Noe Valley Voice March 2010
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Police Beat

MARCH 2010

REPORT FROM MISSION STATION

The Voice thanks Mission Police Officer Lorraine Lombardo for providing this tally of incidents occurring in the part of Noe Valley within the Mission Police District. The log includes some but not all incidents reported Jan. 11 to Feb. 10, 2010, in the area bordered by Grand View, 21st, Guerrero, and Cesar Chavez streets. To contact Officer Lombardo, call Mission Station at 558-5400. Her beat is centered on the 24th Street commercial corridor.

Jan. 26, 8 p.m., Vicksburg & Elizabeth, Theft from Vehicle: The victim of a vehicle theft told police she parked her car overnight on the street with the doors unlocked. When she returned the next morning, she discovered that a large shipping box had been taken from the car, along with a camera case containing a digital SLR camera, two lenses, a memory card, and navigation system.

Jan. 28, 6 p.m., 4200 block of 23rd, Theft from Vehicle: A woman told police she parked her car on the street overnight. When she returned the next day, she found that her passenger-side window had been broken and her car stereo was missing. The vehicle's trunk was also broken into; subwoofers and a black sweater were taken.

Jan. 28, 7 p.m., 23rd & Castro, Vandalism: A man told police that he parked his car on the street overnight. When he returned the next day, he found that his rear passenger-side window had been smashed.

Jan. 28, 7:30 p.m., 300 block of Jersey, Theft from Vehicle: A woman told police she parked her car on the street overnight. When she returned the next day, she discovered that her passenger-side rear window was broken. Her car stereo and personal items were taken.

Jan. 30, 1:45 a.m., 25th & Fountain, Auto Burglary: A witness told police that he was in his house when he heard a loud crash outside his window. When he looked out, he saw a man, wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt and khaki pants, enter a vehicle on the street through its rear passenger-s ide window, then leave the car carrying a black bag. Police searched the area but could not find the suspect. Officers located the owner of the vehicle, who said the thief took a blue Nike gym bag containing workout gear.

Jan. 30, 4:30 a.m., 24th & Sanchez, Theft from Delivery Truck: A delivery man reported to Officer Johnson that he parked his unlocked truck in front of a 24th Street cafe to unload baked goods. During the unloading, a man approached him and asked for some bread. The bread man told him "no" and continued working on his delivery. When he finished, he returned to his van and discovered that his wallet and cell phone, which had been left on the passenger-side seat, were gone. Police were unable to locate the suspect, described as a 50-year-old, 5 foot 10, thin-build white male, with shoulder-length brown hair, wearing a brown hat and a red/brown multicolored jacket.

Jan. 30, 7 p.m., 300 block of Jersey, Dog Attack: Officer Johnson was sent to investigate a dog attack. A ma n walking with his unleashed dog inside a building reported his dog was attacked by a dog owned by a neighbor, who had left his apartment door open while taking out the trash. The dog rushed out of the apartment and attacked the first man's dog, causing a laceration that needed stitches. The two dog owners then got into a verbal altercation, with the first calling the second a "moron" because he did not try to restrain his dog during the attack. The second owner said his dog was merely protecting his home. Animal Care and Control was advised.

Jan. 30, 7:15 p.m., Castro & Jersey, Stolen Vehicle: A white, four-door 2007 Nissan Xterra.

Jan, 30, 11 p.m., 21st & Church, Stolen Vehicle: A green, four-door 1991 Ford Explorer.

Feb. 4, 5:30 p.m., 23rd & Church, Dog Bite: A man reported to police that he was bitten by a neighbor's dog as he and the dog's owner, who was walking his pet, met in a crosswalk. The man said the dog bit him on his leg, causing bruising and bl eeding. The owner of the dog denied that his dog bit the other man. Animal Care and Control was advised.

Feb. 7, 9 p.m., 900 block of Diamond, Stolen Vehicle: A yellow 2000 Honda CBRF4 motorcycle.

Feb. 8, 4:30 p.m., 500 block of Grand View, Arrests: Police arrested three men, accused of burglary and trespassing. (See story below.)

Feb. 10 (reported), 3966 24th St., Thefts of Honey: Bernie's coffee shop reports that someone has been stealing the cafe's (full) plastic honey dispensers. Anyone with information about the thefts is asked to contact Officer Lombardo at Mission Station.

REPORT FROM INGLESIDE STATION

The following crime log for Upper Noe Valley--an area roughly bounded by Cesar Chavez, Guerrero, 30th, and Diamond streets--has been culled from newsletters produced by Capt. David Lazar, commander of Ingleside Police Station. The incidents are those reported from Jan. 11 to Feb. 10, 2010. Please note that the log may not include all incidents occurring or reported during that period.

Jan. 12, 1 a.m., 200 block of 30th, Vandalism: Officer Curry was on patrol when he was flagged down regarding a vandalism report. The victim told the officer that he parked his car a few doors down from his home only to discover that someone had broken out the back window. No one was observed and there was no loss.

Jan. 14, 9:32 p.m., 400 block of Day, Vandalism: Officers Covarrubias and Gunter responded to a report of vandalism. The victim said she was inside her home when she heard a loud crack. She went outside and saw two people in dark clothing walking away. The victim then noticed that the front gate to her residence had been damaged and could no longer be secured.

Jan. 16, 9:52 a.m., Diamond & Duncan, Unlicensed Driver

Jan. 19, 2:36 a.m., 2400 block of Castro, Trespassing: Officers Otaguro and Baldovino were sent to investigate a trespasser. The victim told the officers that she had a party at her home and that a friend of hers brought a guest with him. When the party was over, the friend left but his guest did not want to leave. The suspect refused to leave and was arrested by the officers.

Jan. 25, 9:15 a.m. Valley & Dolores, Vandalism to Vehicle: A resident reported that his vehicle's left front window was smashed. The right rear tire also was punctured.

Jan. 25, 11:52 a.m., 700 block of San Jose Ave., Aggravated Assault/Threats: Officers Martinez and Larocca responded to a call of a person with a knife. Their investigation revealed a dispute between a landlord and tenant that erupted when the landlord wielded a large kitchen knife at the tenant and threatened to kill the tenant. The tenant was able to escape harm and called for police with the help of a passerby. The landlord was arrested.

Jan. 25, 3 p.m., 24th & Noe, Vandalism to Vehicle: Police Services Aide Knuckles took a counter report from a man who stated that he was approached by a white male, 25 to 35 years old, 160 pounds, wearing blue jeans and a T-shirt, as he parked his vehicle. The suspect yelled at the victim and accused him of stealing his parking spot. He then smashed his fist on the hood of the victim's vehicle, denting the hood. The suspect then ran back to his own vehicle, a silver BMW, and drove away.

Jan. 26, 4:04 p.m., 700 block of San Jose Ave., Recovered Vehicle

Jan. 28, 8:51 a.m., 600 block of Duncan, Assault with Gun: Officers Curry and Sanchez and numerous other officers responded to the report of a shooting. The victim had called 911 and said he had been shot in the head. The officers arrived, found the front door of the residence unlocked, and located the victim on the upper floor of the building. The victim had not been shot, but had been assaulted. The victim had been attacked by two people he'd recently met, over a money/property dispute. During the attack, a gun did go off, but it did not strike anyone.

Jan. 28, 6:14 p.m., 100 block of 27th, Trespassing/Vandalism: Officers Leong and Fung responded to the report of a burglary. The victim said she had returned home from work to find that someone had entered her home and damaged the top of her jewelry box. The victim said she had left the deadbolt of her door unlocked. There was no sign of forced entry into the building, and nothing appeared to be missing.

Jan. 31, 1 p.m., Dolores & Day, Stolen Auto

Feb. 1, 9 p.m., 1800 block of Church, Vandalism to Vehicle: Officers Lozano and McCall took a report of a vehicle with a smashed window. The suspect was seen by a neighbor, who described him as an African American male about 20 to 25 years old, wearing all black clothing.

Feb. 2, 6:30 a.m., 100 block 27th, Theft of Bicycle: Officer Cavanaugh took a report from a woman who stated that her bicycle was stolen from her garage overnight. The victim stated that she believed that the garage door had been left open.

Feb. 2, 9:42 p.m., San Jose & Duncan, Traffic Accident

Feb. 4, 6:30 a.m., 500 block of 29th, Burglary/Theft from Vehicle: Officer Morgante was dispatched to the report of a burglary. The victim said that he noticed that the front door to his apartment building had been damaged and forced open. The victim then saw that his vehicle, which was parked inside the building, had items missing from inside of it.

Feb. 5, 8 a.m., 28th & Church, Stolen Auto

Feb. 6, 10:45 a.m., 1500 block of Dolores, Violation of Court Order/Vandalism: Officer Coles prepared a report from a victim and a witness who stated that a man who had a restraining order against him approached the victim's home and spat on his vehicle.

Feb. 8, 10 a.m., 100 block of 29th, Recovered Auto

Feb. 9, 2:56 a.m., 400 block of 27th, Firearm Turn-In: Officer Hom and Officer Almaguer responded to the report of a battery. After interviewing everyone at the scene, the officers determined that there had been no physical fight, but rather an argument between residents. A legally owned shotgun was lo cated at the scene, and its owner voluntarily turned the weapon over to an officer for safekeeping.

Rooftop Burglars Foiled on Grand View

Noe Valley Beat Officer Lorraine Lombardo offers her account of a dramatic weekday arrest on Grand View Avenue.

Three career criminals who set out to burglarize Noe Valley were captured last month, due to calls from several local witnesses and the outstanding police teamwork of two sergeants and 15 officers. On the afternoon of Thursday, Feb. 4, on Grand View Avenue near Elizabeth Street, a resident observed three men attempting to pry open the front door of an apartment building with a metal tool. Not realizing they had done enough damage to the door to push it open, the trio left and headed down Grand View to another apartment building. The resident, meanwhile, called 911 and gave a description.

Sergeant Bueno responded to the second building and saw a man in his 20s wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and baggy blue jeans--which matched the resident 's description--and holding open the front door. When the suspect saw the sergeant's police car, he ran inside the building and began yelling at the others inside. Sergeant Bueno then observed the three men run up the stairs toward the rooftop. He called for help, and numerous police responded to the area. Another resident called 911 and reported footsteps on the rooftop of the building. Police surrounded the roof but could not immediately see the men. Suddenly, officers yelled from the building's stairwell. Sergeant Benzinger, Officer Asare, and Officer Alejandrino had the suspects at gunpoint.

During the arrests, one suspect asked why they were in trouble. Police advised the men they matched a description in an attempted burglary. The suspects admitted to police they did not live in the building, nor did they know anyone who did. They said they had come in the front door, which they claimed was open, and entered the stairwell to smoke marijuana. The front door is kept locked, and anyone not residing in the building would have to be let in, residents told police.

The witnesses in the case also positively identified the suspects. One had actually seen the burglars inside the apartment building. Back at the first building, officers confirmed the pry marks on the door.

The suspects were taken to Mission Station and booked for burglary, trespassing, and parole violations. All had prior burglary arrests.