FiDi & North Beach Crime: Several Violent Robberies, Two Fire Incidents & MorePhoto: Geri Koeppel/ Hoodline
Nathan Falstreau
Published on July 23, 2016

This week's Central Station Newsletter is chock full of what Captain David Lazar calls "great arrests." 

He writes, "the plainclothes team, Officers Huang, Reyes and Christensen captured two auto burglars at Northpoint and Taylor Streets on July 14th. This same team captured a bicycle thief from 5 Embarcadero on July 14th as well.

Officers Jim Horan and Minh Du arrested a cell phone thief on the 400 block of Montgomery Street on July 15th. Officer Robert Glenn arrested three suspects at Hyde and Filbert [Streets] on July 16th. The suspects had a firearm, marijuana and gloves.

Plainclothes officers Tiumalu, Johnson and Macaulay, in partnership with officers Jessica Zamora and Francesca Murphy, captured a juvenile who stole a cell phone from another person on July 18th at Jackson and Davis Streets."

We've reported on multiple necklace grabs throughout the district in the last few months, where an alleged suspect would violently rip the necklace from a victim's neck and then escape in a waiting vehicle. And as of Monday evening, several alleged suspects are in police custody

Capt. Lazar also writes, "thanks to a couple of merchants in Chinatown, on the 1100 block of Stockton Street on July 18th, one robbery suspect was captured. Officer Minh Du captured the second suspect and the plainclothes team led by Sergeant Rich Jones captured the third suspect the following day who is responsible for several “chain snatch” robberies in Chinatown."

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

Dumpster set on fire

Over the last few weeks, we have noticed several instances of individuals lighting material on fire on the streets. On July 16th at 5:19 am on the boarder of Chinatown and Union Square at Grant Avenue and Post Street, a dumpster was set on fire. A witness reported that an unknown suspect in his 20s was seen walking away from the area. But, not property damage was reported. 

Woman punched in the head while walking

A woman, 82, was walking down the street near Pier 1 at the Ferry Building at the Embarcadero on July 17th at 1:46pm, when a male suspect, 45, jumped out and punched her in the face. Police arrived and were able to take the alleged suspect into custody across the street. The victim suffered minor injuries and was in stable condition, but she refused medical treatment. 

Two women robbed of necklaces 

In the FiDi on July 18th at 11:35am on the 1100 block of Stockton Street, two women, 50 and 67, were approached by a 19-year-old man pushed one of the victims to the ground. He then ripped her necklace off. A witness at the scene tackled the suspect to the ground and held him until police arrived. The second victim was standing nearby observing the incident when another suspect in his 20s snatched her necklace as well, and absconded with the goods. The witness was able to direct responding officers to a third suspect who they said was a "lookout." All three were taken into custody. Both victims sustained bruises on their necks but refused transport to a hospital. The victims lost a necklace and a necklace with a jade pendant. 

Woman pushed to the ground by teens, phone stolen

Two female teens approached a woman, 31, on the corner of Jackson and Davis Streets in the FiDi on July 18th at 3:47pm and tried to grab her phone but was initially unsuccessful. The two alleged suspects began yelling at the victim, taunting her as she attempted to get away. But one of the suspects threw her to the ground from behind and began punching and kicking her while she was down. Both suspects then were able to run off with the phone. The woman suffered minor and injuries and was treated at the scene. Police said that arrests have been made. 

Three suspects nab woman's bag

In North Beach on the corner of Montgomery and Green Streets at 10:15pm on July 18th, three male suspects between 18 – 20 years-old approached a woman, 46, and threw her to the ground. The suspects then ripped her bag off of her shoulder and fled the scene on foot. The victim suffered minor injuries but was not transported to a hospital. The three suspects were able to purloin the victim's computer, phone and wallet. 

Woman critically injured in apartment fire

On July 19th, we reported of a fire on the 200 block of Bay Street in North Beach that occurred just after midnight. A neighbor heard a fire alarm and called building security and when they arrived and saw flames through the window, they entered the apartment and pulled a woman, 63, out to safety. The victim was transported to a hospital in critical condition. There is no suspect of arson as of this time. 

Teen taunted and punched, lost cell phone

A male teen was walking near the Westfield Mall on the 800 block of Market Street on July 19th at 9pm when six or seven teens approached him and began taunting him. One of the alleged suspects then punched him in the face three times. After the suspects left the scene, the teen realized that his cell phone was missing. He suffered minor injuries but was not transported to a hospital. 

Victim punched in the face, wallet stollen

On July 21st at 11:15pm in Fisherman's Wharf, a man, 33 was walking to his car when an unknown suspect approached him and punched him multiple times to the face causing him to fall to the ground. The suspect then took the victim's wallet and fled on foot in an unknown direction.