SAN FRANCISCO — Chief William Scott of the San Francisco Police Department stated, “Those responsible must be held accountable.” On Thursday, San Francisco police announced a new strategy to combat the daily occurrence of brazen smash-and-grab car break-ins. The city council has finally had enough.
Scott mentioned a crime wave that had become pandemic. Every day, it seems, someone breaks into a car in the city, usually in a tourist hotspot. “We are restarting our deployment to tourist areas,” Scott added. Scott claims his agency is increasing patrols and even utilizing “bait cars” in areas prone to break-ins. It’s possible that the San Francisco Police Department is responsible for the presence of stolen vehicles in the city. Scott declared, “We plan to catch them red-handed.
Lindsay Dobbelare remarked, “What an ironic thing, what are the chances?” The irony is not lost on Missourian tourist Lindsay Dobbelare, who, seconds before this news conference began at the Palace of Fine Arts, had her family’s rental car stolen into in the vicinity. Dobbelare explained, “We pulled over, parked, got out, did some sight-seeing, and then came back to find our back window smashed and four backpacks containing electronics, passports, and other valuables stolen.”
The San Francisco Police Department reports that there have been 13,331 car burglaries so far this year, down from 13,493 at the same time period in 2022. “What was I thinking?” We’re all affected,” Scott said. “I’m sick and tired of this happening to folks in the city; I’ve had my car broken into. District Attorney Brooke Jenkins of San Francisco has threatened legal action against offenders.
To re-establish the idea that “you will be caught” and “when you are prosecuted there will be a consequence for that behavior,” Jenkins explained, “that is what we are trying to re-instill in San Francisco.” Dahphe and other residents of the Marina District are hoping that the thefts might be halted.
Daphne remarked, “It’s been going on for too long, we need to do more; the only thing we’ve seen work is actual police presence.” Meanwhile, Missourian Lindsay claims she’ll return to San Francisco, albeit with some modifications. Dobbleare recommended leaving luggage at the hotel and taking an Uber to the sites.
