Alleged auto thief ends up jumping into the Bay

SAN FRANCISCO (Map, News) - A 36-year-old alleged thief tried to flee from police Wednesday night by jumping into the San Francisco Bay.

San Francisco police responded to a call at 11:40 p.m. about a man having broken into a car parked along the 3700 block of Fillmore Street. When police arrived, they saw the thief inside a Chevy Tahoe, which he allegedly broke into.

“As the police were coming up, he sees them and he takes off running,” Sgt. Neville Gittens said.

The man then jumped into the harbor waters near the Golden Gate Yacht Club and started swimming out into the Bay.

The San Francisco Police Department then requested assistance from the U.S. Coast Guard, according to Coast Guard Petty Officer Danielle Kouture.

A Coast Guard boat from Station Golden Gate was launched at 12:02 a.m., and while en route they received information that the person was unarmed, Kouture said. “He was on board by 12:18 a.m. At 12:25 a.m. Station Golden Gate transferred the subject into the custody of the SFPD,” she said.

The thief was charged with one count of felony auto burglary, according to Gittens.

jsabatini@examiner.com