Political stature is no shield against San Francisco's unyielding car break-in epidemic. Rep. Adam Schiff, currently a senate-hopeful, found that out the hard way when his luggage was stolen right from his parked car. The California representative faced an otherwise well-dressed crowd wearing a button-up and a hiking vest, rather than his planned evening attire.
Falling prey to the city's infamous car burglary epidemic, Schiff had his luggage taken while it was stashed in a vehicle in a downtown San Francisco parking garage. Despite warnings about leaving items in cars, the urgency of Schiff's schedule took precedence, resulting in a swift lesson in local crime. "Yes, they took my bags," Schiff acknowledged, according to the SF Chronicle. "But I’m here to thank Joe," he added, a nod to his supporter, high-profile attorney Joe Cotchett.
According to ABC7 News, Schiff had been warned not to leave anything in the car but was in a rush and left his luggage behind.
Schiff's unanticipated wardrobe change did nothing to dampen his spirits. The congressman proceeded unfazed at the Ristorante Rocca dinner, intended to extol Cotchett's support. According to an account by SFist, Lee Houskeeper, a longtime San Francisco press agent, deadpanned, "I guess it's 'Welcome to San Francisco,'" reacting to Schiff's predicament at the dinner. Cotchett remained bullish on Schiff's composure and future impact, stating via San Francisco Chronicle, "He'll be a great senator—he's going to change the Senate tremendously."
Adam Schiff, a Democratic California congressman, advanced out of California's U.S. Senate primary to face Republican Steve Garvey in the November general election. CalMatters notes that the primary results highlighted Schiff’s significant fundraising edge, spending $38 million ahead of the primary and outspending all his opponents combined. Schiff garnered 31.6% of the vote, narrowly edging out Garvey, who received 31.5%, setting the stage for a highly anticipated contest to replace the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein.
Despite being accosted by crime, it's worth noting that car break-ins in San Francisco are trending downward. The city has been trying to rehabilitate its image as a hotbed for car burglaries, with a significant 35% drop in larceny-theft reported for the first quarter of 2024 compared to the same period of the previous year. Perhaps it's a small comfort for Schiff, who once called the Bay Area home while he gallantly campaigned amidst his uninvited initiation into the city's notorious claim to fame.
Schiff, representing a Los Angeles-area congressional district, remains a strong contender for Dianne Feinstein's former Senate seat. His Californian roots and long-standing presence in the political realm have crafted a resilient figure, one not easily overshadowed by a simple theft. Still, the incident was fodder for a mirthful quip by Houskeeper, who suggested Schiff might take former mayor Willie Brown up on a shopping spree for some of San Francisco's fine suits, as "Willie knows them all," he said humorously in a statement obtained by San Francisco Chronicle.
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