[Reprinted from The Richmond Police Station Newsletter of December 21, 2011. To be added to the station’s mailing list, email sfpd.richmond.station@sfgov.org.]
CAPTAIN KEITH SANFORD’S MESSAGE
As this is our last newsletter of 2011, I would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. We here at Richmond Police Station are fortunate to work in a neighborhood with so many caring and concerned citizens and community groups. We want to continue to work together to keep our district safe and make sure that 2012 proves to be the best yet!
I would also like to thank those of you who were so generous in donating toys to our station’s Toy Drive for SFPD Operation Dream. One of our offices here is chock full of toys and your thoughtfulness will make many children happy.
NOTEWORTHY ARRESTS
On 12/15 at 1:55am officers were called to the area of 3rd and Geary on a report of males “tagging” the side of a PG&E truck. Officers were flagged down by the caller who pointed out a male and told the officers that he was one of the suspects. Officers detained the male who said, “Is this about the truck? Sorry about that.” The caller stated that his truck was parked on the 300 block of Clement St, and when he was walking to it he saw the suspect and one other male, writing on the side of his truck. As he walked up to them they took off running. The 29 year old male was charged with vandalism.
On 12/19 at 11pm, officers were called to 33rd and Geary on a report of a robbery that had just occurred. The victim had been on a 38 Geary MUNI and as the bus came to a stop at 33rd Ave, one of the suspects ripped her iPhone from her hand and fled out the door with the second suspect. The victim screamed and then ran after them. A witness called 911 and provided a description and direction of the suspects. Numerous officers responded to the area and the suspects were located on the 400 block of 25th Ave. The suspect tried to conceal the phone in a planter box nearby but the officers observed this action and recovered the phone. The two suspects, both 15 years of age, were charged with robbery and possession of stolen property.
NOTEWORTHY INCIDENTS
On 12/14 between 11:30am and 4pm on the unit block of Jordan, a suspect entered a residence by prying open a rear door. The suspect took jewelry and cash.
On 12/14 at 12:40pm, the victim went into a restaurant on the 1600 block of Divisadero. He placed two bags on the floor near him and placed an order. When he turned around the bags, containing a laptop and ipad were gone.
Between 12/14, 3:30pm and 12/15, 4pm on the 700 block of Spruce St , a suspect gained entry into a garage and took tools. There were no signs of forced entry.
On 12/14 at 10pm, on the 2900 block of Lake St , the victims were in the upper level of their residence when the burglar alarm sounded. One of the residents went downstairs to investigate and found a sliding glass door open. The victim’s exited the home and waited for the police. Officers discovered that the suspect had removed louvered windows from a back door and made entry taking several items. The suspect then fled through the sliding door.
On 12/15 at 7:50pm, the victim was opening the front gate of his home on the 400 block of 26th Ave when the suspect came up from behind him and closed the gate, preventing the victim from leaving. The suspect told the victim to remain calm and quiet and when the victim began to yell for help, the suspect pointed a knife at his face. The suspect asked for money but was then scared away when a relative of the victim pulled up to the driveway. The suspect was described as a male, early 30’s wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and black pants and he fled east on Clement St toward 25th Ave. The victim was uninjured.
On 12/16 between 2:30pm and 5:45pm on the 1500 block of Balboa, a suspect gained entry into a garage and took a bike. The rear of the garage is open and accessible.
On 12/16 at 4:54pm, 3 suspects, all wearing masks entered a jewelry store on the 5500 block of Geary Bl. One of the suspects smashed the display cases and took jewelry while the other two rushed the employees who began to fight with the suspects. One of the victims sustained a minor injury and the suspects, two of which were armed, fled south onto 20th Ave. The investigation is on-going.
Between 12/16, 5pm and 12/19, 9am near MLK Drive and Lincoln Way, a suspect removed copper drain pipes from a Rec and Park pump house.
On 12/19, between 9am and 5:30pm on the unit block of 7th Ave, a suspect gained entry into an apartment building and pried open the door to the garage. The suspect took golf clubs.
Lot of breakin’s but none of the criminals ran into Mr. Smith and Mr. Wesson or that guy named Buckshot.
It seems that people maybe should start paying attention when they’re playing with their iPhone on the bus. I would bet that’s the most commonly stolen item on Muni in the city.