[Reprinted from The Richmond Police Station Newsletter of April 6, 2012. To be added to the station’s mailing list, email sfpd.richmond.station@sfgov.org.]
CAPTAIN ERIC VINTERO’S MESSAGE
Auto Burglaries:
The Richmond District continues to experience a steady number of auto-burglaries. Many of the auto-burglaries are occurring in areas where tourists visit, such as inside Golden Gate Park, and the area around the Cliff House and Ocean Beach. The vast majority of the vehicles are rental cars. In most of the break-ins, valuables were displayed in plain-view. Items such as backpacks, purses, and laptops are commonly stolen. I have attached a link to a very good YouTube video which shows an auto-burglary suspect casing cars and eventually breaking the window to steal property. If you witness any suspicious individuals casing vehicles or homes, please do not hesitate to call 911. The You Tube Video was produced by the Cerritos Sheriff Department and is titled, “Gone in 3 Seconds.” I think the video does a great job demonstrating how suspects “case” vehicles prior to committing an auto-burglary.
NOTEWORTHY ARRESTS
On 03/30/12 at 8:34am, officers were called to the 5200 block of Geary on a report of a male that had threatened employees at a business and was throwing garbage at them. When officers arrived they were told that the suspect had just boarded a MUNI bus. Officer located the male and detained him. The victims told the officers that they saw the suspect lying down wrapped in a blanket in the outside seating area of the shop. When they asked him to move he refused and said “make me” and swore at them. When told they would be calling the police, the suspect told them that he would come back and do them and the store harm. At one point the suspect lunged at the employees, who then retreated back and the suspect left. The 50 year old male was charged with threats.
On 03/30/12 at 11:11pm, officers were in the area of Geary and 5th Ave, when they observed the suspect riding a bike on the sidewalk. The officers told the suspect to stop the bike and get off so they could speak to him. The suspect complied but then hid behind a pillar in front of a building. The officers thought the may being trying to destroy or hide contraband and they ran after him. When they came around the pillar there was now a hypodermic needle and a metal smoking pipe lying on the ground. They told the suspect he was being detained and he suddenly placed his hand inside his right pocket and turned his back to the officers. The officers grabbed his arm to prevent him from grabbing for a weapon and he began to violently resist the officers. The officers were finally able to detain the male and discovered that he had a baggie of narcotics in his pocket. The 50 year old male was charged with resisting arrest and possession of narcotics.
On 03/31/12 at 5:53pm, plainclothes officers were on Martin Luther King Dr near the south windmill. They observed the suspect walking on Martin Luther King Dr carrying a brown paper bag and a motorcycle helmet. As the officers passed the suspect he yelled a derogatory comment at them and raised his arms as if to challenge them to fight. The officers stopped their vehicle and displaying their stars around their necks approached the suspect. They verbally identified themselves as police officers as they approached the suspect. As they got closer the suspect placed the bag on the ground and rummaged through it. He stood up with an object in his hand and placed the motorcycle helmet on his head. As the officers got closer they saw the object was a large knife. They officers ordered the male to drop the knife several times as he kept approaching the officers. Finally he dropped the knife and lay down on the ground. As the officers tried to handcuff him, he kept his arms under his body to prevent them from doing so. They were finally successful and were able to place the handcuffs on him. The 46 year old male was charged with aggravated assault with a knife, exhibiting a deadly weapon and resisting arrest.
NOTEWORTHY INCIDENTS
Between 03/30/12, 8:30pm anD 03/31/12 3pm on the 400 block of Locust, a suspect gained entry into a multi-unit garage and broke into a vehicle. The suspect took a GPS and radar detector.
Between 04/01/12, 12:00am and 04/02/12, 9:30am on the 100 block of Wood St, a suspect gained entry into a garage and gained access to a vehicle. The suspect took an Ipod and emergency car kit.
On 04/04/12 at 6:00pm, the victim was getting ready to enter her parked vehicle on the 300 block of 20th Ave. The
suspect riding a bicycle, came up from behind her and grabbed her purse from her shoulder and fled west on Geary Bl. The victim tried to give chase in her vehicle but lost him in the area of 25th and Geary. The suspect was described as a white male, 19-25 years of age wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and dark jeans.
On 04/04/12 at 9:15pm, the victim was walking on Laurel St at California St. He was looking down at his phone when he heard someone say, “Give me everything you got.” When the victim looked up there were 3 suspects standing in front of him all armed with handguns. The victim threw his phone towards the suspects and began to reach for his wallet. He looked over his shoulder and saw the fourth suspect behind him, who then struck the victim in his head with the butt of a gun. The suspects then ran off to an awaiting vehicle which was described as an older model silver sedan. The suspects were described as 2 Asian males, 18-20 years of age wearing dark clothing. One was 5’8”, 200lbs, while the other was 5’8” with a skinny build. The third suspect was Hispanic or possibly white also wearing dark clothing.
The mock video is too simplified and the “criminals” are too visible. That’s really not how it works, especially with surveillance cameras. Perps try to disguise themselves, yet blend in, and often operate in the shade of darkness or other barriers to avoid detection. Furthermore, aloof people, those in a hurry, and people in groups who are excited and unfocused are easy targets. Friends are often your worst enemies, prodding you to hurry, advocating inebriation, and distracting you to the point of carelessness. Friends don’t care if you get your stuff stolen as long as it’s not their stuff.