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San Francisco Police Department launch an intensive strategy to combat auto burglaries

Portia Li / 李秀蘭
Portia Li / 李秀蘭
August 30, 2023
More officers patrol the tourist attraction areas like the Palace of Fine Arts to combat the auto break-ins. A large number of the crime prevention signs can be seen in those areas. Photo by Portia Li
More officers patrol the tourist attraction areas like the Palace of Fine Arts to combat the auto break-ins. A large number of the crime prevention signs can be seen in those areas. Photo by Portia Li

(SAN FRANCISCO) San Francisco has also been known for car break-ins. Police Chief Bill Scott announced in a press conference at the Palace of Fine Arts that the San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) has launched a new and intensive strategy to combat auto burglaries.

The new strategy was effective immediately on August 24. Scott said the SFPD has increased visible uniformed police patrols in areas of the city where these crimes are most pervasive, also including Alamo Square and Fisherman’s Wharf.

The increased uniformed patrols are made available in the new fiscal year beginning in July because of an overtime budget from the City, Scott said.

The extra officers assigned to the areas will supplement the work of the existing plainclothes teams who work on auto burglaries.

The Police Department is short 600 officers from the recommended staffing levels. Scott planned to use more on-duty officers to staff these units as more new officers graduate from academy classes.

San Francisco Police Chief Bill Scott (center) holds a press conference at the Palace of Fine Arts to announce an intensive strategy to combat auto burglaries. Photo by Portia Li
San Francisco Police Chief Bill Scott (center) holds a press conference at the Palace of Fine Arts to announce an intensive strategy to combat auto burglaries. Photo by Portia Li

The SFPD’s 279th Academy Class is set to graduate in September, and the 280th Academy Class -- the largest since the pandemic – is set to graduate in February.

Scott said the SFPD would also take new steps to crack down on the perpetrators of car break-in crimes. Bait cars would be one of the investigative techniques to identify and arrest suspects.

“Our message to these criminals is clear: If you come to San Francisco to break into cars or commit other crimes, we will arrest you,” Scott said. “I’m disturbed every time I see these crimes on social media or the local news. Auto break-ins are devastating to residents and visitors who should be having a joyous experience in San Francisco rather than the nightmare of losing their valuable personal belongings.”

As the tourism industry is beginning to recover, the SFPD have seen a rise in the number of auto break-ins compared to the years of the pandemic.

According to the data from the SFPD, there have been 13,331 car break-in reports as of the latest number this year. It was a 1% decline compared to 2022 which received 13,493 auto break-in reports. 2021 was 11,853, 2020 was 9,856, 2019 was 15,408, 2018 was 16,911 and 2017 was 19,825.