In a bustling corner of the Mission District, San Francisco police swept in to tackle a trio of alleged shoplifters, snaring two while the third slipped through their grasp. According to a series of posts by the SFPD Mission Station, on May 17, officers showed up at the Walgreens on 1333 Castro Street after being alerted to the theft. They had barely set off when they spotted three individuals fitting the descriptions provided, nonchalantly walking down 24th Street from Valencia Street as if daring the cops to catch them.

The chase was on as the suspects realized they had company. They ditched two bags full of merchandise before taking off on foot. It didn't take long for the officers to collar one suspect, while a fleet-footed pursuit led them to a second near the southwest BART plaza at the intersection of 24th and Mission Streets.

The Mission District Walgreens, now a witness to recurring thefts, helped police firm up the case against the duo. "Officers obtained surveillance footage from Walgreens & confirmed both subjects' involvement," noted the official SFPD Mission Station Twitter account in their report. This visual evidence rounded out an operation that ended with the suspects being charged with second-degree burglary and criminal conspiracy.

(3/3) unable to locate the 3rd subject. Officers obtained surveillance footage from Walgreens & confirmed both subjects’ involvement. Officers seized the discarded merchandise. Both suspects were arrested & charged w/ 2nddegree burglary & criminal conspiracy. SFPD# 240310198

— SFPD Mission Station (@SFPDMission) May 21, 2024

Despite the apparent success, the police ended their pursuit with some measure of frustration. The one that got away remained at large, with officers scouring the area to no avail. The responses to the SFPD's posts reflect a community grappling with the ongoing retail theft issue. At the crime scene, though, tangible proof of the interrupted crime lay bare—officers seized the discarded merchandise, an act of recovery for the store rattled by the brash midday heist.