In January, a person sprinted into Hot 8 Yoga in the Marina, grabbed an armful of leggings and other activewear, then slipped into a white Waymo driverless Jaguar that was waiting outside. San Francisco police describe it as a first-of-its-kind local case and say it has exposed limits in how driverless-vehicle data is preserved and released. Months later, investigators have still not publicly identified a suspect.
The studio's manager told reporters that security footage shows a driverless car pull up, drop off the person, wait while the theft unfolded, then drive off with the suspect inside, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. That exterior clip, along with the studio's internal video of the entry and exit, has become central to the investigation.
San Francisco police say they eventually sought a search warrant for Waymo data, but by the time the warrant was served in April, the ride's interior video had already been deleted, and exterior frames were blurred for privacy, which complicated efforts to identify the suspect, per the San Francisco Chronicle. "I would think it would be easier to solve in a Waymo," SFPD Sgt. Tim Faye told the paper. Police say the account data Waymo provided did not point to an immediate suspect.
How Waymo handles ride data and police requests
Waymo's published privacy policy says the company retains account information while an account remains active and will disclose data as required by regulation or in response to legal process, and that it reviews law-enforcement requests to ensure they are legally valid. Waymo also notes that certain in-vehicle audio and video may be stored and shared under limited circumstances, which can clash with investigators' need for fast access.
Not the first time a robocab figured in an escape attempt
Autonomous vehicles have already turned up in other police incidents. In January 2025, a suspect in Los Angeles tried to use a Waymo as a getaway car and was later arrested after the vehicle pulled over for police lights, according to local coverage. Hoodline report highlighted that Waymo cars are programmed to respond to emergency lights, a design detail that can both help and hinder officers.
Where the investigation stands
SFPD says the Marina case remains open and that detectives are still working through the studio's footage, Waymo account records and the company's privacy controls, but no charges have been announced. TechCrunch reports that investigators continue to follow leads and are asking anyone with information to contact SFPD.
