In a crackdown on rampant shoplifting in San Francisco, police launched a "blitz" operation that resulted in multiple arrests, authorities said Thursday. The San Francisco Police Department Burglary Unit and Field Operations Bureau set their sights on two retail locations on Mission Street and Winston Drive, notorious for frequent thefts. On December 12, they nabbed 18 individuals, a mix of locals and those from neighboring communities.
The operation was a calculated move by the SFPD to stem the tide of retail theft hammering local businesses. Two suspects were booked into the San Francisco County Jail on outstanding warrants, and theft charges, and another for on-view felony theft charges. An array of others were cited for shoplifting and then released, the stolen goods returned to the proprietors. As declared by the official release, San Francisco's police force "will continue to conduct these operations throughout San Francisco in the hopes of reducing thefts that are targeting our businesses."
Those apprehended in the sting included a wide array of individuals, from 49-year-old Tyrone Ford, arrested and booked for a San Mateo warrant, to a 13-year-old juvenile male cited for petty theft. The sting also saw 21-year-old Jakeem Green hit with charges of grand theft, organized retail theft, and conspiracy. Meanwhile, Monica Cobbins, 56, faced multiple charges including petty theft, resisting arrest, and violating a court order, the San Francisco Police Department reported.
While the sweep has brought a number of suspects to book, the cases remain active. The SFPD is urging anyone with further information to get in touch, offering the option of remaining anonymous.
