Legion of Honor auto burglary turns hit-and-run, with suspects still at large

Legion of Honor auto burglary turns hit-and-run, with suspects still at largeThe parking lot where the incident occurred has long been a popular spot for car break-ins. | Image: Google
Camden Avery
Published on July 10, 2019

A man was sent to the hospital in life-threatening condition yesterday afternoon after a car break-in escalated to a hit-and-run in the Legion of Honor parking lot on 34th Avenue.

The incident occurred just before 4 p.m. The victim, a 46-year-old man, witnessed a suspect breaking into two cars in the parking lot. Police say one of the cars was owned by the victim, whose backpack was subsequently stolen by the suspect.

The victim tried to photograph the suspect as he burglarized the cars, but was spotted by the suspect. The suspect then got back into his own car, a silver sedan, with a getaway driver at the wheel. The driver plowed straight into the victim as the pair escaped, seriously injuring him.

Additional reporting by KTVU indicates that the force of the impact threw the man some 20 feet and flipped him over the windshield. The driver of a Muni bus also witnessed the incident, with the fleeing robber captured on the bus' onboard camera. 

The victim was hospitalized in critical condition with traumatic head injuries and a broken collarbone, according to KTVU. SFPD spokesperson Ofc. Adam Lobsinger said the victim's status has since been upgraded to stable.

The suspects are still at large, and police are looking for leads on silver sedans with substantial front-end damage. Anonymous tips can be called in at (415) 575-4444.

The parking lot of the Legion of Honor and surrounding tourist attractions have long been hotspots for car break-ins. SFPD always recommends leaving vehicles empty of valuables and electronics, and securely locked.

Update, 7/11: Police, who said the victim is still at the hospital for medical treatment, are seeking help to identify the four-door silver BMW sedan pictured below.

Image via SFPD