EXCLUSIVE: San Francisco household held at gunpoint in personal rest room and robbed after father is ambushed whereas washing automotive
SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) – A San Francisco man says he was held at gunpoint while washing his car, then robbed and imprisoned in a bathroom with his family.
Now he’s doing more than just sharing his story. He and his family took a proactive approach to security for their entire neighborhood.
RELATED: San Franciscans Are Concerned About Public Safety, 70% Say Quality of Life has deteriorated
It was a typical Friday night for the man in his forties who asked not to reveal his name as he washed his car at his house near McLaren Park.
A surveillance video from across the street shows a vehicle lapping the block at least four times before the incident happened. A gun is seen in the suspect’s hand as he approaches the victim, who drops his bucket and is forced into the garage.
“They took me to my house, where my family took us all to the bathroom,” says the man behind the sunglasses and face mask.
EXCLUSIVE: San Francisco couple forcibly robbed after being chased home
When two suspects made their demands, “They said where is the money, where is the money?” and stole thousands of dollars’ worth of jewelry, and the husband’s wife and two daughters endured what they believed to be a bleak end.
“I thought either someone would be shot or someone would call the police, like our neighbors, and it would be a hostage situation,” said her 11-year-old daughter.
The man took off his glasses to reveal the deep bruises around his eye and stated, “They just pressed my face against the wall to let me know this was a real situation.”
The rest of the family was not physically injured.
Even so, this husband and father are aware that the emotional burden is much higher and burst into tears for a moment.
This story doesn’t stop there.
RELATED: Frustration Over “No Impact” For Organized Crime In SF
The father and 11-year-old daughter went out the next day and met with every single neighbor and left letters describing what happened to them.
“When you see a neighbor and a child tell them what happened … there is more heart. They take it to heart immediately,” says the man, who believes that a police officer who heeded the same warning Intimidates neighbors.
The family believes the immediate abandonment of their property kept them alive, and for that they are grateful.
“If they want your belongings, don’t let them harm you or your family or anything that is irreplaceable,” the daughter said.
The San Francisco man speaks out to show how neighborly love, like sharing a warning or surveillance video, can make a difference.
“I love the city, but the city is changing. Be careful. Be vigilant, if you have to wash your cars, do it with a neighbor.”
The SFPD continues to search for the suspects.
Copyright © 2021 KGO-TV. All rights reserved.
