In this week's SFPD Central Station Captain's Newsletter, Capt. David Lazar discusses traffic enforcement, community presentations, pumpkin giveaways and a Halloween recap. Notably, he mentions the traffic enforcement work that Officers Howard Chu and Sam Yuen did in October. Yuen issued 46 citations: three for red lights, two for failing to yield to a pedestrian, 16 for speeding, 23 for prohibited turns and two for other violations. Chu issued 23 citations, all for improper turns.
Now, for a look back at the week's roster of reported crimes.
Another ATM robbery
In what has become a rash of this type of crime (we've reported several in recent weeks), a woman, 47, was pushed away from the ATM and her account robbed at 3:35pm on October 31st at Grant Avenue and Clay Street in Chinatown. Two suspects were involved, both men about 25–30. One pushed her away and withdrew money while the other blocked her from the ATM. The first suspect ran away; the second suspect remained at the scene and was taken into custody.
Another smartphone robbery
It wouldn't be a weekly crime roundup without at least one phone mugging, but this one is remarkable because the victim didn't even have his phone out at the time. At Hallidie Plaza in Union Square at 9:18pm October 31st, a 21-year-old man was walking to the BART station when a male suspect, age unknown, came from behind and held him while a second man, age unknown, went through his pockets and took his smartphone. Both suspects fled the scene.
Man mugged and punched
At 10pm October 31st, near Fifth and Market streets at the junction of Union Square and SoMa, a man, 44, was walking when a man, 20, approached him from behind, took money from his pocket, punched him in the face and fled the scene. The main complained of pain to his face, but refused medical transport.
Prowler entered man's home while he slept
A "hot prowl" without a reported burglary happened at 5am November 1st, on the 800 block of Green Street in Russian Hill. A man, 22, was sleeping when he heard a noise, woke up and saw a man of about 30–40 in his hallway. The suspect fled on foot.
Hot prowl burglar takes laptop, tablet
Also on November 1st, a burglary was reported on the 1300 block of Greenwich on Russian Hill, not far from the earlier "hot prowl." A woman, 43, and man, 35, were in bed and heard a noise at 5:20am outside their bedroom. The woman walked out to see a suspect exiting through a window, and she called the police. An area check for the suspect didn't turn up anything. During a walk-through with the police, the woman noticed several items, including a laptop and tablet, missing from the home.
Two men snatch purse and handbag
At 7pm on November 1st, a woman, 62, was walking on Sansome Street near California Street in the FiDi when two men, age 25–30, grabbed her purse and handbag and fled the scene.
Woman's hip broken in phone theft
Shortly after the earlier purse snatching (and not far from it), a woman, 66, was waiting for the bus at Sacramento and Drumm streets in the FiDi at 8pm on November 1st when two men, age 25–30, came up and tried to take her purse. A taxi driver scared off the suspects, but they returned and fought with the victim, kicking and punching her and stealing her cell phone. The victim was taken to the hospital with a broken hip.
Fire set in dumpster
At 1:35am November 3rd, Pier 39 security saw flames on Pier 41 at Fisherman's Wharf and called 911. SF Fire Department responded and put out a fire inside a dumpster belonging to Blue and Gold Fleet. No suspect was spotted.
Mystery grab from purse
A man in his forties approached a woman, 52, in the 400 block of Geary Street in Union Square at 2:30am November 4th and shoved her to the ground. He then grabbed an unknown item from her purse and fled in a white Dodge Charger.
Man pushed down, camera stolen
At North Point Street and Columbus Avenue in Fisherman's Wharf at 8:47pm November 5th, a man, 57, was walking with a camera around his neck when a man, 20–30, approached and pushed him onto the ground. The suspect then ripped the camera off of the victim and fled the scene in a silver four-door vehicle.
Pair of dumpster arsons reported in wee hours
At 12:20am November 6th, a dumpster fire was reported on O'Farrell Street near Market Street in Union Square. SF Fire Department extinguished it. At 12:37am the same night, while officers were on scene at this fire, another dumpster fire was reported just a couple of blocks away,on the 200 block of Geary in Union Square. SF Fire Department also extinguished this one. No witnesses were located for either arson.
