The big crime news this week, in case you didn't hear, was that an arrest was made in the homicide of Stuart "Stu" Jackson, the well-liked and personable sketch artist who frequented many North Beach cafes. A memorial is scheduled from 4–6pm Sunday at Caffé Trieste (601 Vallejo St.).
Also, Capt. David Lazar addressed a Golden Gateway Tenants Association neighborhood watch meeting on Jan. 12th, during which he talked about plans for security during Super Bowl City and reminded people of personal safety tips. Several people at the meeting mentioned they've noticed improvements in the area lately.
In this week's SFPD Central Station newsletter, Capt. Lazar outlines the station's main goals for 2016, including reducing violent crime and property crime by 10 percent and increasing the plainclothes team. He also writes about new officers at the station and honors Officer of the Month Robert Duffield.
Please note: The captain's monthly community meeting slated for Thursday, Jan. 21st will not be held at the Gateway Apartments, as the newsletter states. If a new venue is announced, we'll let you know.
Now for the latest crimes in the district reported in SFPD recaps and the Central Station newsletter:
Grinch burglarizes apartment over the holidays
A 52-year-old resident of the 900 block of Union Street in Russian Hill got an unpleasant welcome after returning from vacation on Jan. 7th: Her apartment had been burglarized. A grinch had taken money and jewelry sometime since she left on Dec 17th.
Victim beaten on bus
Two suspects approached a victim on the bus at Stockton Street and Pacific Avenue in Chinatown at 6:05am Jan. 8th, struck the victim multiple times on the head, and ran off of the bus. No further information was given on the suspects or victim.
Muggers flee in BMW
Two male suspects, about age 20–25, approached a 23-year-year-old woman as she was walking in Aquatic Park in Fisherman's Wharf at 9:45pm Jan. 8th. They pulled her camera strap that was around her neck, causing her to fall. While she was on the ground, the suspects stole her wallet, money and cell phone, and fled the scene with a third suspect, a woman age 20–25, in an older-model gold BMW M5 sedan.
Another ATM "shoulder surfing" incident
Yet another ATM "shoulder surfing" incident was reporter at 2:57pm Jan. 9th on the 900 block of Stockton Street in Chinatown, when an unknown suspect pushed the victim away from the ATM the victim was using and withdrew money from the person's account. There have been a rash of these crimes; Capt. Lazar urges everyone to be especially vigilant of their surroundings while using ATMs.
Potential patient turns violent
At 9:27am Jan. 11th on the 200 block of Bush Street in the FiDi, a man struck a victim in the head after he was told the office was no longer accepting walk-in appointments. (We don't know any more about the business in question.)
Thief pilfers funds from file cabinet
A 74-year-old man reported at 12:15pm Jan. 12th that he left a second-floor door unlocked on the 1100 block of Stockton Street, and returned to find it locked. He saw a suspect, a man age 20–30, walking out of the building, and later discovered the door to his office was pried open. He then found that his file cabinet was also pried open and that money was stolen from inside. The suspect fled the building in an unknown direction.
