In this week's Central Station newsletter, Captain David Lazar says police will be planning community activities that get everyone better connected, together with local housing groups.

"[We'll] be working with the community to plan a couple of BBQ events, swimming, bowling, [a] backpack give away, movie nights, 'coffee with a resident,' and other field trips. Our goal is to keep our youth busy and also build positive relationships between the youth and the police."

Ping Yuen Housing and North Beach Place are on the list for event sites. The former is seeking a $3 million safety funding infusion this week after ongoing crime problems, with the support of Lazar and other local leaders.

He goes on to warn pedestrians and drivers to be aware of each other when in crosswalks. He writes about two incidents that he witnessed recently where pedestrians got into confrontations with drivers who weren't paying attention while in a crosswalk. He also mentions that in one case, the pedestrian was allegedly at fault. "I share these stories in order to ask that we all be careful while driving, walking or riding our bicycles."

The biggest crime news of note in District 3 this week was a jewelry heist that happened early Thursday morning in Union Square, where two alleged suspects stole jewelry from a retailer on the 100 block of O'Farrell St. estimated to be worth millions of dollars. The police are seeking help from the community to identify the two suspects and the owner of the store is even offering a reward of $25,000 for information that leads to their capture. 

And now for your weekly crime roundup, culled from SFPD reports from Central Station. 

Attempted burglary thwarted when greeted by victim with a knife

On June 17th at 9:15pm in Union Square, an attempted hot prowl burglary occurred when a woman, 67, heard noise while sitting in her office. The victim got a knife and called 911, then a man in his early 20s forced his way in her office door. When the suspect saw the victim, he fled in an unknown direction. 

Unknown man swipes woman's phone as she walks

A woman, 21, was walking with her phone in hand on the 800 block of Columbus Avenue in North Beach at 11:31pm on June 18th, when a man grabbed her phone. The victim and the suspect struggled for the phone before the suspect threw her on the ground and fled on foot. The victim was able to pull off one of the suspect's shoes in the struggle before he ran away. 

Man pushed to ground, robbed of cell phone

On June 19th at 9:40pm in Union Square, a suspect in his mid-to-late 20s approached a man, 42, and tried to speak to him but couldn't communicate due to a language barrier. Soon after, two unknown male suspects pushed the victim to the ground from behind and nabbed his cell phone before all three fled the scene. The victim suffered a minor injury but was not transported to a hospital. 

Two suspects snatch necklace from woman

Last year, we noticed and uptick in necklace thefts, and now this crime of opportunity seems to be happening more frequently in the neighborhood again. On June 20th at 4:08pm, two men, 18-25, approached a woman, 53, on the 800 block of Kearny in North Beach, and snatched her necklace and pendant from her neck before fleeing north bound on foot on Kearny Street. 

Suspects push woman to ground, snatch cell phone

In the FiDi on June 20th at 8:01pm, two male suspects, 20-25, approached a woman, 28, from behind and pushed her to the ground. One of the suspects pulled her cell phone from her hands and fled on foot. The victim suffered minor injuries but was not transported to a hospital. 

Man pulls gun on woman, steals purse

A woman, 50, was walking near the corner of Larkin and Jackson Streets in Nob Hill on June 21st at 1:30am, when a man, 20, approached her and pointed a handgun to her face. The suspect demanded her purse but the victim tried to run away. After the suspect caught up with her, she dropped her purse and the suspect fled into a waiting vehicle. The victim lost her purse, cell phone, credit cards and her driver's license. 

Man pulls necklace off woman's neck and flees

Another necklace grab occurred on June 21st at 11:45pm near the corner of Jackson and Stockton Streets in Chinatown when a man, 20-25, grabbed the necklace of a woman, 54, from her neck causing her to fall to the ground. The suspect then ran to his vehicle, a newer model white SUV, and fled the area. The victim suffered from scratches to her neck but refused transport to a hospital. 

Suspect nabs phone while woman texts

In yet another cell phone grab robbery, a woman, 47, was texting on her phone in the FiDi on June 23rd at 8:58pm when a man in his late teens ran up to her and snatched it out of her hand. The suspect fled in an unknown direction. 

Hit and run suspect arrested after incident

On June 23rd at 10:40pm at Stockton and Green Streets in North Beach, a man, 51, was crossing the street when he was struck by a vehicle. The suspect, a man aged 26, was driving a 2015 Chevy sedan and fled the scene but was later arrested by police. The victim suffered serious injuries and was transported to a local hospital.