SAN FRANCISCO (Map, News) - A joint effort between police, prosecutors and the Mayor’s Office has yielded results in one of The City’s most overlooked crime issues: smash-and-grab car burglaries.

Also known as “boosts,” car burglaries are a significant problem in San Francisco: In 2006, there were more than 15,000 incidents — an average of 41 per day — prompting the Mayor’s Office to convene a special car-boosting task force to combat the growing problem.

Taking a proactive route, the police conducted surveillance in addition to responding to calls from car owners. On Sept. 9, eight officers specifically targeted the most vulnerable areas in The City and conducted stings.

It’s a new approach to an old problem, said police Lt. Dave Lazar, who coordinates the police surveillance. Lazar said the department has tried many tactics over the years, and focusing on these burglaries seems to be paying off.

The team has arrested 34 people, according to department spokesman Sgt. Steve Mannina, which has contributed to a 22 percent drop in incidents reported between October of this year and October 2006.

“By arresting one person, we prevent at least 10 to 20 [break-ins] per week,” Lazar said. “One person doesn’t break into just one car. They move on and target more.”

The district attorney also committed resources, with an assistant district attorney dedicated to car thefts. Spokeswoman Bilen Mesfin said it’s part of a renewed emphasis on quality-of-life crimes and that prosecutors plan to get repeat and professional car burglars off the streets.

Prosecutors and police said one of the interesting aspects of car thefts is that there are a small number of offenders committing the crimes — and most are repeat offenders.

On Monday, one repeat offenders went in front of a San Francisco Superior Court judge. Joshua Carroll, who has two felony car burglary convictions already, was arraigned on two counts of auto burglary and possession of stolen property.

Police said they saw him smash the window of a four-door Lexus sedan Wednesday and pull out one of the most common targets of auto boosters — a GPS navigation system.

The ability to use police testimony is a major part of convicting auto burglars, according to the District Attorney’s Office. Prosecutors had their hands tied before because defendants would claim they just found whatever stolen goods they were carrying on the street.

Nathan Ballard, a spokesman for the Mayor’s Office, said Mayor Gavin Newsom is looking forward to coordinating more efforts like these.

Bad places to park

October 2006: 1,373 auto thefts reported

October 2007: 1,068 auto thefts reported

Streets the San Francisco Police Department is targeting for car break-in busts:

» Folsom Street

» Mission Street

» Tenth and Ninth streets

» Lombard Street

» Bush Street

» Golden Gate Avenue

» Franklin Street

» Post Street

» Geary Street and Boulevard

» Laguna Street

» Market Street

» Page Street

» Masonic Avenue

» Areas around the War Memorial Opera House and downtown theaters were also targeted.

Source: SFPD, Mayor’s Office

bbegin@examiner.com

Comments from Examiner Readers

10:32 AM MST on Thu., Nov. 29, 2007 re: "Police busting San Francisco's onslaught of car burglaries"

Victims in Cow Hollow said:
Between 3 cars and 3 people we have replaced 7 windows!This drugged out rat is hitting our street every 10 days on average.I can ID him if only we could catch him.SFPD is no longer in Cow Hollow because the Supervisors have sent them out to Hunter's Point bewteen the hours of 2-6 a.m.. Do Not blame SFPD, they go where they are ordered, blame the supervisors, especially Machereni (sp?)he is to blame. He has sent all our protection to the other side of town, while we are barraged with smashed windows, garage break-in;s and theft. My kids are scared, I'm furious, and there is no help. Smash and grabs down 22% from last year? What a lie, they are UP at least that much. The only thing we can do is keep our cars completely emptied, ALWAYS call the police and file a report if you are broken into or your window is smashed, so reporters and city hall get the facts right next time, and police our own streets when we can. Keep our eyes wide open.

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10:45 PM MST on Wed., Nov. 28, 2007 re: "Police busting San Francisco's onslaught of car burglaries"

Examiner Reader said:
Other areas to target: Sutter between Franklin and Gough have been hit numerous times. Also, Gough between Geary and Sutter. The streets here are littered with car glass.

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6:04 PM MST on Wed., Nov. 28, 2007 re: "Police busting San Francisco's onslaught of car burglaries"

Examiner Reader said:
I agree with the last reader. We should appreciate the police more. They have good intentions and they will protect us with their lives. We should understand they are people too with emotions and can be expected to re-act accordingly. THEY HAVE FAMILIES AND GO HOME TO THEM AS WELL AS YOU DO.

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6:00 PM MST on Wed., Nov. 28, 2007 re: "Police busting San Francisco's onslaught of car burglaries"

Examiner Reader said:
I cannot believe that some readers blame the cops for these problems. They have their hands full with responding to drunken fights, domestic violence, drug dealers, shootings and homicides. Then they get there and have to deal with people at their worst times. They are supposed to have a smile and say can I help you? Then when they do their job, stand a good chance on someone not appreciating what they've done and make a complaint to their superiors? You've got to be kidding. We lucky that a majority of the cops still work in the Republic of San Francisco!!! No, we should not be blaming the cops and saying they should care. When they join the police department, they care. It's people that run around accussing them of wrong doing when they do their jobs. I'm not saying that 100% of the police officer's are doing everything correct! I'm saying a majority of them are. But why is it that when something goes wrong, everyone is quick to blame the police? Give me a break!!!

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9:19 AM MST on Wed., Nov. 28, 2007 re: "Police busting San Francisco's onslaught of car burglaries"

Examiner Reader said:
3 weeks ago on a Saturday night my friend parked her car by Pink nightclub in the Mission right on Mission - After being in the club for an hour she came out and found her car had been broken into - They stole her wallet which was locked in her trunk - I went up to a police officer in front of the club to file a report - He told me he was too busy - Too busy? All he was doing was hanging out in front of the club with some drunk girls - Too bad we don't have better cops who actually care in this town - That would be a good first step in dealing with this problem.

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1:26 AM MST on Wed., Nov. 28, 2007 re: "Police busting San Francisco's onslaught of car burglaries"

Examiner Reader said:
I have personally seen with my own eyes 3 of these break-ins on Chestnut St. between Sansome and Montgomery. Tried getting involved and it seemed that absolutely no one cared. Not anybody walking around. Not security in the building next door. Not even 911, when I gave them a full description of the thug and the license plate of the cab he jumped into. Shame on you SF

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5:41 PM MST on Tue., Nov. 27, 2007 re: "Police busting San Francisco's onslaught of car burglaries"

Examiner Reader said:
"Spokeswoman Bilen Mesfin said it�s part of a renewed emphasis on quality-of-life crimes "..... ahhh ok i dont get it, quality of life crime? Crime is crime, regardless of what a certain Supervisor claims that break-ins affect only rich people who have car insurance anyway. Pure BS, the same word speak this supervisor gives that planting trees and cleaning graffiti causes gentrification.

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3:43 PM MST on Tue., Nov. 27, 2007 re: "Police busting San Francisco's onslaught of car burglaries"

Examiner Reader said:
Long overdue! I have personally witnessed many break-ins or attempted ones (night & day) from my upper-floor apt. perch. Sometimes my shouts have thwarted the attempts. Police are slow to respond and 911 insists on detailed descriptions while I'm (nervously) trying to detail their exit route in the 20 secs. that I can still see them. However, their lack of interest in this makes me now less likely to report this. Hint to police: set up a sting alongside Davies Medical on Duboce. I see broken glass on/near curb almost weekly there.

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2:21 PM MST on Tue., Nov. 27, 2007 re: "Police busting San Francisco's onslaught of car burglaries"

Wai Yip Tung said:
1. Never, ever, leave your laptop computer in your car. This is the biggest lost for a few of my friends in several break in (in and outside of San Francisco). 2. Do not leave original music CD in your car. Dupe it with a cheap CD-ROM. I learned my lesson when I lost some out-of-print CD to car bulgar. Other than that, I just deal with it like business cost. Two hundred dollars and a few hours of my time to replace the glass, it happened to me 3 times in 10 years. I try not to get emotional over that.

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2:00 PM MST on Tue., Nov. 27, 2007 re: "Police busting San Francisco's onslaught of car burglaries"

Examiner Reader said:
I bet if they do the research they will link it to the illegal immigrants going there in droves now that they are going to recieve ID cards and other benefits in SF.

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12:31 PM MST on Tue., Nov. 27, 2007 re: "Police busting San Francisco's onslaught of car burglaries"

Broken Windows said:
I'd like to also add that there was never anything left in sight and of my last 4 break ins the only thing stolen was a pair of sunglasses left in my glove box. I keep my visors down, my ash tray and coin compartment open. The only thing that has seemed to work is that I have put signs in my windows stating there is nothing inside and asking them to stop breaking my windows. I don't want to leave my doors unlocked because last time they left the door open and killed my battery.

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12:28 PM MST on Tue., Nov. 27, 2007 re: "Police busting San Francisco's onslaught of car burglaries"

San Francisco Voter said:
Kamela Harris said, at a meeting I attended, that she was a victim of this crime recently. Maybe she'll prosecute this stuff that makes living in SF increasingly discouraging.

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11:42 AM MST on Tue., Nov. 27, 2007 re: "Police busting San Francisco's onslaught of car burglaries"

Examiner Reader said:
Maybe the police could do some parking citations while they are out there, it would become a self funding program.

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11:37 AM MST on Tue., Nov. 27, 2007 re: "Police busting San Francisco's onslaught of car burglaries"

Empty said:
I think the break-ins will be reduced if people wouldn't leave valuables in plain sight. Put them away in the trunk. I've walked by some cars and there are so many items in the car that it's an open invitation to these druggies to smash the window.

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11:35 AM MST on Tue., Nov. 27, 2007 re: "Police busting San Francisco's onslaught of car burglaries"

Examiner Reader said:
great! i find it disgusting that i find relief in something as simple as returning to my car and not having a broken window. its time for this city to cleanup its act on all levels and regain its civic pride.

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11:01 AM MST on Tue., Nov. 27, 2007 re: "Police busting San Francisco's onslaught of car burglaries"

Examiner Reader said:
I'm glad they're finally making more of an effort to bust those dirty meth-addict maggots breaking into cars. What lowlifes. "Broken windows" should report each incident- if people don't report it or complain, nothing would ever get done. Say nothing and you guarantee that it will keep happening over and over and over again.

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10:48 AM MST on Tue., Nov. 27, 2007 re: "Police busting San Francisco's onslaught of car burglaries"

Broken Windows said:
The reason the number of reported incidents is down is because victims don't bother reporting the break ins any more. I've replaced 3 windows in the past 18 months and I never bother filing a police report because it doesn't make any difference. If they really think break ins are down try explaining why there is more and more broken glass in the gutters and on the sidewalks throughout the city.

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10:35 AM MST on Tue., Nov. 27, 2007 re: "Police busting San Francisco's onslaught of car burglaries"

Lincoln Navigator said:
Geez, that "bad places to park" list sort of sounds like any major street in SF. I hope they nail these jerks. Everyone who parks on the street for any period of time has been boosted. I will say this about our mayor, Boy Gavin, he at least pays lip service to the issues that annoy San Franciscans most.

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7:49 AM MST on Tue., Nov. 27, 2007 re: "Police busting city's onslaught of car burglaries"

sickn'tired said:
Make sure those deadhead surfers who like to leave their keys somewhere near their vehicles while "catching a wave" get this message.....

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