FiDi/North Beach crime: Bank robber arrested, woman robbed and beaten with handguns, morePhoto: gags9999/Flickr
Nathan Falstreau
Published on July 30, 2018

Here are some notable incidents that have taken place in SFPD's Central District since our last biweekly recap. The district encompasses Chinatown, Financial District, Embarcadero, Russian, Telegraph and Nob Hills, North Beach, and Union Square. 

Unless otherwise noted, all reports are drawn from the department's daily summary.

Man injured during mobile phone robbery 

On July 26 at 11:20 p.m. on the 400 block of Clay Street in the FiDI, a 63-year-old man was robbed by a male suspect, estimated to be 18-20. 

According to police reports, the suspect approached the victim from behind and threw him to the ground, causing non-life-threatening injuries. He then took the victim's cell phone and fled southbound on Battery Street in an unknown car. No arrests have been made. 

Car burgled at the Embarcadero

An auto burglary occurred between 10 and 10:45 p.m. on July 25, near Pier 5 at the Embarcadero.

The victims, two men (aged 35 and 30) and two women (both 30), returned to their parked car and found that it had been broken into, with cash, clothing, jewelry and various electronics missing. 

A nearby witness recorded the incident on video, and provided copies to the victims and to police. 

Woman punched and robbed

Just before 8 p.m. on July 25 on the 200 block of Market Street in the FiDi, a 53-year-old woman was attacked and robbed by a male suspect in his 20s. He snatched the victim's purse, then punched her in the face. He then fled the scene on foot in an unknown direction. 

While no injuries were reported in the incident, the victim lost her purse, containing cash, credit cards and identification. 

Union Square business burgled 

A Union Square business near the intersection of Post and Stockton streets was burglarized on July 24 at 3:51 a.m. 

According to police, two male suspects, 25-35, entered the store and stole an assortment of luggage, handbags, jewelry and other items, before leaving the premises through the neighboring building. No arrests have been made.

Hot prowler snags items from dining table 

On July 22 at 7:25 a.m., an unknown male suspect entered a home on the 100 block of Spofford Street while a 28-year-old man was still at home. 

The suspect took a smartphone and wallet containing credit cards from the victim's dining room table, then fled the scene on foot. 

Woman pushed and robbed by unknown suspect

A 50-year-old woman was robbed by a unknown man in his 20s on July 19 at 9:30 p.m. near the corner of Pine and Front streets in the FiDi. 

The victim was standing on the corner when the suspect approached her and tried to snatch her phone from her hands. A struggle ensued, and the suspect ultimately shoved the victim to the ground and absconded with her phone, fleeing southbound on Front Street. 

The victim was transported to an area hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. 

Suspect arrested after robbing FiDi bank

On July 19 at 3:45 p.m. on the 100 block of California Street in the FiDi, a 49-year-old man was arrested after robbing an area bank. 

According to reports, the suspect handed a teller a note, demanding cash. The teller complied and gave the suspect an envelope containing an unspecified amount of money. 

The suspect fled the scene, but officers in the area were able to locate the suspect and take him into custody. 

Suspect forces way into Nob Hill building

On July 19 at 1:30 p.m., a 30-40-year-old male suspect used an unknown tool to gain access to a building on the 1500 block of Clay Street in Nob Hill. A 46-year-old male resident saw the suspect walk down a staircase and confronted him. 

It's not clear from reports if the suspect fled the scene at the time. However, a building manager later reviewed surveillance footage and determined that he forced his way into the complex. No arrests have been made. 

Woman beaten with handguns and robbed

On July 19 at 1:45 a.m., a 28-year-old woman was robbed at gunpoint near the intersection of Jefferson and Powell streets in Fisherman's Wharf. 

The victim was standing at the corner after leaving an area bar when three unknown male suspects approached her. They attempted to steal her handbag, and when she refused to let it go, two of the suspects hit her in the head with their handguns, while the third punched her. The victim ultimately let go of her purse, and the suspects fled westbound on Jefferson Street in a blue vehicle. 

The victim was transported to a hospital to treat lacerations to her head and bruising and swelling. 

Suspects rob woman at knifepoint, force way into home

A home invasion burglary occurred on July 16 at 11:10 p.m. on the 1400 block of Hyde Street in Nob Hill. 

A 28-year-old woman had just returned to her home when a male suspect, 30-40, pointed a knife at her and forced his way into the house. The suspect then locked the victim in a room after snatching her mobile phone. An additional suspect, a woman in her late 20s or early 30s, stole a laptop and tablet and then fled the house in an unknown direction. 

No injuries were reported in the incident. 


Anyone who has information about any of these incidents is encouraged to contact SFPD via the department's anonymous tip line at (415) 575-4444, or text TIP411 with "SFPD" at the start of the message.

Here’s why we usually don’t include suspect descriptions in crime reports.