Noe Valley Voice June 2002
RETURN TO HOME PAGE
FEEDBACK

Police Beat

The following crime summaries were culled from incident reports filed at Mission Police Station in April 2002.

Street Robbery with Force: 8:10 p.m. on April 1; Dolores and Jersey streets

A woman was walking along Dolores Street near Jersey around 8 p.m. on Monday, April 1, when she was approached and grabbed by a man wearing a black baseball cap, a long black coat, and brown pants. The man, who was about 25 years old, 58109, and 180 pounds, demanded, "Give me your stuff. Where's your money?"

Fearing for her safety, the woman gave the man her messenger bag, containing a Sony Discman CD player, several CDs, a leather day-planner, and checkbook. She also turned over her gym bag, which held her workout clothes, keys, wallet, and driver's license. The man then jumped into the passenger seat of a small white, older-model car, which had been waiting nearby.

The woman told police she was not injured, and police broadcast a suspect and vehicle description to no avail. The case has been assigned to the San Francisco Police Department's Robbery Division.

Robbery with Knife: 8:30 p.m. on April 2; 24th and Castro streets

At 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 2, a Diamond Street resident was walking along 24th Street near Castro headed toward his home when two men approached him from behind. One suspect placed a sharp object that felt like a knife in the middle of the walker's back and said, "Hey, give me all your money." The other suspect stood in front of the resident.

The Diamond Street resident reached into his pants pocket for his wallet and handed it to the man in front of him, who removed $18 in cash. The robber then asked, "Is that all you got?" The resident said it was, and the man handed the wallet back without taking anything else or harming him. The suspects then walked south on Castro Street.

Police responded to the scene and searched the area, but were unable to locate the suspects. Both were described as 18 to 20 years old and 5889 tall. One suspect had a dark moustache and was wearing a dark, baggy sweatshirt. The case has been assigned to the San Francisco Police Department's Night Investigations Unit.

Store Burglary: 2:38 a.m. on April 6; 3900 block of 24th Street

At 2:38 a.m. on Saturday, April 6, police responded to a burglar alarm at a camera store in the 3900 block of 24th Street. The front door of the store had been smashed and several cameras and boxes were lying on the sidewalk in front of the store. Police found boxes of film scattered on the floor throughout the store and a brick behind the front door. Numerous cameras were missing from the shelves.

Officers searched the store for suspects, but found none. The Crime Scene Investigations Unit was called to the store for follow-up. The case has been assigned to the San Francisco Police Department's Burglary Division.

Residential Burglary: Between noon on April 14 and 11:30 p.m. on April 22; 4300 block of 26th Street

On Sunday, April 14, the resident of a home in the 4300 block of 26th Street near Douglass left town on a business trip and asked an acquaintance to housesit. The resident had locked all doors and windows to the home, and gave the acquaintance keys to the home.

A week later, at 11:30 p.m. on Monday, April 22, the acquaintance arrived at the home to find the front door open. He also noticed that the kitchen light was on. He walked through the home to see if anyone was inside and noticed that the resident's boom box and digital camera were missing from the bedroom. He also discovered that the back door of the home was cracked and that the door lock and pieces of wood were on the ground.

Police determined that an unknown suspect had gained entry through the back door and then left the home through the front door. The case has been assigned to the San Francisco Police Department's Burglary Division.

Residential Burglary: Between 9:30 a.m. and 4:10 p.m. on April 19; 4300 block of Cesar Chavez Street

When the resident of a home in the 4300 block of Cesar Chavez Street near Douglass returned home from work in the late afternoon of Friday, April 19, he noticed a door to the breezeway ajar. He then discovered that his guitar and amplifier were missing and that a window facing his backyard was popped out and resting on top of his couch. He also noticed that a closet door which had been closed in the morning was now open. The resident then notified his wife, and she discovered that a ring and antique watch had been stolen from a filing cabinet.

Police determined that an unknown suspect had removed the back window to enter and exit the home. They also requested that Crime Scene Investigations respond to the home for follow-up. The case has been assigned to the San Francisco Police Department's Burglary Division.

Residential Burglary: Between 8:15 a.m. on April 22 and 1:50 a.m. on April 23; 4300 block of 26th Street

At 8:15 a.m. on Monday, April 22, a female houseguest of the owner of a residence in the 4300 block of 26th Street near Diamond locked and secured the windows and doors before leaving for work. When she and the resident returned to the home much later that night, the resident noticed several items missing from the house, including $120 in cash, a backpack, a leather jacket, a Nintendo video game system, a Nikon digital camera, a mini-disc player, and a pair of sunglasses. All the windows and doors were still locked, except for the garage door, and the houseguest realized that she had closed the garage door but forgotten to lock it.

Police, finding no signs of forced entry, determined that an unknown suspect had gained entry to the home through the garage door. Due to lack of physical evidence, Crime Scene Investigations was not called to the home. The case has been assigned to the San Francisco Police Department's Burglary Division.

Mental Health Detention: 4:15 p.m on April 30; 4000 block of 24th Street

In the late afternoon of Tuesday, April 30, a 46-year-old homeless man was seen yelling, screaming, and running in and out of traffic in the 4000 block of 24th Street. Police attempted to speak with the man, but he was incoherent. Police, believing the man was a danger to himself, transported him to San Francisco General Hospital for evaluation and treatment.

The Voice thanks Noe Valley Beat Officer Lorraine Lombardo for providing the incident reports for this month's Police Beat. The reports were summarized by Kathy Dalle-Molle.

How to Contact the SFPD

Noe Valley straddles two San Francisco police districts -- Mission and Ingleside -- each with its own turf. Mission police cover the northern half of Noe Valley, from 21st Street to Cesar Chavez Street. Ingleside police have jurisdiction over the southern half of Noe Valley, from Cesar Chavez Street to Glen Park.

Those residents and merchants who live and work within the Mission Police District can report recurring crime or safety problems by phoning Mission Station at 558-5400. They may also send e-mail to Captain Greg Corrales at gregory_corrales@ci.sf.ca.us, or attend police-community meetings held the last Tuesday of the month. The next meeting will be Tuesday, June 25, at 6 p.m., at Mission Station, 630 Valencia Street. (To report anonymously on drugs, gangs, or other crimes, call the nontraceable hotline at 558-5452.)

Residents and merchants in "outer" Noe Valley -- south of Cesar Chavez -- can contact Ingleside Station by calling 404-4000 or e-mailing Captain Kevin Dillon at kevin_dillon@ci.sf.ca.us. The Ingleside police-community meetings take place the third Tuesday of the month at Ingleside Station, 1 Sergeant John Young Lane, near the 2000 block of San Jose Avenue. The next meeting will be Tuesday, June 18, at 7 p.m.

To report a crime in progress, call 911. (Cell phone users, dial 553-8090.)