In this week's SFPD Central Station captain's newsletter, Capt. David Lazar gives seven good reasons why you should report all crimes, including this one: "It gives the City an idea of what is happening when decisions are made about hiring officers."
Capt. Lazar also reports that the station is cracking down on three-card monte hustlers. "Many of our tourists become victim to this scam, losing hundreds of dollars," he writes. "Yesterday, the Fisherman’s Wharf foot beat officers apprehended one of the worst offenders." On Jan. 21st, the station also tweeted it had arrested eight people for the crime.
And don't miss articles on this month's Featured Citizen of the Month, Karin Flood, the executive director of the Union Square Business Improvement District, and featured Officer of the Month, Robert Duffield. The SFPD is also hiring; the newsletter this week includes a job listing in case you want information on applying.
Finally, Central Station on Friday tweeted about its giveaway in Chinatown of bags warning people not to fall victim to scams, particularly around Lunar New Year:
Passed out 1500 "Scam Bags" today. Crime prevention and awareness before the Lunar New Year. pic.twitter.com/OH4NhozfUf
— SFPD Central Station (@SFPDCentral) January 22, 2016
Now for this week's crime recaps, culled from daily reports sent by SFPD:
Thief steals backpack, then pepper-sprays victim
At 6:24am on Jan. 15th, a 40-year-old man in the back of a delivery truck at Montgomery and Sutter streets felt movement in the front of the truck, and when he checked it out, discovered someone fleeing with his backpack. He gave chase and was confronted by the suspect, who pepper sprayed him and then fled on foot. The victim was treated at the scene.
Early morning mugging at gunpoint
On Allen Street near Union and Larkin streets on Russian Hill, two men, ages 27 and 28, were mugged at gunpoint on Jan. 16th at 1:19am. The two men were in front of a friend's house when a man approached them, pointed a black handgun at one of them and told them to give him everything. He took the a cell phone and wallet, and fled the scene.
Man pushes woman down, takes her money
A man approached a woman, age 40, from behind, pushed her down, took her money and fled on foot. It happened at 12:55am Jan. 18th on the 1100 block of Pacific Street Avenue near Taylor Street on Nob Hill. The victim complained of pain to her shoulder and eye, but refused medical treatment.
Man shoves woman against a wall, takes her purse
On Jan. 18th at 1:40pm on Stockton and Geary streets in Union Square, a man approached a 29-year-old woman from behind, grabbed her, shoved her against a wall, grabbed her property (a purse wallet, credit cards and I.D.) and fled the scene.
Woman assaulted with "dark, hard object"
A woman, age 51, was struck on the head with a "dark, 'hard object" by an unknown suspect at 7am on Jan. 20th near Grant Avenue and Bush Street (by the gates of Chinatown). She suffered a cut and bruising to her head, and was transported to San Francisco General Hospital in stable condition. The suspect fled on foot.
Hot prowler pilfers purses
A call came in at 2am Jan. 22nd from the 1400 block of Broadway, which borders Russian Hill, Nob Hill and Chinatown. Two women, age 60 and 57, saw a broken window on the second floor of a building and a male suspect walking around the hallway. The suspect went down to the first floor, went to an unlocked room and took the women's purses, then fled the building via the front door.
