SFPD Central Station Capt. David Lazar's newsletter this week starts out with several tips for safeguarding your cell phone. He writes that he's starting to see an uptick in these crimes, so read his advice and keep your phone (and earbuds) out of view.
Capt. Lazar also features Officer Kevin Worrell as Officer of Month, and he writes about the SFPD celebrating 40 years of women on patrol, complete with photos.
In other crime and safety news, Friday's crash of a tour bus into the scaffolding on the new Apple store under construction at 300 Post St. sent 16 people to the hospital, said SFFD fire chief Joanne Hayes-White. Initial reports from officials were that 19 were injured—five critically—but SFGate reports numbers have been updated to reflect at least 20 hurt, seven critically.
Crews worked into the night to clear the scene and re-open the street. Several witnesses reported the bus was traveling at a high rate of speed before the crash; SFPD's Traffic Investigations Unit is looking into the incident.
Now for this past week's crime recaps.
Man grabs purse, flees in car
At North Point and Larkin streets in Fisherman's Wharf at 1am November 8th, a woman, 21, was using her cell phone when a man, about 20–30 years old, approached and grabbed her purse. A small struggle ensued, and the suspect got away with the purse and ran to a waiting red Toyota Prius, which fled westbound on North Point.
Two men rip tablet out of a woman's hands
Two men grabbed a tablet out of a woman's hands as she was walking near Pine and Front streets in the FiDi at 2:45pm Nov. 8th. The suspects, age 20–25, approached the woman, 31, and one of them grabbed the tablet. She fought with him over it and he ripped it from her hands, and then both suspects fled eastbound on Pine Street.
Man punched in face, phone stolen
At 3am November 9th, a man, 34, was walking home near O'Farrell and Cyril Magnin streets in Union Square when a man appeared and punched him in the face multiple times. The suspect took the victim's cell phone and fled on foot. The victim suffered non-life-threatening injuries and pain to his face.
Woman robbed at gunpoint for tablet
Another tablet robbery happened at 2am November 10th on Drumm Street near Market Street in the FiDI. A man, 30, approached a woman, 36, brandished a black, semiautomatic handgun, grabbed the tablet and fled the scene. The woman suffered a cut to the cheek but refused medical transport.
Woman chases suspects after purse snatching, but loses them
Another purse snatching took place at 10:15pm November 11th at California and Battery streets in the FiDi. A woman, 46, was walking home when two men in their twenties came from behind and grabbed her purse. she fought with the second suspect and he eventually took the purse, which contained a camera, MP3 player and wallet. She chased the suspects, but then lost them in the area.
