The Daly City Police Department has reported a surge of thefts and incidents, including robberies, commercial burglaries, vehicle burglaries, and vehicle thefts in a week-long crime spree. Covering the week of December 11-17, 2023, there were two robust robberies at local shopping centers, with thieves taking off merchandise as varied as air mattresses and noodles, according to the Daly City Police Department.
The first reported incident occurred at Target in the Serramonte Shopping Center on December 14, where a male and female suspect tried to boldly return items they had not purchased. The male suspect assaulted an asset protection agent while making their exit. In another blatant theft on December 16, a suspect threatened a Walgreens employee after being confronted for stealing two packs of noodles. The suspect was later arrested after being found with stolen goods including a jar of olives. These incidents underscore a growing need to meticulously examine retail security measures during the holiday rush.
In terms of property crime, residents felt a false sense of security as there were no residential burglaries reported, however, commercial spaces suffered three burglaries, including a theft from a storage unit amounting to more than $1,800 worth of tools, as well as a break-in at CYO Transportation Services where two suspects cut a gate lock.
The police alert also noted three vehicle burglaries where perpetrators shattered windows and pried locks to swiftly take valuable items from cars parked on local streets and shopping center lots. Additionally, out of four vehicles reported stolen over the week, only one—a 2006 Toyota Highlander—was recovered by SFPD. It seems the city's thieves have a particular predilection for late-night heists, with several of the incidents occurring in the early hours of the morning or late at night.
Outside of the property crimes, Daly City Police also took 137 cases ranging from domestic disturbances to narcotics-related incidents over the week, indicating that the city's issues extend beyond simple thievery.
