In this week's SFPD Central Station newsletter, Capt. David Lazar is urging neighbors to keep an eye on their belongings while out shopping and dining this holiday season, as thefts and purse snatchings have been occurring at locations designed for merry-making. On Thursday afternoon, a trio of off-duty officers managed to foil one such thief inside The Cheesecake Factory at Macy's in Union Square.

"The suspect took a purse in the presence of an off-duty San Jose police officer, an off-duty San Leandro police officer and a retired San Leandro police officer," Capt. Lazar writes. "The off-duty officers chased down the suspect and we were there within moments to take the suspect into custody!" Another suspected purse thief was caught the previous week in Union Square; read the recap below for more.

Photo: Google Street View

If you're shopping online, you're not immune, either. "We are starting to see an increase in package thefts in our district," Capt. Lazar writes. "The holiday season brings more packages, and one of the methods of the suspects is to follow the UPS or FedEx truck and then take the package after delivery." He suggests sending packages to your work or making arrangements with a neighbor.

Finally, don't miss Capt. Lazar's profile of Citizen of the Month Ida Zoubi, co-owner of Caffe Trieste. Trieste is a favorite hangout for Central Station officers, and Capt. Lazar notes Zoubi—who made waves this week with her comments at a meeting about the proposed Poets Plaza—has been instrumental in organizing an annual toy drive for the San Francisco Fire Department. Bring a toy to Caffe Trieste (601 Vallejo St.) from 6:30–9pm this Friday, and enjoy live music and prizes. Central Station itself (766 Vallejo St.) is also collecting toys for the needy.

Photo: Nathan Falstreau/Hoodline

And now, for the major crimes of late:

ATM robbers strike from behind

Yup, it happened again: A man, 37, was using an ATM on the 1400 block of Stockton Street in North Beach at 4:30pm on November 26th when two men, one 45–50 and the other 30–40, approached him from behind, forced him away from the bank machine, took his money and fled on foot southbound on Columbus Avenue.

Man sets fire to building; gets caught

Officers saw a man, 52, lighting something on fire at 12:54am on November 27th, on the 200 block of Powell Street in Union Square. After speaking to him, they discovered he'd set fire to the outside of a nearby building, and arrested him.

Woman arrested after man stops her from stealing purse

At 11:59pm on November 28th, on the 400 block of Powell Street in Union Square, a man, 48, saw a woman, 53, stealing a purse from a table. He approached her and attempted to retrieve the purse, and a brief struggle ensued before security was called. The suspect was arrested.

Man robs bank in the afternoon

A man of about 30 entered a bank on California Street near Market Street in the FiDi at 3:07pm on November 28th, and slipped the teller a note demanding money. The teller complied, and the suspect fled the scene on foot.

Pair abscond with purse after early morning snatching

At 4:30am November 29th in Justin Herman Plaza on the Embarcadero, two women, age 20–35, grabbed a purse from a woman, age 58. A fight ensued between the first suspect and the victim, and the second suspect pushed the victim away from the first suspect. They fled with her purse. No injury was reported.

Man mugged at gunpoint for wallet and phone

A 23-year-old man was walking near Powell and Bay streets in Fisherman's Wharf at 10:30pm November 29th when a man, 25–30, approached, brandished a gun, and demanded the victim's property. He handed over a cell phone and a wallet with ID cards and money. The suspect was last seen fleeing westbound on Powell.

Youth arrested after using scissors to threaten woman during robbery

At 10:45pm on November 30th, a woman, 21, was walking near Powell and Jackson streets in Chinatown when a 17-year-old male approached her and grabbed her phone. She struggled to retain it, but the suspect then held a pair of scissors to her neck. He fled, and the victim gave chase. Arriving units were able to take the suspect into custody and recover the phone.

Another bank robbed

Another bank was robbed this week in the FiDi, this one on the 400 block of Montgomery Street in the FiDi at 11:40am December 2nd. A man roughly 18–20 years old entered the bank and presented a demand note to the teller, a 58-year-old woman, indicating he had a gun. He grabbed the note back and fled the bank with money eastbound on Sacramento Street.