Police Blotter – May 17, 2013 | Rise in commercial burglaries

[Reprinted from The Richmond Police Station Newsletter of May 17, 2013. To be added to the station’s mailing list, email sfpd.richmond.station@sfgov.org.]

CAPTAIN SHARON FERRIGNO’S MESSAGE
There has been an increase in commercial burglaries in our district over the past week.

Yesterday, in the early morning hours, officers from Richmond Station arrested a commercial burglar who had gained entry into a restaurant. Please take extra care to lock doors and windows, set the alarm and make sure there is no cash or anything of value left for burglars to take. If you are not sure how to increase the security of your building please reach out to Project SAFE a local non-profit that partners with SFPD to conduct security assessments of you property. SAFE offers both commercial and residential security evaluations. Burglars are usually responsible for numerous burglaries and their arrest can greatly reduce the crime rate. Our local representative at SAFE is Morgan St. Clair. Morgan is a tremendous resource she can be reached at 415-553-1968.

Our next Community meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 21, 2013 at 6pm. It will be in the Community Room, here at Richmond Station, 461 6th Ave. (NOTE TIME CHANGE)

NOTEWORTHY ARRESTS
On 05/12/13 at 5:50am, officers were called to the 2600 block of Pine regarding an auto burglary in progress. The witness reported that he heard the sound of glass breaking and when he looked out his window, he saw the suspect getting in and out of a vehicle with the car alarm going off. The officers locate the suspect at the scene and detained him. He was in possession of two backpacks, one he was able to describe the contents of, and the other he had no answer. The officers located the owner of the vehicle that was broken into and he confirmed that the second backpack and its contents had been taken from his vehicle. The 50 year old male, who is on probation, was charged with burglary, possession of burglary tools and stolen property and a probation violation.

On 05/13/13 at 1am, officers patrolling the area of the 300 block of Parker Ave observed a male crouched down and hiding on the passenger side of a pickup truck. Officers stopped to speak to the male who was sweating profusely, shaking and out of breath. They also recognized the suspect from prior arrest and knew he was on probation for burglary. Officer located in his possession a glass smoking pipe and a plastic card that was bent. The bent card is used as a burglary tools to insider between a door frame. The suspect, a 35 year old male was charged with probation and narcotic violations as well as the burglary tool.

On 05/15/13 at 4:53am, officers responded to a call of a burglary in progress on the 2400 block of Clement St. The caller was reporting that he was hearing banging noises from inside a restaurant and could see someone walking around inside with a flashlight. Officers arrived and went to the front and rear of the building. Officers could see someone rummaging around the front desk and could also see the flashlight being shined around. The suspect suddenly stood up and was surprised to see the officers outside. The officers were able to enter and took him into custody. The owner of the business arrived and saw that several cabinets had been forced open as well as the cash register. The 53 year old suspect, who is on probation for burglary, and also had an outstanding warrant for his arrest for burglary, was charged with this burglary and an attempted burglary to the business next door.

On 05/15/13 at 6:53pm, officers were called to a suspicious person on the 600 block of 3rd Ave. The caller was reporting that the male was sitting on a landing, rocking back and forth. The officers located the male and determined he had an outstanding warrant for his arrest for burglary out of Sonoma County. The 32 year old male was booked on the warrant.

NOTEWORTHY INCIDENTS
On 05/12/13 at 5am, the victim was walking on Geary at 7th Ave, texting on his phone. The suspect walked up to him, pulled out a handgun and demanded the victim’s phone. The suspect fled east on Geary and could only be described as a black male in his 20’s. The victim reported the incident 6 hours later.

Between 05/12/13, 11pm and 05/13/13, 9:30am, on the 6900 block of Geary, the suspect attempted to gain entry into a business by removing the door handle, but was unsuccessful. The suspect then went to the business next door and forced open the door. The suspect took the cash register drawer only.

Between 05/13/13, 7:30pm and 05/14/13, 7am on the 4300 block of California a suspect smashed the glass on the front door of a business and took the cash register drawer and cash. During the same time frame another business on the block had its glass broken out but entry was not made.

On 05/14/13 between 8:30am and 11:45pm on the 700 block of 28th Ave, a suspect entered a residence by prying open the front gate and front door. The suspect took a laptop and cash.

On 05/14/13 at 4:53pm, on the unit block of Presidio Terrace, an employee of the home heard a noise coming from the back door. When she went to investigate she saw the suspect who had just entered the house. When she confronted him he took off running. He was described as a white male, 35-40yrs, wearing a blue baseball cap, grey t-shirt and light blue jeans.

Between 05/14/13, 9pm and 05/15/13, 7:30am on the 400 block of Clement St, a suspect entered a business by throwing a rock through the glass on the front door. The suspect took the cash box with cash.

On 05/15/13, between 7:15am and 6pm on the 100 block of Funston, a suspect entered a home by breaking a pane of glass on the front door. The suspect took jewelry and cash.

On 05/15/13 at 9:25pm, the victim was walking south on 25th Ave from Geary Bl. As she was mid-block she was grabbed from behind by the suspect by her shoulders. A second suspect came to the front of her and pointed a handgun at her. He demanded her purse and then punched her in the mouth. The first suspect grabbed her purse from her shoulder and ripped her bracelet from her wrist and they both fled north towards Geary Bl. The suspect who grabbed her was a black male in his 20’s wearing a black beanie, black jacket and blue jeans. The second was also a black male with a black hooded sweatshirt and black pants.