Police Blotter – July 13, 2012

[Reprinted from The Richmond Police Station Newsletter of July 13, 2012. To be added to the station’s mailing list, email sfpd.richmond.station@sfgov.org.]

CAPTAIN SHARON FERRIGNO’S MESSAGE
This week I met with Phil Ginsberg of the Cities Park and Recreation Department and his key staff members Denny and Marcus. We discussed Golden Gate Park and will continue to work together to insure the Park is a place for everyone to enjoy.

As mentioned in one of the noteworthy incidents below, there is an uptick citywide of “The Herbal Doctor Scam” these criminals target older Asian women. If you are aware of an elderly neighbor or family member who may become a target, please take the time to have a discussion with them and let them know these people are trying to steal their savings.

On Wednesday, July 18th at 7pm, PAR will be hosting a meeting at the Richmond Rec Center at 251 18th Ave. Guests that are scheduled to speak that evening are representatives from Outside Lands , Power to the Peaceful, and Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, all events coming up in Golden Gate Park. Other City agencies are being asked to attend as well to address areas of concern and provide information.

Our next Community meeting will be held on Tuesday, July 17, 2012 at 7pm. It will be in the Community Room, here at Richmond Station, 461 6th Ave.

NOTEWORTHY ARRESTS
On 07/06/12 at 1:00m, a foot beat officer was in the area of Clement and 7th Ave when he noticed a motorcycle parked in a yellow loading zone. Further inspection of the motorcycle revealed that the ignition had been punched. When the officer ran the license plate it came back as stolen. The officer stood around the corner to see if the suspect was going to return to the bike and he observed a male walk up to it and get on the bike, placing a key into the damaged ignition. The officer along with a Sergeant and the Captain approached the male who attempted to start the bike and leave when he saw the officers. The foot beat officer removed the key from the ignition and the suspect was detained. He told the officers that he had bought the bike for $600 from a friend whose name he couldn’t remember. The suspect was on parole and a search was done, officers located in his possession, numerous debit cards and identification with other people’s names on them. Officers also located methamphetamine concealed in the padding of his motorcycle helmet. The 33 year old male was charged with fraud, narcotics and parole violations.

On 07/09/12 at 12:45pm, a foot beat officer was standing on the corner of Geary and 6th Ave when he observed the suspect get off a MUNI bus. The officer recognized the male from numerous contacts as a “tip jar stealer.” The officer followed the suspect as he walked up to 6th Ave and Clement and into a business on the 500 block of Clement. The officer observed the male walk up to a tip jar on a display case, grab the cash and put it in his jacket pocket. He turned to exit the store and walked right into the officer. The officer removed the cash and the suspect said, “What did I do? I need some money!” The officer also located in the suspect’s possession a pipe use for smoking narcotics. The 64 year old male was charged with burglary, possession of stolen property and narcotic violations.

On 07/10/12 at 6:15pm on the 100 block of 24th Ave , a resident of the block was walking to his vehicle when he saw the suspect sitting inside. As he got closer to his car, the suspect exited and the victim confronted him. The suspect then handed back to the victim items that he had just taken from the car and the victim called 911. The suspect fled south on 24th Ave toward California St . Responding officers located the suspect on the 300 block of 24th Ave and detained him. When the officers searched the suspect they located a pipe used for smoking narcotics. The 38 year old male was charged with auto burglary and narcotic violations.

On 07/12/12 at 12:14am, officers observed a vehicle run a stop sign at 46th Ave and Anza. Before they could activate the lights and siren, the vehicle abruptly stopped in a driveway, the driver exited the car and walked over towards the curb line. The officer yelled to stop and the driver returned to the driver’s side door. The passenger exited holding a beer can and tried to conceal it when he saw the officer. The officer checked the curb line that the suspect had walked to and found a baggie of methamphetamine. The officer also located on the driver, a checkbook in someone else’s name. The driver, a 45 year old male on probation was charged with narcotic violations, driving on a suspended license and a probation violation. The passenger was charged with having an open container in a vehicle.

NOTEWORTHY INCIDENTS
On 07/06/12 between 2:30pm and 6:45pm on the 300 block of Anza, a suspect gained entry into a home through an unlocked door. The suspect took video game consoles, 2 guitars and three laptops.

On 07/08/12 at 3:50pm, the victim was walking on the south on the 500 block of Funston Ave. She noticed the suspect sitting a red sedan parked across the street. The suspect exited the car and walked over to the victim and told her to give him her bag. She replied “No” and the suspect brandished a knife. The victim then handed the suspect her bag and he fled back to the car and drove south on Funston. The suspect was described as a white male, 20-30 years of age with short brown hair, glasses and black hooded sweatshirt. The loss was a purse, laptop, cell phone and wallet.

On 07/09/12 at 1:25pm, the victim was entering the front door of her apartment building near 27th and Anza. She was suddenly grabbed by a suspect and sprayed in the face with pepper spray. A second suspect grabbed her purse and they fled north on 26th Ave towards Geary. A witness provided a description as two black females, 16-18 years of age, one wearing bright pink Capri pants, the other a purple stocking cap and blue jeans. The loss was a purse, wallet and cell phone. An ambulance treated the victim at the scene.

On 07/09/12 at 2:30pm, the victim was approached by an Asian female at 11th Ave and Clement St. who said she
was looking for an herbal doctor. The second suspect, also an Asian female joined the conversation and said she knew such a doctor down the block. The second suspect talked the victim in to walking with them and they meet up with an Asian male who was standing in front of a flat on the 200 block of 11th Ave. The male was introduced as the herbal doctor and then he told the victim he could tell by the look on her face that she was going to have health and money problems. He convinced the victim to go home and get cash and jewelry so it can be blessed by him. She took the bus home, got cash and jewelry, and then took the bus back to 11th Ave. The male suspect took the victims belongings and placed them in a plastic bag with bottles of water and blessed them. The suspect told her not to look in the bag for 19 days, then drink the water and her luck would change. The suspects then left the area. The victim got back on a bus to go home and discovered that the bag contained only newspaper and bottled water and her items were gone. The loss was cash and a necklace.

Between 07/09/12, 7:30pm and 07/10/12, 10:30am on the 5500 block of Geary, the suspect pried open an exterior display case of a business and took jewelry and other antique items.

On 07/10/12 between 10am and 8:30pm on the 300 block of 7th Ave , a suspect entered an apartment by prying open the door. The suspect took jewelry, cash and a printer.

On 07/10/12 at 7:45pm, the victim had just finished using an ATM on the 3400 block of California St. She had her cash and was suddenly grabbed from behind by the suspect and told to give up her money. The victim said no and screamed help. The victim pushed the suspect who then pushed the victim to the ground causing her purse to fall to the ground. The suspect took the purse and the cash and ran east on California . A witness heard the victim’s screams for help and saw the suspect enter the passenger side of a car parked on Laurel and California . The vehicle was described as a black or dark blue vehicle, possibly a BMW. The suspect is a black male, 35-40 yrs wearing a black jacket and gray sweatpants.

On 07/11/12 at 3:03am on the 200 block of Stanyan, the victim was awoken to the sound of a loud noise at the rear of the home. He looked out over the balcony and saw a male at the rear of the home, who then walked along the side of the home out onto Golden Gate Ave. Thinking it was a worker, as the home was under construction, he went back to bed. About 30 minutes later he again heard noised from the rear of the home and looked out over the balcony. He saw the same subject and this time yelled at him. The suspect looked up, pulled his hoodie over his face, picked up a crow bar, ran to a side door, stole a bike and fled the yard. He was described as a white male with a black hooded sweatshirt and black pants.

On 07/11/12, between 8:15am and 5:30pm on the 2300 block of Golden Gate , a suspect kicked in the front door of a residence and took a camera and iPod.

On 07/12/12 between 10am and 8pm on the 2600 block of Bush St, a door to a residence was pried open and a safe containing cash and a watch was stolen.

On 07/12/12 at 1pm, the victim was home in her apartment on the 400 block of 2nd Ave when she heard a crash coming from the hallway. She looked towards the rear of the apartment and saw the suspect opening the sliding glass door and exiting out the back of the apartment. Numerous units responded to search the area but the suspect had fled. It was determined that he was able to take a laptop and a bracelet. The suspect was described as a black male, 28-30 years of age wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt and blue jeans.