Police Beat

By Erin O'Briant

During the month of January, there were six reported assaults, five drug incidents, 13 burglaries, 15 stolen autos, and 16 cases of theft in Noe Valley--most of which involved stealing from vehicles. The San Francisco Police Department also recorded 15 instances of vandalism in the neighborhood; in one case, the suspect vandalized a tree.
The good news is, after a rash of summer and fall muggings, the number of street robberies in January declined to four. However, in two of the cases, the victims were threatened with guns.
During the early evening of Wednesday, Jan. 10, a person walking at 26th and Dolores streets was confronted by a man who asked what time it was. He then flashed a gun and demanded the victim's wallet. The following evening, a suspect used the same technique when demanding money from a victim walking in the 500 block of Liberty Street. The SFPD's Robbery Detail is investigating these crimes.
In the third robbery, police arrested a juvenile with an outstanding warrant for burglary after responding to a 911 call in which a woman screamed for help at 23rd and Dolores streets. The victim gave officers a description of the suspect, whom the officers soon caught.
In the final reported robbery of the month, two suspects snatched an iPod from a 15-year-old at 27th and Noe streets the evening of Friday, Jan. 19.
Forced Entries Common
The 13 burglaries in January were only a slight improvement over the burglary rates in November and December 2006, which averaged 14 per month. Among other incidents, a laptop was stolen from the 1500 block of Noe, and a suspect entered through a window and stole household items from a residence in the 100 block of 28th Street.
Nine of the month's reported burglaries involved forced entries or attempted forced entries. One victim living in the 4200 block of 26th Street woke up during the evening of Friday, Jan. 12, to find his back door open and property missing from his house; his back door had been left unlocked.
Men with Problems
Police made two unusual arrests in Noe Valley during January. Two Ingleside Police Station officers responded to a call reporting a drunk and abusive construction worker at a house in the 400 block of 28th Street at 6 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 8. The worker, a resident of Modesto, allegedly had struck someone and then refused to leave the area. After police arrived on the scene, they subdued the worker and took him into custody.
On Wednesday, Jan. 31, police arrested a man at Upper Noe Recreation Center at 30th and Church streets. Four officers had responded to a report of five people drinking alcohol in the park, but when they detained the suspects, they found a loaded handgun and a substance that appeared to be cocaine. The man in possession of the suspected cocaine admitted that the gun belonged to him, and he was arrested on several charges.
Under the Influence
In addition to the Upper Noe arrest, five other drug-related cases were reported in the neighborhood during January. People were arrested for possession of heroin, methamphetamines, marijuana, and narcotics paraphernalia.
On the evening of Tuesday, Jan. 16, two officers encountered a man in the 600 block of 30th Street, who appeared to be under the influence of drugs. He was detained and arrested.
Online Reporting
The SFPD now has an online reporting system for the following crimes:
* Lost Property
* Theft
* Vandalism
* Vehicle Tampering
* Vehicle Burglary
* Harassing Phone Calls
Using this system allows you to submit a report and immediately print out a copy. Additional information is available at the Police Department's web site: www.sfgov.org/site/police.
How to Contact the SFPD
The public is invited to attend police-community meetings held monthly at the Ingleside and Mission Police Stations. Ingleside meetings take place on the third Tuesday of the month, 7 p.m., at Ingleside Station, 1 Sgt. John Young Lane, off the 2000 block of San Jose Avenue. Mission community meetings are held on the last Tuesday of the month, 6 p.m., at Mission Station, 630 Valencia Street near 17th Street.
Noe Valleyans who live north of Cesar Chavez Street (within the bounds of the Mission Police District) may contact Mission Station by calling 558-5400 or e-mailing SFPDMissionStation@ci.sf .ca.us. To report anonymously on drugs, gangs, or other crimes, call Mission Station's hotline at 575-4444.
Residents and merchants in Upper Noe Valley--south of Cesar Chavez Street--may contact Ingleside police by calling 404-4000 or e-mailing SFPD InglesideStation@ci.sf.ca.us. The Ingleside anonymous tip line is 587-8984.
For citywide online reporting of crimes such as vandalism, vehicle tampering, vehicle burglary, lost property, and harassing phone calls, go to www. sfgov.org/site/police.
To sign up for Ingleside Station's daily crime e-newsletter, e-mail Ingleside Capt. Paul Chignell at Paul.Chignell @sfgov.org. To request the Mission e-newsletter, write Capt. John Goldberg at SFPDMissionStation@ci.sf.ca.us.
To report a crime in progress, call 911. To report a non-emergency problem, call 553-0123.