By Robert WENZEL
In recent months, Walgreens has closed 10 stores in the San Francisco area due to shoplifting. The thieves are brazen.
In downtown San Francisco, there is a private security guard and a San Francisco police officer on duty at every store.
But this is what happens. I have witnessed it myself.
The private security guard will point out a thief to the copper. The copper will then make the thief empty his bag of the shoplifted goods and then send him on his way. No arrest made.
Under California law, theft under $950 is considered only a misdemeanor, but many prosecutors throughout the state have opted to free those charged with the offense under certain conditions rather than holding them in jail for the maximum sentence of six months.
So why bother arresting the guy?
Pretty much everything is locked up.
Do you need trash bags? You have to call an employee:
Do you need $4.99 picture hangers?
Call an employee:
I bought a broom the other day, I had to call an employee to unlock it for me.
If that isn't exciting enough for you, KRON TV 4 reports that a series of hot prowl burglaries have been reported in the past 24 hours in foggy city.
Yesterday, SFPD reported three hot prowls in the span of 24 hours, and five within 48 hours.
A hot prowl is when the victim is inside their home at the time of the burglary.
Throughout the city, SFPD says burglaries are up 59% in 2021 compared to last year.
The area with the biggest spike is the Richmond District with a 291% increase in burglaries compared to this time in 2020.
Then there is this.
A KPIX 5 television news reporter was robbed of his camera at gunpoint while conducting interviews about car break-ins in San Francisco.
KPIX 5 reporter Don Ford
"The car came up here while we were about to do an interview, three guys jumped out," KPIX reporter Don Ford says. "One had a gun and put in my face and said, 'We're taking the camera.'"