More smash-and-grab car robberies target Asian women motorists, Police provide crime prevention tips

(SAN FRANCISCO) More smash-and-grab car robberies targeting Asian women motorists occurred in the San Francisco Bay Area in recent months. Police provide crime prevention tips for the community to reduce the opportunities to be victimized under similar situations.

Ms. Yu was one of the latest victims of the similar car robberies in San Francisco Chinatown. At around 11:30 in the morning on May 3, Yu went to Chinatown shopping with her 90-year-old mother.

Before the robbery occurred, Yu found a parking space for her vehicle on Clay Street close to the Waverly Place in Chinatown. Her mother was sitting in the backseat, while she was in her driver seat checking on her cellphone.

"A woman who was a Latina dressed very well and came to my window telling me that there was something wrong on the tire," Yu described what happened to her.

Yu said she walked out of her vehicle and looked at the back tire that the woman was referring to. "But I didn't see anything wrong with the tire," said Yu.

At the same time, Yu saw a Latino man opened her door at the passenger side in the front and grabbed her purse which carried some cash, credit cards, and her house keys.

Both male and female suspects immediately got into a silver-colored sedan which was parked in front of Yu's vehicle and fled. Yu were not able to get her purse back.

Some eyewitnesses saw the incident and called 911 to report the robbery. Several Chinatown beat patrol officers who were nearby quickly responded to the scene and looked for the video footage of the suspect's vehicle.

Eddie Wu, a police officer of the Community Engagement Unit at the San Francisco Police Department, urged women drivers to change their pattern of putting her valuables when driving.

Most of the women drivers would put their purses next to them at the passenger seats in the front. "The smash-and-grab car robberies would happen when victims park their vehicles by the curbside and in the parking lots, or wait in front of the traffic lights," said Wu. "These crimes have occurred for years."

Wu advised the women drivers to put the purses around the driver’s seat area between the door and the seat. "Don't forget to lock all the car doors once you get into your vehicle," Wu said.

"Don't put your garage opener in your car. Try to avoid using any automatic system to open your garage that is easily to be broken into your house by suspects. When suspects are able to have your purses, they might come to your house," Wu advised. "You need to change all your door keys once you are unfortunate to be robbed. You need to avoid yourself being further victimized at your house and protect yourself."