited. If the opener does not have rolling-code technology, which changes the access codes each time the opener is used to prevent code grabbing, be sure to change the manufacturer’s standard access codes on the opener and remote control, or consider investing in a newer model with more safety and security features that are now standard.

A new trend in home invasion is gaining access to the home by stealing the opener or car. Never leave the remote control in the car or with a parking attendant. Consider using a key chain remote and always lock the entry to the inside of your home – especially if your opener is programmed to your vehicle. It is a small inconvenience for safety and security.

Safety/security tips:
Please document the serial number of all of your bicycles. Without the serial number it will be very difficult to recover a stolen bike. Many bikes are often resold. If an Officer detains a suspect on a bike, they will not be able to confirm that the bike is stolen unless the serial number was entered into the stolen property database.

SF SAFE will conduct free safety inspections of your home or apartment building. They can give you advice on how to make your property safer and can assist you in starting a neighborhood watch group. I strongly encourage you to take advantage of this service. (sfsafe.org or 415-553-1984).

I also encourage you to call the police to report any suspicious activity such as persons canvassing vehicles or homes.

TRAFFIC CONCERNS
Traffic safety is a very high priority for the Officers at Richmond Station. I value all of the e-mails regarding locations in the District where individuals are violating traffic laws, and I take your concerns very seriously. Officers are deployed to locations around the district based on the analysis of motor vehicle collision data and community input. Radar speed trailers have been strategically placed on Fulton Avenue , Geary Boulevard , and on Point Lobos Ave. Richmond Station Officers will continue to conduct weekly pedestrian and radar sting operations at various problematic locations in an effort to reduce collisions and improve community safety. Please drive carefully and be mindful of all traffic control devices, speed limits, and of pedestrians and bicyclists on the roadways.

The next Richmond District community meeting will be held at Richmond Station on Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 7pm.

NOTEWORTHY ARRESTS
Plainclothes officers of the Violence Reduction Team of the San Francisco Police Department arrested three suspects on Sunday, February 12 and in the early morning of Monday, February 13 at the Rock-It Room club, 406 Clement Street , where Oakland rapper Philip Beasley (aka Philthy Rich) was appearing.

Taken into custody were Beasley, 29, of Hayward ; Samuel Burns III, 33, of Vallejo; and Dennis Walker, 29, of Antioch. Read more on this incident here

On 02/13/12 at 10:00am, plainclothes officers were in the area of the 300 block of 21st Ave and made contact with two subjects, one of whom they recognized from numerous prior contacts. The male subject gave a name which the officers later determined was false. Upon running a computer query with the correct name, they discovered that he had an outstanding parole violation warrant. Further investigation revealed that he was in possession of numerous items that would allow him to fraudulently obtain credit cards and identification in other person’s names. Officers also located several “shaved” keys which are commonly used to steal cars. The 38 year old male was charged accordingly.

NOTEWORTHY INCIDENTS
Between 02/07/12, 11am and 02/12/12, 10am on the unit block of Jordan Ave a suspect gained entry into a garage and took a bike. The door may have been left open.

Between 02/10/12, 7:30pm and 02/11/12, 12:15am on the 600 block of 9th Ave, a suspect pried open an iron gate and a door to gain access to a garage. The suspect took a bicycle.

Sometime between 02/10/12 and 02/13/12 on the 700 block of 25th Ave , a suspect gained entry into an
administrative office and took two laptops. There were no signs of forced entry.

Between 02/12/12, 11pm and 02/13/12, 1:30am on the 700 block of 11th Ave, a suspect pried open the front door of a building and gained access to the garage via an unlocked door. The suspect took a bike.

On 02/15/12 between 3:40pm and 3:53pm on the 100 block of Seacliff, a suspect entered a garage and took two backpacks. The door had been left open by workers on the premise who were just inside the home. The majority of the items were recovered on the 300 block of El Camino Del Mar, however a cell phone, camera and flashlight had been taken.

On 02/17/12 at 3:45am, the two victims walked south into Golden Gate Park from 25th Ave and Fulton . A vehicle, traveling in the same direction suddenly stopped next to them and 5 males jumped out. The suspects ordered the victim’s to ground and one of the victims was then kicked in the head. The suspects had the victim’s empty their pockets and then patted them down. They fled in a black SUV south on Crossover Drive. The victims were checked out by medical personnel, but refused further treatment. The loss was keys, credit cards, ID and wallets.