FiDi/North Beach crime: Thief punches man and steals his wheelchair, woman punched and robbed, morePhoto: vhines200/Flickr
Nathan Falstreau
Published on November 19, 2018

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

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


Two teens arrested for robbery

On November 15 at 9:45 p.m., two teenage boys, 15 and 17, were arrested after robbing a 24-year-old woman near the intersection of Columbus Avenue and Lombard Street in North Beach.

According to reports, the suspects approached the victim and punched her, then took her camera and fled the scene. Officers were able to later locate the suspects and took them into custody. 

The victim was injured in the incident, but it's not clear if she was transported to a hospital for treatment. 

Knife-wielding suspect arrested for robbery

Another robbery and arrest also occurred in North Beach on November 15, on the 2300 block of Kearny Street at 1:21 p.m.

The 38-year-old male suspect pushed a 65-year-old man and held him at knifepoint while he took the victim's phone. During the incident, the victim was able to retrieve his phone. The suspect was located by police and arrested. No injuries were reported in the incident. 

Grab-and-go cellphone robber flees

An unknown male suspect robbed a 63-year-old man at 1:43 p.m. on November 14 near Kearny and Pine streets in the FiDi. The victim was standing on the sidewalk when the suspect approached him and snatched his cellphone from his hands. The suspect then fled the scene on foot. The victim was uninjured.

Unknown suspect sets fire to food vendor, newsstand

Police responded to the 100 block of Kearny Street in the Financial District on November 12 at 10:18 p.m. to investigate reports of a fire from a food vendor. An unknown suspect allegedly lit a piece of paper on fire and placed it on the door handle of the vendor's building. Police say the suspect also put lit paper inside a newsstand nearby. No injuries or losses were reported in the incident. 

Suspect punches victim, steals his wheelchair and tent

On November 12 at 7 p.m., a 25-year-old male suspect punched a 53-year-old wheelchair-bound man during an argument at Jefferson and Mason streets in Fisherman's Wharf. The attack caused the victim to fall out of his wheelchair, which the suspect stole, along with his tent.

Hot prowler strikes at Chinatown home

A hot prowl burglary occurred on November 12 between 5:30 and 7:30 a.m. on the 700 block of Broadway in Chinatown. The victims were a man and woman, both 70, who awoke to find their cellphones and a bag missing. No suspect description or additional information was available. 

Two suspects rob man at knifepoint 

Two 20-year-old male suspects approached a 25-year-old man November 11 at 8:30 p.m. on the 900 block of Post Street in Lower Nob Hill. One of the suspects brandished a knife and told the victim to turn over his belongings. The victim complied and handed the suspects his necklaces. The suspects fled the scene on foot. 

Man found with stab wound in hallway

A 37-year-old man was stabbed on November 11 at 6:40 a.m. on the 1100 block of Larkin Street in Lower Nob Hill, according to police. It's not clear how the incident occurred, as paramedics located the victim in the hallway of a building with a stab wound. The victim was transported to a hospital for treatment of his non-life-threatening injuries. 

Woman punched and robbed in early-morning attack

A 25-year-old male suspect approached and punched a 23-year-old woman on the 200 block of Montgomery Street in the FiDi on November 8 at 1:40 a.m. The suspect then stole her cellphone, and fled the scene on a bicycle in an unknown direction. The woman was injured in the incident, but refused medical treatment. 

Two teens arrested for cellphone robbery

Finally, two teenage boys were arrested for robbery in North Beach on November 5 at 5:12 p.m. near the intersection of Lombard and Mason streets. 

One of the suspects, 13, grabbed the victim's cellphone while on a public bus. The second suspect, also 13, pushed the victim. Both teens fled the scene on foot. However, officers arrived and took them into custody. 


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.