Does it seem like there are more used needles lying around these days? The Chronicle investigates, and finds new stats and sources supporting a rising incidence of used-needle dumps around the city.

It's a short week of crime reports for the neighborhood, but Central Station still had plenty of action.

This week's crime and safety recap includes all-too-common purse snatchings, a bar fight, teenage trio of muggers and two men punched in the face.

Read about a rash of muggings for purses, cell phones and tablets this past week, along with tips from Capt. David Lazar on keeping your phone safe.

A new initiative places hanger cards on rearview mirrors to remind guests not to leave anything in their cars; the city is also putting up signs.

The week also had its share of hot prowl burglaries and violent muggings, including one in which a woman's hip was broken.

This week's crime recap is unusually violent, with a rash of cell phone robberies, a shooting, a carjacking, a beating and an attack on a flower vendor.

If you or anyone you know saw the collision that killed Mark Heryer on Oct. 11th on Market Street, his family's attorneys would like to contact you.

This week, a man was shot in the buttocks on Broadway, a cyclist was hit and killed by a Muni bus, and a North Beach bank was robbed.

The police captain was rear-ended by a drunk driver, broke a rib and suffered soft tissue damage.

Two traffic collisions involving cyclists took place this afternoon—one fatal, one not.

In this week's crime roundup, a sweater thief tries to barter his wares at another store, a bike rental shop is robbed at gunpoint, and more.

Stabbings of people sleeping on the street, hot prowls in women's homes, a transgender makeup thief and more of this week's major crimes.