SFPD Seeks Hayes Valley Theft Suspect Disguised As Pest Control Worker [Video]

SFPD Seeks Hayes Valley Theft Suspect Disguised As Pest Control Worker [Video]Photos: Courtesy of SFPD
Teresa Hammerl
Published on December 21, 2016

SFPD is seeking a theft suspect who broke into a Hayes Valley building by pretending to be a pest-control worker, then attempted to steal a pair of laptops.

The incident occurred last Monday, December 12th, at 6:20am, at a commercial building on the 200 block of Franklin Street (between Hayes and Fell).

A surveillance video shows the male suspect fully attired in a white hazmat suit, presenting a card reading "ORTHO" at the building's security desk and signing in. 

The building's security guard was later informed by a supervisor that no one was authorized to be in the building. The guard then went up to the third floor, where they encountered the suspect with one laptop in his hands and disconnecting a second laptop. The security guard made the suspect put down the laptops, then chased him out of the building.

One sign that the thief wasn't a legitimate pest-control employee: while "ORTHO" is a brand of pest and weed control products, SFPD notes that it's not a pest-control company that performs service calls.

Anyone with information on this case is encouraged to contact the SFPD anonymous tip line at (415) 575-4444, or text-a-tip to TIP411 with SFPD at the beginning of the message.