EXCLUSIVE: Video reveals contractor stealing from San Francisco’s vacant 33 Tehama Residences

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — Residents of a San Francisco building that has flooded twice since June report theft and people breaking into their vacant apartments.

At 2:27 a.m. on June 10, Kate Sutherland received a notification. A person was discovered in her empty apartment at Tehama 33.

“When I opened the video, I happened to see a person strolling through my device and taking a video with a flash. That sent goosebumps down my spine,” Sutherland said.

The eerie video showed what looked like a person moving slowly in the dark. The building was empty for several days after a burst water pipe flooded the building. Kate ended her lease four days after recording this video.

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Luz Pena: “How did they explain what happened?”

Kate Sutherland: “You really know how to explain it. They kept saying it was unauthorized.”

Kate's story is just the tip of the iceberg. This week another resident caught a contractor using the toilet in one of the apartments and taking something on the way out. Hines, the real estate company that owns the building, confirmed the theft on Monday, saying in part:

“It was recorded that a contractor performing repairs on one of the units at Tehama 33 removed items from the unit. This contractor was terminated immediately.”

In the case of Stephanie Sunwoo, thousands of dollars disappeared from her bank account this morning.

“Two fraudulent checks were cashed on my account. They both total over $1,500 each in my bank account,” said Stephanie Sunwoo, 33, a Tehama resident.

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Sunwoo says her entire checkbook is in her bedside table in her empty apartment.

“The thought of someone going through the bedside table in my bedroom, taking a box full of checkbooks is really alarming, and now I'm very afraid of identity theft,” Sunwoo said.

Residents also report theft in the bike room.

“Our bike room was completely looted. There are remains of people's bicycles. Some people’s bikes are completely missing,” Sunwoo said.

Regarding theft, Hines said, among other things:

“While we have not yet confirmed the validity of these claims, we have temporarily withdrawn all contractors’ access to housing units while we work on a solution to increase safety measures.”

RELATED: Residents report 2nd water leak, suspected theft, at luxury SF condos

And for residents like Maarya Abbasi, these reports make them want to get all their belongings out of the building quickly. She says Hines makes it difficult.

“It just feels like a nightmare that never ends,” Maarya Abbasi said.

Hines does not allow residents to enter the building and only lets them use Hines-hired movers.

“That's something I asked Tehama too: 'What can we do if our property is damaged?' I was just told we had to get our own renters insurance,” Abbasi said.

Hines said they are providing locked storage units for residents who are scheduled to move out by the end of the month.

As for the theft of bikes, they said they did not know if bikes were stolen, but said a large number of bikes were left behind.

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We also followed up and asked about the resident who said her checkbook was stolen and they said it was a police matter.

Statement from Hines on 33 Tehama – August 16, 2022

“It has come to our attention that on August 15, 2022, a contractor performing repairs on one of the units at 33 Tehama was on record removing items from the unit. This contractor was terminated with immediate effect. All construction workers in 33 Tehama are licensed. We are bonded and insured and work with reputable subcontractors. We ensure security on site 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and keeping our residents' belongings safe is our top priority.

There are very few allegations of other security issues in the units. Although we have not yet confirmed the validity of these claims, we have temporarily withdrawn all contractors' access to housing units while we work on a solution to increase security measures. These measures include, at a minimum, a comprehensive video surveillance system to capture footage while contractors are in residents' units to protect their property on an active construction site.

When we learned that the timeline for re-occupancy of 33 Tehama would extend into 2023 and informed residents that they would need to find alternative housing, we began working with the city government and local building owners to find housing for our am to secure most vulnerable residents, which include residents of the 60 units below market rate (BMR) at 33 Tehama. We were successful with the city, who responded promptly to the request. We continue to work with local building owners to find housing solutions for these residents. We hope that building owners in San Francisco with vacant BMR units will agree to support these 33 Tehama residents by offering them housing at this time.

As financial and lodging assistance for 33 Tehama residents ends tomorrow, August 17th, we have extended financial and hotel lodging assistance to tenants who meet certain income requirements through August 31st. We continue to work closely with building owners and in Partner with Supervisor Dorsey and other government officials to find a longer-term solution. “

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