In a concerted effort to tackle organized retail crime, the San Francisco Police Department announced a series of arrests and misdemeanor citations in the South of Market neighborhood after a spike in enforcement operations. From September to December, these actions culminated in the apprehension of 104 individuals, with 81 being cited for petty theft, among other narcotics-related offenses.
Breaking down the numbers, 23 suspects were arrested and booked into the county jail for a mix of crimes, including robbery, petty theft with priors, conspiracy, vandalism of fire safety equipment, theft-related warrants, other felonious crime warrants, and probation violations. SFPD’s Southern Station worked closely with store employees and loss prevention teams to identify the culprits, many of whom were caught mid-act.
With a clear message of zero tolerance for crime against local businesses, SFPD Police Chief Derrick Lew stated, “Ensuring businesses have a safe environment to thrive has been one of SFPD’s top priorities.” He added, “Our message is clear: If you commit a crime in San Francisco, you will be held accountable.” Lew went on to emphasize the deployment of additional resources and the conduct of targeted retail operations within the Southern Police District…