In this week's Central Station Newsletter, Captain David Lazar talks about the value of security cameras in helping to solve crimes, and most recently, how an image of a suspect helped police nab a possible bike snatcher. A bicycle went missing on May 2nd at 510 Bush St., but a high quality photo taken from a surveillance camera helped Officers Zachary McAulife and George Tano take the suspect into custody.

Capt. Lazar also mentioned that officers gave out 17 traffic citations last week on the corner of Sansome and Green streets for failing to yield to pedestrians. He said that preventing collisions with pedestrians in crosswalks is imperative, and in keeping with the city's Vision Zero Plan to eliminate all pedestrian fatalities by 2024.

And to highlight what Capt. Lazar describes as a great arrest, he touts the good police work from Officers Matthew Ortega and Christian Etei, who took in a man suspected of attempting to commit a burglary. The officers saw the suspect riding his bicycle on a sidewalk at 2:20am, and noticed a flashlight and screwdriver sticking out of his pocket. Upon further investigation, they recovered pliers, a folding knife, a crowbar and narcotics paraphernalia. “I am certain they prevented a burglary in the neighborhood that morning,” said Capt. Lazar.

Lazar also said that he will be on vacation until May 30th. In his absence, Lt. Molly Pengel will serve as Acting Captain.

And now for some of the major incidents of the past week as reported daily in SFPD recaps:

Man sets fire on the street

On May 13th at 7:15pm police responded to the 900 block of Bush Street in Lower Nob Hill with reports of a man intentionally setting fire to an item he placed on the ground. No damage was reported.

Victim punched in the face in robbery

On the corner of Pine and Hyde streets on May 14th at 2:30am in Nob Hill, two men robbed another man of his cell phone, wallet and cash. The victim was walking home home when one of the suspects stepped in front of him and blocked his path. The second suspect came up from behind and punched him in the face before taking his property. Both suspects fled in an unknown direction. The victim suffered a black eye and was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Man attacked disembarking bus

A 66-year-old man suffered a cut and hematoma to the back of the head at Market and 3rd streets in the FiDi on May 15th at 8:30am. The victim was getting off the bus when a man hit him in the head with a bicycle lock. The aggravated assault appeared to be random and unprovoked. The victim was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. 

Two men threaten man with a gun, steal cell phone

On May 16th at 12:50am on the 700 block of Market Street in the FiDi, a 34-year-old man was robbed of his cell phone by two suspects. The two men approached the victim and demanded he hand over his property. When he refused, the suspects told him that they had a gun, and he eventually complied. Then the suspects asked the victim to withdraw money from an ATM. The three men walked toward an ATM located in a store, and when the suspects noticed the surveillance cameras, they fled northbound on Market Street. 

Bicyclist injured in traffic collision 

A bicyclist was seriously injured on May 17th at 6:14pm on the corner of North Point and Mason streets in North Beach. The victim was riding his bike westbound on North Point when a taxicab traveling north on Mason Street ran him over. He suffered from cuts and scrapes to his elbow, face, back and shoulders. He was taken to the hospital in life-threatening condition. As of the SFPD recap, no arrest had been made.