CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Captain’s Message
The Chinese New Year’s Parade was a great success. There were an estimated 1.1 million people who came out to the Central District to view the parade. The weather was beautiful as there were clear skies and no rain. There was a group of youth who were arrested for attempting to pickpocket parade watchers on the 100 block of Post Street. Five juveniles were detained one had a pellet gun with the red tip of the barrel blacked out.

This morning, retired S.F.P.D. Police Captain Ron Roth, currently of Corporate Security, gave us a tip, one of his security officers intercepted and identified a potential burglar who was attempting to gain entry into the residences at 333 Bush St. The suspect then went into 1250 Jones St. where a retired police chief from Nebraska saw the suspect trying doorknobs at 1250 Jones St. Information from the retired Captain and retired Chief turned into a police detention as Officer John Van Koll stopped the suspect at Taylor and California Streets and a computer check revealed several outstanding warrants for burglary and probation violations.

Our next event that we are planning for is the St. Patrick’s Day Celebration weekend from Friday, March 15-17. The bars in the Financial District, Union Square and North Beach should be very busy. I will be on vacation starting Monday, March 4 and return on March 18th. In my absence, Lieutenant Ed Santos will be the Acting Captain. He is highlighted in our newsletter this week. Finally I would like to extend my deepest sympathies to the members of the Santa Cruz Police Department and the families of slain police officers, Sergeant Loran Baker and Detective Elizabeth Butler. End of watch- February 26, 2013.



Central Station Community Meeting
The next community meeting is scheduled for March 20th. The location is TBD.

Meet Officer Santos
Thanks to suggestions from our newsletter readers, we have decided to add a section highlighting officers from Central Station. This will be a great way for you to get to know us better.



San Francisco Color Run
On March 2nd at 10 am thousands of runners will meet near Candlestick Park and run a course that takes them all over Candlestick Park. Though this event is full, CLICK HERE for information on future events.

First Fridays Art
First Fridays presents the North Beach community the chance to marvel in the vibrant art scene that awaits them right outside their doorstep. Participating galleries stay open until 9pm and offer drinks, live music, poetry, meetings with local artists, and entertainment for the guests. This event is for the neighborhood, by the neighborhood, so do not miss this opportunity to join your fellow North Beach dwellers and support the local arts community. This event will take place March 1, 2013 @ 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm.

For a complete list of the galleries and art spaces that will participate in this event CHECK OUT THE MAP.

Become a member of the San Francisco Civil Grand Jury. The Civil Grand Jury scrutinizes the conduct of public business of County government. Its function is to investigate the operations of the various officers, departments and agencies of the government of the City and County of San Francisco. Each Civil Grand Jury determines which officers, departments and agencies it will investigate during its term of office. Deadline to apply is Monday, April 15th. CLICK HERE FOR INFORMATION or call 415-551-3605.

Sunday Streets is coming to The Embarcadero on March 10th! This event is sponsored by the City of San Francisco, and creates a large, temporary, public space by closing off a portion of a neighborhood's streets to automobile traffic, and opening them to pedestrians, bicyclists, and activities for several hours on a Sunday. www.sundaystreetssf.com.
OTHER EVENTS CAN BE FOUND AT: Upcoming Events - SFRPD:

Gun Stop
The Gun Stop Program was implemented to help reduce violence in our community. The program is designed for members of the community to call in anonymously and report persons who are illegally in possession of a firearm. If the information given results in an arrest and a firearm is recovered, the anonymous caller is eligible for a monetary reward.

The Gun Stop Program Procedures:
- Contact the anonymous tip line at 415-575-4444
- The information will be entered into a database
- Guns that qualify for this program:
Illegal assault weapons that are located in S.F.
- Any person who is in illegal possession of a gun, on his person in public, or is prohibited from possessing a firearm (i.e.) a concealed handgun on person or in vehicle, an ex-felon (and an arrest is made on said person)
- Owners turning in guns do not qualify for the reward
Anonymous caller(s) will be given a number for identification purposes.
For more information on San Francisco Police services and programs please visit WWW.SF-POLICE.ORG

Vacation Security
Crime and Violence Prevention Center • California Attorney General’s Office
Vacation is a time for fun and relaxation. Don’t let yours be ruined by crime. Follow the crime prevention tips below.
Before leaving . . .
• Have good locks on all doors and windows, and USE THEM!
• Engrave your valuables with your driver’s license number (preceded by “CA”) and post Operation I.D. stickers in entry doors and windows.
• Never leave your house key hidden outside under a doormat, in a flower pot, or on theledge of a door.
• Make your house appear “lived in.” Use timers for lights and radios. Have a neighbor or a friend pick up mail, packages and newspapers, and keep the lawns mowed and watered.
• Leave your trip plans and an emergency phone number with trusted neighbors or friends.
On the road
• Never carry large amounts of cash; use traveler’s checks. If you must carry large sums of money, do not display it openly.
• Keep a record of traveler’s check numbers and your credit card numbers in a safe place. Have the telephone numbers to call in case your checks or credit cards are lost or stolen.
• Be aware of your surroundings and never advertise your plans to strangers; this incudes travel routes and the amount of cash you are carrying.
• Do not stop to offer help to a stranded motorist. Go to the nearest phone booth and call for assistance.
• If you suspect someone is following you, drive to the nearest service station, restaurant or business and call the police or sheriff’s department. If you believe it is unsafe to get out of your car, sound your horn and flash your lights to draw attention.
• If your car breaks down, raise the hood and attach a white flag to the antenna. If someone stops to help, it is advisable that you stay in your locked car and ask them to call the police or a garage. If you must abandon your car, keep all passengers together.
Car Security
• Always lock your car after entering or leaving it.
• Park in well-lighted areas.
• Check the back seat before entering your car.
• Mark your car radio and other removable car equipment with your driver’s license number (preceded by “CA”).
• Always lock valuables out of sight, preferably in the trunk. Always carry wallet, checkbooks and purses with you.
• Do not advertise that you are a tourist. Place maps and travel brochures in the glove compartment.
Sight-seeing
Remember: Planning reduces your chances of becoming the victim of a crime.
• Ask for directions at a hotel/motel on how to get to those attractions you want to visit.
• Select tour guides carefully.
• Ask if there are any areas in town you should avoid. Stick to well-lighted main streets and public areas.
• Looking lost (stopping and looking at addresses or staring at street signs) may make you look like an easy target for crime. If you do get lost, find an open business and ask for directions.
• Only carry with you the cash you will need, and only small denominations.
• If older children go off separately, be sure they understand the importance of keeping track of time and returning promptly at appointed hours.
Hotel and motel security
Staying overnight at a hotel or motel, remember the following:
• Determine the most direct route to and from your room, to the fire escapes, elevators and nearest phone.
• When occupying or leaving your room, use all auxiliary locking devices on doors and windows. (You may want to purchase a portable door lock for traveling.)
• Use the door viewer to identify anyone requesting entry. Open the door only if you are certain the person has a legitimate reason to enter your room. If in doubt, call the hotel/motel office.
• Unpack and place belongings in the closet and dresser. Arrange your things so you’ll know if anything is missing.
• Consider locking any electrical appliances (blow dryers, electrical shavers, etc.) in your luggage. Suitcases should always be locked so they cannot be used to carry your property out of your room.
• Never leave money, checks, credit cards or car keys in the room. Take them with you.
• Place extra cash, expensive jewelry or other valuables (furs, gems, gold, or silver) in the hotel/motel safe.
• Report any lost or stolen items to the hotel/motel management and to the police.
• Report to the management any suspicious movements in the corridors or rooms.

Remember– the only way to stop crime is to get involved in crime prevention.



If you would like SFMTA staff to come to your neighborhood group,
please contact us at tep@sfmta.com or call 701-4453.
For assistance in planning a bus route, use the “Trip Planner” at 511.org. With a Smartphone, you can download the 511 Transit App for free. If you do not have internet access, or need immediate route assistance, call 311 (TTY 415-701-2323).

Line Up
The San Francisco Police department has launched a weekly segment called "The Line-Up". The Line-Up is a crime prevention tool that allows the public to get involved through social media. The goal is to get the public involved in solving cold case files by watching and identifying video surveillance of suspects committing crimes. Contact information will be listed below and the public can be anonymous if they choose. The San Francisco Police Department will be releasing one video per week of suspect(s) involved in a criminal act. Remember, you have the power to make a difference in our community. Be a crime fighter and help us in identifying these criminals.

Do you know a high school student interested in
learning about a career in law enforcement?
Applications are available for the 2012 PAL Law Enforcement Cadet Academy and Internship Program. The PAL Cadet program includes an intensive 4-week Summer Cadet Academy (June-July) followed by an SFPD station internship and community service (August through May.) Participants may stay in the program for as many years as they are eligible*
Applications and additional flyers (English and Spanish) are available for download at www.sfpal.org/cadets. For questions contact Lorraine@sfpal.org or 415-401-4669.

*Eligibility: must be between ages 14-20, be enrolled in high school or college, have and maintain a 2.0 GPA, reside or attend school in San Francisco and pass a criminal history
background check.




FENCING RING BUST
As mentioned over the past few weeks, out investigative team has recovered a huge amount of property as a part of a fencing ring bust. We get massive amounts of e-mail, daily, and are methodically working through all of them. If you have submitted a claim for your property, we thank you for your patience. We are taking great care with each claim to ensure that all of the property is identified and retuned.

If you have had property stolen and have not made a claim, follow the instructions below:
E-mail centralstationsit@yahoo.com and include….
- The file name associated with the photo(s) on the "subject" line of the email.
- A description of the item from the photo on the body of the email.
- The serial number (if available) from your records on the body of the email.
- The police report incident number (if available) on the body of the email.
- Your contact information (name, phone number, and address)

CRIME SUMMARY
On 02/19/2013 at 11:52 am A man walked into Loehmann’s Department Store, places several bottles of cologne inside of his jacket. An alert security guard was watching the man on camera as he attempted to walk out of the store without paying for the cologne. The man was detained by security until Officer Cunnane arrived to arrest the thief.

On 02/20/2013 at 2:00 am A group of three males smashed the front window of Swig Bar (located at 561 Geary Street). The vandals have not yet been identified.

On 02/20/2013 at 11:31 am Officer Tiumalu responded to the call of a male trespasser near The Embarcadero. When he contacted the man, Officer Tiumalu discovered that the man had a warrant and immediately placed him under arrest.

On 02/20/2013 at 2:00 pm Officer Peele and Officer Shastri were patrolling in the area of Eddy Street and Polk Street when they saw a man drinking alcohol on a public street. They detained him for the infraction and discovered that the man had an outstanding warrant. The man was placed under arrest.

On 02/20/2013 at 6:20 pm A women was using the ATM located in front of 1455 Stockton Street. There were a few men waiting behind her, but she thought nothing of it. As she was finishing up her transaction, the men both stepped up to use the machine. Approximately 30 minutes later, the woman realized that a large sum of money was withdrawn from her account without her authorization. The woman realized that when the men rushed to use the ATM machine after her, they must have had access to her account.

On 02/22/2013 at 12:11 pm A man went into the Candy baron store, located on The Embarcadero, and began to sexually harass the female employees. The women notified Pier 39 security, who showed up and detained the man. When the man became combative, security contacted police. Officer Merino responded, discovering that the man had an active warrant for his arrest. The man was booked.


On 02/22/2013 at 9:20 am A man entered a private parking garage at 1250 Jones Street. The garage can only be accessed by vehicles with remotes for the door – there is no possible public access. Through video surveillance, a security guard observed a man that he did not recognize inside of the garage. The man was lingering around, peering into vehicle windows. Security went into the garage to confront the man, who claimed that his friend dropped him off there. The security guard saw that the man was holding a duffel bag. The man allowed the security guard to look inside of his bag, in which he discovered tools and metal parts. Security contacted the police, who responded and detained the man. It was discovered that the man’s duffel bag was full of burglary tools. The man also had an outstanding warrant for a burglary that he had committed. The wanted burglar was booked.

On 2/22/2013 at 2:00pm Undercover Officers were conducting surveillance in the area of 2nd Street and Brannon Street for vehicle break-ins. Officers observed two males break the window of a Honda and pull a backpack out. The suspects fled in their vehicle, but were closely followed by the undercovers. When they realized they were being followed, the suspects threw the stolen backpack from their vehicle. Officers recovered the backpack, and caught up with the suspects. Both were placed under arrest. Numerous pieced of property were recovered.

On 02/23/2013 at 12:30 am A man walked down Montgomery Street near Broadway Street smoking a marijuana cigarette. He decided that walking past a group of uniformed police officers was a good idea. He was detained, and the officers discovered a lot of marijuana and hash in his pockets. He was placed under arrest.

On 02/23/2012 at 3:40 am Officers responded to 77 Maiden Lane regarding a trash can fire. When officers arrived, the Fire Department had already extinguished the fire. This has been the third trash can fire in this alley in the last two months. Officers are working on retrieving surveillance footage as part of their ongoing investigation of these arsons.

On 02/24/13 at 12:27 pm Officer Godfrey was patrolling in the area of Bay Street and Kearny Street when she saw a man who is known to all Central Police Officers as scamming people into paying him a parking fee. Officer Godfrey saw that the man was speaking to the driver of the vehicle, who had just paid him money to park. Godfrey detained the suspect, who admitted to the scam. He was immediately placed under arrest.

If you are parking your vehicle in the area of Fisherman’s Wharf, be cautious of this scam. The majority of the parking lots at fisherman’s Wharf have pay machines. Legitimate parking lot attendants will typically be in some sort of hut. If you are not sure if a parking attendant is legitimate, ask to speak to their manager, or call the police non-emergency number (415-553-0123).

On 02/25/2013 at 3:30 am Two men decided it was a good idea to attempt to break in to 600 Montgomery Street. Fortunately, they chose to attempt to enter through a skylight and were immediately spotted by a resident. An observant security guard who was across the street also spotter the pair, and called police. He also caught the act on a surveillance video. When Officer Macaulay and Officer Johnson arrived, they found the suspects in a nearby alley, attempting to make an escape. Both men were arrested.

On 02/25/2013 at 7:15 am Officer Ferrando and Officer Korte were on routine patrol on the 100 block of Grant Avenue. They observed a man sleeping in the doorway of 166 Grant Avenue, and confronted him. A standard computer check revealed that the man had a warrant out of Washington State. The man was advised to not sleep in people’s doorways, and booked for the outstanding warrant.

On 02/25/2013 at 12:33 pm Officer Merino saw a man sitting on the sidewalk, blocking the walkway. Officer Merino recognized this man, and had warned him on numerous occasions not to block the sidewalk. During their conversation, Officer Merino discovered that the man had had several outstanding warrants, and was immediately taken into custody.

On 02/25/2013 at 10:15 pm A man had dinner at The Stinking Rose, and then tried to leave without paying. An employee stopped the man and called police. Officer Pena and Officer Burchard responded, discovering that the dinner thief also had 5 outstanding warrants for his arrest. He was immediately taken into custody.

WHEN USING AN ATM, FOLLOW THESE TIPS
TO ENSURE YOUR SAFETY, AND THE SECURITY
OF YOUR ACCOUNT.
• Always pay close attention to the ATM and your surroundings. Don't select an ATM at the corner of a building -- corners create a blind spot. Use an ATM located near the center of a building. Do your automated banking in a public, well-lighted location that is free of shrubbery and decorative partitions or dividers.
• Maintain an awareness of your surroundings throughout the entire transaction. Be wary of people trying to help you with ATM transactions. Be aware of anyone sitting in a parked car nearby. When leaving an ATM make sure you are not being followed. If you are, drive immediately to a police or fire station, or to a crowded, well-lighted location or business.
• Do not use an ATM that appears unusual looking or offers options with which you are not familiar or comfortable.
• Do not allow people to look over your shoulder as you enter your PIN. Memorize your PIN; never write it on the back of your card. Do not re-enter your PIN if the ATM eats your card -- contact a bank official.
• Do not wear expensive jewelry or take other valuables to the ATM. This is an added incentive to the assailant.
• Never count cash at the machine or in public. Wait until you are in your car or another secure place.
• When using a drive-up ATM, keep your engine running, your doors locked and leave enough room to maneuver between your car and the one ahead of you in the drive-up line.
• Maintain a supply of deposit envelopes at home or in your car. Prepare all transaction paperwork prior to your arrival at the ATM. This will minimize the amount of time spent at the machine.
• Closely monitor your bank statements, as well as your balances, and immediately report any problems to your bank.
• If you are involved in a confrontation with an assailant who demands your money, COMPLY.