Our mid-December crime roundup features violent robberies, a hot prowl, home invasion and more.

This month's meeting from 6–7pm Jan. 21st has been changed to the Chapter Room on the plaza at Grace Cathedral (1100 Taylor St.), and one of the topics will be Super Bowl City.

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.

A cab driver allegedly assaults his passengers after a dispute, intruders break into a hotel to start a fracas, several strongarm street robberies, and more.

A vandal with tattoos on his/her face and even the whites of his/her eyes terrorized a Jackson Square salon this week, and other crimes included violent muggings that sent victims to the hospital.

A man and a woman working on laptops had them stolen by the five teens, and when they gave chase, the man was punched in the face.

A manhole cover blew out of the ground around 8:30am this morning at Bush and Kearny streets, after an explosion in an underground PG&E electrical vault. According to the SFFD, no one was injured.

Other crimes include a phone robbery with a stun gun and a man who was punched unconscious after an argument in a crosswalk.

Shoe shiner Muhammed Saleem Bey and his assistant Jazz were struck by a cab when it drove onto the sidewalk yesterday afternoon.

Take a look at the latest tips we've received from our readers via our Muxgram and email tipline.

The incident occurred during Thursday's morning rush hour.

This week's crimes include a woman assaulted with a sugar dispenser after trying to stop a would-be coffee thief, a bar fight that spilled into the street, and multiple muggings.

This week's crime roundup features robberies with force, a major antique heist, pistol whipping and more.

An altercation results in a life-threatening head injury in North Beach, plus more crime reports from around the northeastern neighborhoods.

A taxi collided with two pedestrians on the sidewalk, and took out a JCDecaux news kiosk as well.

Held last night, the annual event was the station's biggest yet, with dozens of law-enforcement agencies and community groups.

A woman is slit with a knife during a robbery, an argument at a bar ends with an unconscious patron, shots fired on the Embarcadero and more.

A 60-year-old woman was rescued yesterday evening after being hit and trapped beneath a bus downtown.

Read on for our bi-weekly crime roundup from SF's northeast neighborhoods.

Officers responded to multiple robberies, including one at gunpoint.

A 63-year-old woman was critically injured yesterday afternoon after being attacked by a neighbor in their shared kitchen.

Protesters took to Citibank’s 1 Sansome St. building to fight its investment in the $3.8 billion crude oil pipeline project that Sioux tribes in the Dakotas say will jeopardize their drinking water.

Locals are encouraged to avoid the area, and nearby businesses have been asked to shelter in place.

The woman was not injured, but the broken escalator set off a chain reaction that briefly shut down the station.

Three suspects are now facing charges in the brutal assault that killed a 67-year-old homeless man sleeping on the 100 block of Sutter Street two years ago.

Street robberies abound, but bystanders in Union Square intervened on two separate occasions to help victims.

A potential hate crime and multiple cell phone thefts headline this week's crime roundup.

A police officer directing traffic downtown shot and injured a dog that ran at him Saturday.

This week's crime roundup is chock full of robberies at gunpoint—including two incidents involving gun-wielding minors.

Hold tight to your belongings, San Francisco pedestrians.

The incident blocked traffic and caused delays at Powell and Sutter.

One witness saw 'flames going up to the ceiling' at the popular downtown retailer.

The SFPD is urging the public to avoid the 700 block of Market Street, where a bomb threat is under investigation.

The promotions leave both stations without appointed captains.

Here's a rundown of the tips we've received from Hoodline readers over the past week.

Here's what we're hearing from Hoodline readers on our text-a-tip line, at (415) 200-3233.

Muggings at tourist hotspots, an arsonist at Pier 39, and other incidents reported in the last 2 weeks.

Officers responded to a fight inside a hospital, captured a suspect who allegedly knocked over a coffee shop, and pinched a hot prowler.

A man was reportedly murdered on Green Street last night, marking the most violent incident of the last couple weeks.

In this week's crime blotter, two mysterious fires are set, a teenager is mugged, and a woman finds a disturbing note under her apartment door.

This week's crimes include a man setting a fire on the street, a random unprovoked attack, several robberies and a taxi collision with a bicycle.

Captain Lazar reminds locals to be mindful while using cell phones, as several more thefts occur in the area.

Crime in the Central this week included a robber who spit while stealing bras and two more Chinatown jewelry grabs.

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.

In one incident, 3 teens were arrested after pepper-spraying store employees after shoplifting.

An overview of some of the past week's most notorious crimes and arrests.

A rash of robberies, most with force and some violent, marked this week's crime recap from SFPD's Central Station.

An apologetic octogenarian attacker and a robbery during a ride share that wasn't legitimate are just two of this week's more curious crimes.

The SFPD has already started handing out more tickets for drivers who pass stopped cable cars; a ticket will cost you $238.

Find out what's happening with suspects in recent cases and read about the latest crimes, including a hit-and-run, an ATM robbery and a wine theft.

At a press conference, officials issued assurances that the city is still safe and discussed new efforts to curb car break-ins, among other issues.

BART spokesperson Jim Allison confirmed, "Yes we do have a fatality at the Embarcadero station."

In this week's crime roundup, in addition to the ever-present list of robberies, read the feel-good story of an SFPD officer who lost his wallet and got it back.

Candidates for the District 3 supervisor seat fielded a series of questions last night on solving the housing crisis, curbing the growing homeless population and easing crime and traffic congestion.

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.

A Neighborhood Watch meeting on Monday, Sept. 21st will touch on safety at the Safeway grocery store at 145 Jackson St.

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

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.

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'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.

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

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.

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.

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

From sobering up at SantaCon to watching your back at the ATM, here's SFPD's advice on keeping your holidays happy.

This week's recap includes the death of sketch artist Stu Jackson, plus hot prowl burglaries and muggings.

Several adults and two children were transported to the hospital this evening after a tour bus fender bender on Embarcadero.

Also in the latest crime roundup: a john gets robbed while rendezvousing with a prostitute, and a CD seller who won't take no for an answer.

"This is the chillest possible-kidnapping announcement I've ever seen," one Twitter user said. BART's response: "Until we can confirm further details, we don't want to be unnecessarily dramatic."

At last night's neighborhood watch meeting, many Gateway residents said they've seen an improvement in the area.

This week's crime report includes info on arrests of three-card monte hustlers and various muggings around the district, including one at gunpoint.

We have all the info on what you can and can't bring into Super Bowl City, plus some notable crimes, including a cab driver kidnapped at gunpoint.

Chicago cameraman in town for Super Bowl 50 is mugged at the Crooked Street, a man is injured in a hit-and-run and an encampment is set afire.

The ACLU, with offices just outside one of the entrances to Super Bowl City, is protesting the SFPD shooting of a young man in the Bayview on Dec. 2nd.

This week's crimes include a scary home invasion on Telegraph Hill, a $10,000 robbery from a luxury leather goods shop and a woman robbed when trying to enter a card game.

Robbers were busy in the Central District this week, shaking down and beating up people for everything from money, cell phones and jewelry to a bike, a boom box and a gold teeth grill.

A peaceful protest is working its way down Market Street today in response to the conviction of NYPD officer Peter Liang.

This week's crime blotter includes a mysterious midnight assault, a post-bar punching, and a stabbing.

"My office at 369 Pine street was just evacuated for a possible explosive device. "

A stabbing at BART, a fatal hit-and-run on Broadway, a North Beach mugging and more.

A pedestrian was killed on Broadway, a man was stabbed on St. Patrick's Day, and it was a bad week for men getting robbed of their cell phones.

The driver had asserted the bus had a mechanical issue, but a lengthy SFPD investigation proved otherwise.

A robbery at high noon, a ride-by phone snatching, a shooting and various muggings mark the previous week in crime in area neighborhoods.

Muggers who pepper-sprayed their victims, a suspicious death on a Muni bus, a robber at gunpoint, and—on the upside—a Good Samaritan who helped thwart a phone robbery.

Donald Dewsnup, a member of SFBARF, is accused of using false addresses in order to infiltrate a neighborhood association on Telegraph Hill.

The latest crime blotter also includes an update on the addition of more cops to the Fisherman's Wharf beat.

A man stabs a drunken man who assaulted him, a thief claims she entered the wrong house, a woman is pepper-sprayed during a mugging, and more mayhem.

SFPD is asking for the public's help in finding persons of interest in two recent sexual assaults, and area neighborhoods also have seen a stabbing and muggings this past week.

A man is beaten in a drive-by mugging, mysterious shots are fired at Coit Tower, a teen phone robber is caught thanks to witnesses who tackle him, and more in this past week's crime recaps.

The suspect allegedly sexually assaulted a 23-year-old woman at a Financial District hotel in the early hours of Sunday morning.

This week, a suspect was arrested for shooting a gun at Coit Tower, a robber made off with makeup at knifepoint, and more.

A car struck a cyclist at 4th & Market during rush hour this afternoon. While the cyclist did not sustain serious injuries, the collision has caused major backups for traffic and Muni lines.

A cyclist was injured during rush hour yesterday after being struck by an officer driving a marked police vehicle.

A shooting in North Beach, carjacking suspects arrested and several cell phone grabs top this weeks notable crimes.

Police and firefighters are on the scene; BART is single-tracking trains at Embarcadero, so expect delays.

This week's crime roundup include a slew of cell phone thefts, the stabbing of an elderly man, and a dramatic Chinatown showdown.

In one incident, a woman was struck with a pipe and robbed near Union Square.

This week's crime roundup features an unusual number of hot prowls, a stabbing and several robberies at gunpoint.

22-year-old Kelvin Dale Burton is accused of stealing more than $100,000 in designer goods from various stores, sometimes with force.

This week's crime roundup is filled with multiple cell phone thefts, a mysterious stabbing and a thwarted carjacking.

This week's crime roundup features a jewelry heist valued in the millions, necklace grabs, and cell phone thefts galore.

In this week's recap: Jewelry heist suspects nabbed by cops, a necklace snatch, attempted robbery averted by security guard, and more.

This week's roundup features some "great arrests," several violent robberies, and an apartment fire with a victim in critical condition.

Also in this week's police blotter: cell phone grabs, a hot prowl burglary, and a woman sliced in the neck with a box cutter.

Robberies, an unprovoked assault, a homicide near Aquatic Park, and plenty more from the neighborhood police blotter.

The woman was approached by a man, who grabbed her and slammed her head to the ground, causing her to lose consciousness.

The incident caused significant traffic delays for the morning commute.

In one incident, a victim detained a suspect until police arrived.

This week's edition features a hammer-wielding thief, a chaotic candy robbery, and two robberies at gunpoint.

No arrests have been made in the case.

In one incident, a man and woman near the Embarcadero were attacked without provocation by a man wielding a pipe.

The incidents occurred within blocks of each other.

Robbers hit two banks just a few hundred feet apart in 6 minutes.

The incident happened as workers were heading into offices on Friday morning.

In one incident, a woman pepper-sprayed a man and took his cash after he invited her to his room.

For more than an hour, officials kept the station closed and blocked traffic on Market St.

In multiple incidents, teen assailants reportedly stole cell phones by force.

In one incident, a Chinatown business owner was robbed while closing up for the night.

In one incident, a carjacking suspect was arrested after crashing a stolen vehicle.

Early on Sunday, police fatally shot a suspect who was holding family members hostage.

One Inner Richmond brothel is across the street from a preschool.

The suspect pointed a gun at the victim, then got into the car.

An armed robber held up a North Beach shop and fired a single shot before fleeing.

No one was injured, but the club experienced water damage.

Muggers targeted several people who were walking after dark.

An unknown attacker left a Lower Nob Hill man with life-threatening injuries this week.

In one incident, a 92-year-old woman was shoved to the ground and robbed.

There doesn't appear to be any evidence of foul play, said officials.

In one incident, a man hit a woman with a piece of lumber during an argument.

More than 300 people demonstrated outside Immigration and Custom Enforcement's FiDi building.

In one incident, a woman sprayed a security guard in the face so she could steal from a store.

In one incident, a man was arrested while burglarizing an occupied houseboat.

Officers found the suspect with several cans of spray paint, markers, white-out pens, etching pens and a Bart Simpson keychain.

Police arrested two suspects in Russian Hill for an alleged home invasion.

In one incident, a man sitting outside a restaurant was pepper sprayed, hit and robbed of his laptop.

In another incident, a woman was robbed of her phone at knifepoint in broad daylight.

The latest crime roundup has a slew of hot prowl burglaries, including one where the suspect returned to the scene of the crime and was arrested.

In one incident, a woman was pepper-sprayed and robbed while attending a protest.

In one incident, a cyclist struck a pedestrian in a crosswalk, injuring both of them.

In one incident, a man was beaten over the head with his thermos after asking for a cigarette.

In one incident, an 81-year-old woman suffered injuries after a suspect attempted to steal her purse.

Another suspect was apprehended after breaking into a Union Square store and activating an alarm.

In one incident, suspects forced their way into a woman's home at knife point and locked her in a room.

A man who interviewed for a job allegedly returned afterwards to rob the place.

In two separate incidents, pairs of teenage boys were arrested for robbery and assault.

In another incident, a man was arrested after stabbing a woman during a fight.

The latest crime roundup from the city's northeast also includes a prescription-pill robber and a bevy of phone thefts.

In one incident, a man stole a woman's passport and wallet from her purse at a restaurant, then punched her when she gave chase.

In one incident, two suspects hold a man against a wall in Lower Nob Hill, and steal his wallet and phone.

One incident saw a suspect push a woman down two flights of stairs, then escape on a skateboard.

Police responded to four arson attempts in the FiDi over a two-week period.

In one incident, a prowler entered a man's Russian Hill garage and cut the locks to steal his five customized bicycles.

In one incident, four suspects approached a woman in a store, then attacked her boyfriend when the couple tried to leave.

In one incident, a 15-year-old girl was arrested for robbery.

In one incident, a man was stabbed in the back in an unprovoked attack in broad daylight.

In one incident, eight men surrounded two teens waiting for a bus and robbed them at gunpoint.

In one incident, a man was robbed at gunpoint in the middle of the day in the Financial District.

In one incident, a suspect smashed a car window with the victim still inside and took her purse.

In one incident, a man punched a 15-year-old boy and stole his camera.

In one incident, a man chased a thief who snatched his necklace, then got robbed again at knifepoint.

In one incident, a man in his 30s entered a store on the 300 block of California Street (between Battery and Leidesdorff) and demanded money from the register.

In one incident, a man got hit with a construction sawhorse during a perfume robbery.

In one incident, a woman caught up with the woman who stole her phone, only to be pepper-sprayed.