[Reprinted from The Richmond Police Station Newsletter of February 6, 2014. To be added to the station’s mailing list, email sfpd.richmond.station@sfgov.org.]
CAPTAIN SIMON SILVERMAN’S MESSAGE
There has been a recent series of burglaries involving unoccupied homes that are under construction. The suspects are breaking in overnight or on weekends and taking tools. The Richmond Station investigations team is pursuing a number of leads and has contacted all of the construction crews working in the district. In the meantime, please call the SFPD immediately if you see suspicious activity at a construction site, especially during a time when the crew would not normally be working.
There was a cluster of early morning robberies with a gun that are likely the work of the same suspect. He has targeted people walking alone and approaches from behind. The incidents were at Sacramento & Steiner, Bush & Baker and California & Lyon. I urge you to look around you as you walk and to avoid potential distractions such as wearing headphones or looking at your smart phone.
We continue to focus on enforcing traffic laws throughout the district. I’ve noticed that many of the drivers we cite live close to where they were cited. I suspect that people are distracted or in a rush as they come and go from home which leads to unsafe driving. Please give driving your full attention and be mindful not to drive too fast. It’s the neighborly thing to do.
Our next Community meeting will be held on Tuesday, February 18, 2014 at 6pm. It will be in the Community Room, here at Richmond Station, 461 6th Ave.
NOTEWORTHY ARRESTS
On 02/01/14, shortly after 1:00am, two armed robberies occurred. One was at 32nd and Anza, the other was at the Great Highway and Fulton. The suspect descriptions were the same and one of the victims saw the suspects fleeing in a white SUV. There had been several reports throughout the City with similar descriptions of suspects and vehicle. There was also a robbery on 01/26/14 on the 2400 block of Sutter (last week’s newsletter) with similar information. On 02/02/14 at 12:10am a robbery occurred in another police district, (100 block of Page St) again with similar descriptions. Plainclothes officers then observed the vehicle at Broadway and Laguna Sts and followed it to Pacific and Octavia where the vehicle and the suspects were detained. Two of the suspects attempted to run but were unsuccessful. Numerous pieces of stolen property were recovered, along with two replica firearms. The 4 suspects, three 16yrs olds and one 21yr old were charged with numerous counts of robbery, possession of stolen property and conspiracy.
On 02/05/14 at 8:20pm, officers were called to the area of Masonic and Euclid on a report of a vehicle blocking a lane of traffic. Officers located the vehicle and inside was a female lying across the front driver and passenger seats. The doors and windows were locked and the engine was running. After banging on the window several times and getting no response and fearing a medical emergency, they broke a window to gain entry. They could immediately smell alcohol from within the vehicle. After finally rousing the occupant, she told them she was just taking a nap before driving home to the East Bay. The 67 year old female was charged with driving under the influence.
On 02/06/14 at 3:35am, the suspect was driving south on Point Lobos near the Cliff House. The vehicle jumped the curb and struck a vehicle parked on the sidewalk and a pole and planter in front of the business. The vehicle that was struck hit the front railing of the business. The driver, a 26yr old male was charged with driving under the influence.
NOTEWORTHY INCIDENTS
Between 01/29/14, 6pm and 02/03/14, 7am on the 200 block of 14th Ave, a suspect entered a home under construction by cutting the padlock hasp on the front door. The suspect took tools.
On 01/31/14 at 7:30am the victim was walking east on Bush St from Divisadero. He first noticed the suspect at that location and as he continued east, the suspect followed. When the victim got to Bush and Steiner Sts, the suspect walked up behind him and brandished a firearm and told the victim to give up his property. The suspect, who was only described as a black male in his 20’s, fled in an unknown direction.
Between 02/01/14, 5pm and 02/03/14, 7am on the 3000 block of Cabrillo, a suspect entered a home under construction by cutting the padlock hasp from the garage door. The suspect took tools from a locked tool box by cutting the padlock.
Between 02/01/14, 5pm and 02/03/14, 7:25am on the 2600 block of Sutter, a suspect entered a home under construction by prying open a window. The suspect then cut the lock off of the tool box and took tools.
Between 02/02/14, 4pm and 02/03/14, 7am on the 200 block of 15th Ave, a suspect pried open the front door of an apartment building and entered the garage. The suspect took a bike and two bowling balls.
Between 02/02/14, 4pm and 02/03/14, 7:40am on the 100 block of 11th Ave, a suspect entered a garage and took a bike. There were no signs of forced entry.
On 02/04/14 at 10:30pm, the victim was standing on the 1600 block of Scott St when the suspect bumped into him. The suspect then brandished a firearm and told the victim to give up his property. The victim could only say “I’m sorry” several times and the suspect finally told the victim to “just go home.” The suspect fled north on Scott St. He was described as a black male, 20-30yrs wearing a white jacket with a hood.
On 02/05/14 between approximately 6am and 7:30am there were 3 armed robberies within a short distance from each other. The first was at Sacramento and Steiner, the second at Bush and Baker and the final was at California and Lyon. In each the suspect was described as a black male with a dark blue or black jacket, armed with a black semi-automatic handgun. In two of the robberies the suspect had something covering the bottom half of his face. The loss was cash, wallets and phones.