[Reprinted from The Richmond Police Station Newsletter of November 2, 2012. To be added to the station’s mailing list, email sfpd.richmond.station@sfgov.org.]
CAPTAIN SHARON FERRIGNO’S MESSAGE
On Wednesday, November 28, 2012, the members of Richmond Station will be hosting the Police Commission Community meeting here in the Richmond District. It will be held at Roosevelt Middle SchooL, 460 Arguello Blvd at 6:00pm. The Commissioners will hear comments from the public and me concerning public protection issues. Parking is available on the Palm Ave side of the school. There are several MUNI lines in the vicinity, including the 38 Geary, 1 California , 2 Clement and the 31 Balboa.
Our regularly scheduled monthly community meeting will not be held this month as a result of the Police Commission meeting.
NOTEWORTY ARRESTS
On 10/27/12 at 5:20pm, officers were called to the area of Anza and Stanyan Sts on a report of an auto burglary that had just occurred. As they were responding they were flagged down at Anza and Rossi by a citizen who said that the suspect was now in Rossi Playground. Officers located the suspect in the lobby of the pool area. They then learned that the victim’s vehicle was parked on the 3500 block of Geary when the suspect smashed out the window of his vehicle and took a bag. The suspect then boarded a bus which the victim caught up with and banged on the door, telling the driver to stop. As the bus stopped and Geary and Stanyan the suspect was standing at the rear exit door. The victim told him to give the bag back, and the suspect pushed the victim out of the way and ran south on Stanyan. The suspect, who also had an outstanding parole violation warrant, was charge with the theft.
On 11/02/12 at 11:35am, plainclothes officers were in the area of Clement St due to the “Herbal Doctor Scam.” The suspects would approach victims telling them they were looking for an herbal doctor to cure an illness and then convince the victim themselves that they are ill. This doctor would then need to bless the victim’s cash and jewelry, which would be placed in a bag. The victim would be told not to open the bag for a certain amount of days, and when the victim would open the bag their valuables would be gone. While the plainclothes officers were on Clement St , they observed a male approach several different females and try to convince them that they were “cursed” or had “bad luck” and for a small fee he would do a blessing. All of the women refused the suspects offer and the suspect was detained by the officers on the 800 block of Clement St . The 53 year old suspect was charged with attempted theft by false pretenses.
NOTEWORTHY INCIDENTS
On 10/25/12 between 11pm and 11:40pm, on the 800 block of LaPlaya, the suspect gained access into a multi-unit garage by forcing open a side door. The suspect then broke into a vehicle parked in the garage and took a GPS and a flash drive.
Between 10/26/12, 1pm and 10/27/12, 8:30am on the 2100 block of Lyon St, a suspect gained entry into a garage by unknown means and took a bike and clothing.
Between 10/26/12, 6pm and 10/27/12, 7am on the 400 block of 23rd Ave, a suspect pried open the front door to an apartment building and broke into a car parked in the garage. The loss was an iPod and cash.
On 10/26/12 at 11:40pm, the victim was walking on the 700 block of 27th Ave. She observed a vehicle drive past her slowly, and then make a u-turn, turning abruptly into a driveway directly in front of the victim. One of the 4 occupants exited the vehicle and demanded her phone, while a passenger in the back seat pointed a handgun at her. The victim handed over her phone and the suspects fled north on 27th Ave. The suspects were described as Hispanic males in their early 20’s with the male that exited the vehicle wearing gray shorts and a black hooded sweatshirt. The vehicle was described as a black 2 door sedan, possibly a newer model Mercedes Benz.
On 10/28/12 at 7:10am, the victim was in her vehicle in the area of 22nd Ave and Lake , delivering newspapers. As
she was stopped the suspect suddenly approached the passenger side door. The victim, fearing she was being robbed, grabbed her purse from the seat. The suspect then pulled down his shorts and exposed himself to her. The victim then took off from the area. The suspect was described as a white male, 28-30 years of age, short brown hair, with black shorts and an off white tee shirt.
On 10/28/12, between 3pm and 6:30pm on the 200 block of 5th Ave , a suspect gained entry into an apartment
building through an unsecured back door. The suspect then broke into a vehicle parked in the garage and took a laptop and bike.
Between 10/28/12, 5pm and 10/29/12, 10am on the 200 block of 12th Ave , a suspect took a bike from a garage. The garage’s key entry lock was broken.
Between 10/28/12, 5:45pm and 10/29/12, 7:20am on the 500 block of Clement St, the suspect smashed out the window of a business and took several items from within. The loss is being determined.
On 10/29/12 between 7:30am and 6:15pm on the 700 block of 8th Ave , the suspect entered an apartment and took
two laptops, an iPad and a bike. There were no signs of forced entry into the building or apartment.
On 10/30/12 at 3:50am on the 3500 block of Balboa, a neighbor heard a noise from out in front and as they looked out the window of their residence they saw two suspects crawling out of medical office. The suspects had smashed out the glass on the front door and took over 500 pairs of prescription and sunglasses. The suspects fled in a silver vehicle, possibly a Toyota Prius.
Is it just me or is there an epidemic of smash and grab crimes going on in the Richmond? I notice the Noteworthy Arrests is usually much much shorter lately than the Noteworthy Incidents. Is this because there is more crime, or the cops are having less success in capturing folks who commit crimes? I’m starting to get pretty concerned.
Also concerned about the increase of graffiti around the ‘hood. Anyone know what that anchor scribbling is all about? On another note, this weekend I drove by 18th and Anza and saw the police detaining several young, black kids. I was curious to read about it here thinking it might be the same suspects that seem to make an appearance on this blotter almost ever week. Anyone know what’s up?
Neighborhood’s changing, unfortunately. Some things for the good, sure, but many more transplants now (what’s with all the Nevada, Washington, Texas & New Jersey plates?!). A drive down Sunset Blvd, the Great Highway, Lake St., through GG Park (JFK to Crossover) is nervewracking now–speeders, tailgaters, clueless people who don’t seem to get that the lights are mostly TIMED in many of these areas (you don’t need your brakes if you manage to cool your jets and drive 35 mph along TGH or Sunset). And the crime, yes, especially smash & grabs near Land’s End, bicycle thefts from carports, and graffiti, which we never really had until a few years ago. I suppose if you’ve only lived here a few years or less, you shrug and say oh well. But those of us who have a history here are saddened. I’m happy to have newbies move in, but not to disrespect the place I’ve called home for more than 20 yrs. Cops: try hanging out on Geary between 20th Ave & the Great Hwy during rush hour occasionally. Many more pedestrians now than even a year ago. I’ve seen several near hits as idiots speed from red light to red light. Help! (not feeling too optimisitic at the moment)
Surveillance cameras! They are not a total solution, but they should be in place at all major intersections, among business districts; and, near all public facilities (schools, parks, bus stations, libraries, etc). Anonymity is the FRIEND of criminals.
Tagging could be largely deterred by the presence of surveillance cameras. It is maddening to see fresh tags all over the place, put there by low life losers who have no respect for community, property, or themselves.
What’s really sad is that the Richmond is far more “ghetto” than it used to be; the neighborhood is definitely going downhill. I, for one, would also like to see a radically increased police presence, including a LOT more unmarked cars.
Anonymity is also my friend, and I am not a criminal. Let’s just turn the whole place into 1984, yeah?
I agree, an increase in police presence would be welcomed. But posting cameras up all over the place is ridiculous.
holy crow! “herbal doctor scam”… i wish i’d have bumped into this guy… i would have loved to meet him; purely because i’m a skeptic, and it would have been fun to observe him trying to convince me that i was “cursed”. …i am glad he got caught.
though, i fail to see what the difference is between this guy and other peddlers of woo that operate out of brick and mortar storefronts.
@Whitney Leigh, who wrote: “Anonymity is also my friend, and I am not a criminal. Let’s just turn the whole place into 1984, yeah?”
Oh, there’s that tired “1984” argument, again. No, anonymity is NOT your friend – nor is it the friend of those who are victimized by muggers and vandals – who study their environments, often waiting for opportunities to commit their crimes iN places WHERE THEY CANNOT BE SEEN.
And, why should anyone correlate being under surveillance with being labeled as a criminal? I don’t get that argument. If you think that’s true, everyone reading this blog, is, by definition, a criminal!
How is that?
You are under surveillance (often, camera surveillance) *every time* you attend an ATM; enter a bank; work on your computer; enter a business building lobby; enter a school or campus property (inside and outside); parking lot; public structure; many churches and synagogues; enter many apartment and condo complexes; enter a toll booth; work out at most large commercial gyms; enter any retail store or supermarket; enter many urban parks; enter many libraries; enter an auto showroom; enter a convenience store; and many more places.
How many times have your rights been negatively impacted by those surveillance environments? Inquiring minds want to know.
What I’m suggesting is strategic placement of surveillance cameras to prevent common street crime and vandalism. These kinds of crime are going UP in the Richmond. Realistically, given city budgets, we are not going to see increased police presence.
Are we supposed to increase our paranoia and fear about becoming victims, or are we going to take proactive steps that we know to *work*, to create relatively inexpensive deterrents to crime, along with the ability to track those who commit crime in anonymous ways.
It’s time to stop dragging out the tired old “1984′ arguments, and start understanding that it’s not even relevant, given that you are under massive surveillance already. Like it or not, that is going to continue.
Last, when we evolved in small villages and tribes – *there was no anonymity*. Anonymity itself is a recent development, occurring as we created large urban dwellings.
@Whitney Leigh, who wrote: “Anonymity is also my friend, and I am not a criminal. Let’s just turn the whole place into 1984, yeah?”
Oh, there’s that tired “1984? argument, again. No, anonymity is NOT your friend – nor is it the friend of those who are victimized by muggers and vandals – who study their environments, often waiting for opportunities to commit their crimes iN places WHERE THEY CANNOT BE SEEN.
And, why should anyone correlate being under surveillance with being labeled as a criminal? I don’t get that argument. If you think that’s true, everyone reading this blog, is, by definition, a criminal!
How is that?
You are under surveillance (often, camera surveillance) *every time* you attend an ATM; enter a bank; work on your computer; enter a business building lobby; airports; on your cell phone (text and voice is monitored in large algorithmic chunks by NSA); day care center; many movie houses; the entreance to many public restrooms; museums; public safety buildings, courthouses; hospitals; enter a school or campus property (inside and outside); parking lot; public structure; many churches and synagogues; enter many apartment and condo complexes; enter a toll booth; work out at most large commercial gyms; enter any retail store or supermarket; enter many urban parks; enter many libraries; enter an auto showroom; enter a convenience store; and many more places.
How many times have your rights been negatively impacted by those surveillance environments? Inquiring minds want to know.
What I’m suggesting is strategic placement of surveillance cameras to prevent common street crime and vandalism. These kinds of crime are going UP in the Richmond. Realistically, given city budgets, we are not going to see increased police presence.
Are we supposed to increase our paranoia and fear about becoming victims, or are we going to take proactive steps that we know to *work*, to create relatively inexpensive deterrents to crime, along with the ability to track those who commit crime in anonymous ways.
It’s time to stop dragging out the tired old “1984? arguments, and start understanding that it’s not even relevant, given that you are under massive surveillance already. Like it or not, that is going to continue.
Last, when we evolved in small villages and tribes – *there was no anonymity*. Anonymity itself is a recent development, occurring as we created large urban dwellings.