In this week's Central Station newsletter, Captain David Lazar takes a moment to memorialize and offer prayers to the five Dallas police officers who lost their lives in the line of duty last week. Lieutenant Valerie Matthews from Central Station will be traveling to Dallas to attend funerals this weekend and will be representing Central Station and the San Francisco Police Department.
Capt. Lazar says that officers will be wearing a black band over their stars to honor the fallen victims. There will also be a collection plate at Central Station for those wishing to contribute to the officers' families.
The Captain also reiterates his desire for locals to help with crime prevention by putting their cell phones away while out and about. "If you need to use it, move to a private place out of public view," he writes.
With a swell in jewelry thefts, he advises, "cover up your necklaces and other valuable jewelry when on the street. [Also] safeguard all valuables. For example [by] placing a wallet in a front pocket or keeping a backpack or purse in front of you."
And now for your weekly crime roundup, culled from SFPD reports from Central Station.
Suspect forces way into apartment building, knocks resident to ground
On July 8th at 8:21am on the 1400 block of Larkin Street on Nob Hill, a man, 66, was walking into his building's shared foyer, when a 30-year-old man forced his way in and knocked the victim to the ground. Officers arrived at the scene, and the suspect walked out of the building before SFPD took him into custody. The victim suffered from a cut to his head and was transported to a hospital in non-life threatening condition. According to police, there were no signs of forced entry to any of the apartments.
Man robbed of camera, pushed to ground
Lately, we have seen a number of camera thefts near the crooked block of Lombard Street in Russian Hill, so be mindful when snapping photos of the iconic vista. On July 9th at 9:27pm, two men in their 20s approached a man, 27, and snatched his camera and pushed him to the ground. The suspects then fled southbound on Leavenworth Street and then eastbound on Greenwich Street.
Phone stolen by unknown suspect
In Union Square on July 10th at 7:50pm near the corner of Geary and Powell streets, a man in his early 20s approached a woman, 42, grabbed her cell phone from her hands, and fled in an unknown direction.
Suspect snatched necklace from woman
In Chinatown on July 11th at 8:16pm near Jackson and Trenton streets, a woman, 62, was walking down the street when a man, 20 – 25, approached her from behind and ripped her jewelry from her neck. The victim yelled for help and a witness came to her aid before the suspect jumped into the driver's seat of a light colored SUV and fled on Jackson Street.
Man lights fire, taken into custody
Near the Embarcadero on July 12th at 2:15am, a man, 39, lit cardboard on fire on the 1300 block of Sansome Street. Officers arrived on the scene and arrested the suspect.
Man robbed of backpack while walking
A man, 29, was walking in Russian Hill on the 1000 block of Chestnut Street on July 13th at 11:30pm when a suspect, 30, approached him and demanded his backpack. The victim saw that the suspect had a knife, became scared and gave up the backpack and fled the scene. The backpack had contained a passport and paperwork.
Man robbed of cell phone while parked
On July 14th at 7:40pm on The Embarcadero at Broadway, a man, 44, was sitting in his car when another man in his 40s parked his SUV behind the victim's vehicle. The suspect slammed the victims driver side window, grabbed his cell phone after a struggle ensued, and then fled in his vehicle northbound on The Embarcadero.
