Bay Area/ San Francisco/ Crime & Emergencies
Published on January 29, 2020
Tenderloin crime: Bystanders thwart 2 robberies; elderly woman punched and robbed; morePhoto: Carrie Sisto/Hoodline

Here's a roundup of notable crimes reported to the SFPD's Tenderloin Station in the weeks since our last roundup. All details come from official police reports, unless otherwise noted.

Bystanders intervene in assault and robbery

On January 28 at 6:55 p.m., a 38-year-old woman was attacked and robbed by a woman said to be in her early twenties near the intersection of Market and Taylor streets. 

The suspect pulled the victim to the ground, then hit her multiple times before stealing her phone and backpack. Bystanders stopped the suspect, who returned the victim's property and fled the scene.

Man robbed at gunpoint in Hallidie Plaza

Just before 4:30 p.m. on January 21, a 17-year-old man robbed a 20-year-old man at gunpoint in Hallidie Plaza.

After the younger man pulled the gun, a second suspect, a 20-year-old man, searched the victim. The two suspects then stole the victim’s backpack, phone, and money before fleeing on foot. Both suspects were later arrested. 

Man robbed in bathroom

Around 3:30 p.m. on January 20, a man said to be 25 years old followed a 32-year-old man into a bathroom on the 800 block of Market Street (near Stockton) and pulled a gun on him.

The suspect robbed the victim of his passport and phone and fled the scene. No arrest has been made. 

Man stabbed after argument escalates

A 58-year-old and a 48-year-old man had a verbal argument on the 100 block of Jones Street (near Golden Gate Avenue) around 9:35 a.m. on January 20. The younger man then swung a knife and cut the older man.

The suspect was arrested, while the victim was taken to the hospital for non-life-threatening injuries. 

Man kicked in the head by unknown suspect

An unknown male suspect kicked a 55-year-old man in the head around 8:30 p.m. on January 19, at the intersection of Eddy and Taylor streets. The victim was taken to the hospital for non-life-threatening injuries. 

Woman’s purse recovered after onlookers intervene

Around 1:55 p.m. on January 19, a 51-year-old man grabbed a 38-year-old woman’s purse on the unit block of Shannon Street (near O’Farrell).

The pair struggled over her belongings until the man struck the woman with a bottle. Witnesses then confronted the suspect, who dropped the woman’s purse and was arrested at the scene. 

Man suffering from gunshot walks into SFGH

A 33-year-old man walked into San Francisco General Hospital suffering from a gunshot wound that allegedly occurred around 11:22 p.m. on January 18, near the intersection of Golden Gate Avenue and Market Street. The victim’s injuries were non-life-threatening, and the incident is under investigation.  

Man stabbed in attempted carjacking

On January 17, a 54-year-old man was in his car on the 700 block of O’Farrell Street (near Hyde) when two suspects of unknown age, one male and one female, attempted to steal his car keys.

The female suspect stabbed the victim with a sharp but unidentified weapon, stealing his sunglasses before fleeing the scene. The victim was taken to the hospital for non-life-threatening injuries. 

Robber with box cutter steals from elderly man

On the 1100 block of Market Street (near Seventh), a man said to be in his late twenties held a 71-year-old man at knifepoint around 10:45 p.m. on January 16. Wielding a box cutter, the suspect stole the victim’s phone, ID card, and commuter card. He has not been arrested.

Phone thief attacks victim from behind

Around 2:15 a.m. on January 15, an unknown male approached a 27-year-old man from behind near the intersection of O’Farrell and Hyde streets. The suspect stole the victim’s phone and fled on foot. No arrest has been made. 

Man arrested after attempting to steal clothes

Also on January 15, a 40-year-old man entered a store on the 700 block of Market Street (near Kearny) and stole an article of clothing. When another 40-year-old man tried to stop the man from leaving the store, the suspect punched him. The victim followed the suspect until police arrived and arrested him. 

Man robbed after being put in headlock

Around 2:30 a.m. on January 14, a man said to be 30 years old put another 30-year-old man in a headlock on the 400 block of Stevenson Street (near Fifth). The suspect then stole his phone, watch, and debit card as another unknown suspect simulated a firearm to threaten the victim. Both suspects fled the scene.

Man stabbed by unknown suspect

A 63-year-old man was stabbed by an unknown suspect around 10:49 p.m. on January 12, near the intersection of Leavenworth Street and Golden Gate Avenue. The victim provided few details of the incident to police, and it remains under investigation. 

Woman punched, robbed by unknown suspect

A woman of unknown age punched a 48-year-old woman near the intersection of Turk and Mason streets around 9:33 p.m. on January 12. The suspect then stole the victim’s phone and money before fleeing on foot. No arrest has been made. 

Man punches, robs elderly woman in afternoon assault

Around 1:37 p.m on January 11, a man said to be in his early twenties punched a 76-year-old woman on the 800 block of Market Street (near Ellis), before stealing her cash. The suspect fled, and the victim was treated for non-life-threatening injuries. 

Thieves force their way into man's home, steal items

A woman of unknown age forcefully entered the home of a 68-year-old man on the 400 block of Ellis Street (near Jones) around 5:30 a.m. on January 10. The man had just opened the door when the suspect and another woman, said to be 61 years old, barreled in. The suspects stole some of the man’s property, but he later recovered the stolen items. No arrests have been made. 


Anyone with information about any of the above incidents is encouraged to contact SFPD via its anonymous tip line at (415) 575-4444, or email [email protected].

Community members can also attend Tenderloin Station's monthly community meetings, held on the last Tuesday evening of the month at precinct headquarters (301 Eddy St.). The January 2020 meeting is set for Tuesday, January 28.

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