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Noe Valley reported two robberies in April. In both cases, weapons were displayed, but thankfully no one was hurt.

On Sunday, April 25, at 2:12 a.m., a 45-year-old man entered Happy Donuts at 24th and Church streets, brandished a handgun, and demanded money.

When the 47-year-old worker opened the cash register, the suspect took the money and ran from the shop to a waiting blue mini-truck with a partial license plate of "SVQ." The truck then fled east on Jersey Street. If anyone has any additional information about this crime, please contact me at 558-5404.

In the other robbery, on Friday, April 2, at 7:15 p.m., three males in their late teens entered a coffee shop on the 1300 block of Church Street. One teen proceeded to threaten the 32-year-old worker with a knife and then stole the tip jar. Two of the teens fled on the J-Church streetcar, and the other ran away on foot.

Police were called to the scene. They contacted Muni and searched the area, but were unable to find the suspects.

Unfortunately, the same Church Street business was targeted in a burglary on Wednesday, April 28, between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. A crime technician took fingerprints from the scene, but none were matched to a suspect.

'Friend' Accused of Assault

There were a total of 15 reported burglaries within my area of Noe Valley during April. Six involved houses, five were apartments, one was a garage, and three were in commercial spaces (including the coffee shop incident described above).

One incident, on Friday, April 30, at about 9 a.m., was also classified as an assault. A 22-year-old man reported that a childhood friend of the same age forced his way into his home on the 100 block of Clipper Street and then assaulted him with a knife. The suspect disputed that account and claimed that the targeted man assaulted him first, after they had argued over money. The suspect was booked on two felony counts of burglary and assault and on other unrelated warrants. He was held at county jail, but released on Monday, May 3, after the other man withdrew his complaint.

Domestic Violence Hits Two Homes

Two people reported that they were the targets of domestic violence during April.

On Friday, April 23, an 18-year-old woman, who had initially called a domestic violence worker to her Guerrero Street home during an assault by her 28-year-old boyfriend, decided to report the incident to police. The police subsequently arrested the suspect and charged him with a felony after noting bruises on the woman's arms and knees. The suspect was held for a day at county jail, then released. The court record listed the victim as unavailable.

On Friday, April 30, a 47-year-old woman allegedly attacked her husband of 17 years with a small knife, causing injury to his hand. She also struck her husband's 51-year-old sister while the sister phoned police from her brother's home on the 3600 block of 23rd Street. The incident appeared to involve alcohol abuse by the suspect.

Officers Ray Salvador and Carlos Gutierrez responded to the sister's call at around 5 p.m. and arrested the suspect, who was charged with two felonies and three misdemeanors. The District Attorney's Office re-booked the suspect on three counts of felony assault and one count of misdemeanor vandalism for damaging the telephone.

She was held at county jail until May 12, then released upon posting bond.

Man Arrested for Stalking

On Friday, April 30, at 12:15 p.m., a 23-year-old man was arrested at 24th and Guerrero streets and charged with felony stalking of his ex-girlfriend of the same age. According to the targeted woman, the suspect repeatedly approached her at home and on the street, despite their breakup and her advising him not to try to contact her.

The suspect admitted to his behavior and was subsequently booked, but the D.A. declined to prosecute the case at the present time, so the man was released. However, a restraining order was issued, prohibiting him from having any contact with the woman for a period of five days. The woman may extend the order by applying to Superior Court.

Yuppie Blues

On Wednesday, April 28, sometime between 10:30 p.m. and 7 a.m. the next morning, someone forced entry into an apartment building on my beat and used red paint to leave the message "F*** YUPPIES" in the lobby.

For readers of the SF Weekly column "Laurel's Dog Bites," and for residents and patrons of the Mission District, the continued existence of the so-called Yuppie Eradication Project is no surprise. But when the unsettling (and often illegal) byproducts of this group's propaganda are expressed with ugly words painted on public and private structures, or the intentional damage of another's property, the entire community suffers.

No one's awareness is raised. No minds are changed. No SUVs are morphed into VW vans or bicycles. No lofts are certified as artists' live/work spaces. No constructive purpose is served whatsoever. Instead, a criminal act is committed, and hatred is released into our midst.

Until next month be safe, and I'll see you on patrol.

San Francisco Police Officer Lois Perillo covers her Noe Valley beat-- from Valencia to Grand View and 21st to Cesar Chavez -- on foot and on bicycle. If you would like to discuss a crime or safety problem, call her at 558-5404, the community policing line at Mission Station.