SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) — Burglars are getting even bolder in San Francisco. They are not just targeting cars — they’re going after home garages in the city.

A Cow Hollow homeowner told KPIX 5 that a thief broke into his garage, while he and his wife were asleep in December. The suspects pulled off the theft in less than 5 minutes.

READ MORE: Berkeley High School Student Dies After Falling Off Parking Garage

The burglar created a small hole in the garage door and stuck what looked like a fishing tool through it to grab onto the emergency release cord.

Once inside, security video captured the suspect looking around and grabbing a bag before leaving and shutting the garage door behind him.

“If you can’t feel safe in your own home while you’re sleeping at night, then it’s really, really stressful to live in the city,” said Mark, who declined to share his last name for privacy reasons.

Mark said the suspect took a bag with personal effects inside. The bag itself held sentimental value.

His security video also showed the thief and his lookout, who was holding an umbrella.

“They were very bold. They were on multiple cameras, they’re not even wearing masks, so it just shows that they’re probably not worried about any ramifications,” said Mark.

READ MORE: Storm Brewing In Gulf Of Alaska To Bring Rain, Thundershowers; ‘The Rainy Day We’ve Been Waiting For’

In November, KPIX 5 first reported on thieves using drills and makeshift tools to break into garages in the exclusive neighborhood of Pacific Heights.

“We had our garage drilled into about eight times,” said homeowner Paul Banas. “They’re going in, they’re trying to grab the emergency cord, so they can pull up the garage, the garage door, and take whatever is inside it. And since that time, they hit again. They came in the middle of the night, they tried to punch out the vent, and drilled another big hole.”

Banas said this time, the thief also put black latex gloves over his outdoor lights to hide the suspect’s activity.

His neighbor’s garage was also recently hit.

“They have one of those old-fashioned pull up garage doors…not motorized and I guess they took a crowbar and pulled it off its hinges, and now he’s out a garage door. He’s going to have to replace a garage door,” said Banas.

Since the December break-in, Mark has installed an automatic garage door lock to add another layer of protection. It makes it more difficult for thieves to manually open the garage.

MORE NEWS: State Project Provides Local Rivers More Room To Flow To Stem Flood Risk

“I was born in San Francisco,” he said. “I’ve lived here my whole life and this is the most unsafe I’ve ever felt. I feel like I’m numb to all the crime, and that’s just such a sad state of affairs.”

The post Brazen Thieves Break Into Residence Garages in San Francisco – CBS San Francisco appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

OAKLAND (CBS SF) — A warning went out to mountain bikers in the Oakland hills Friday, alerting to a recent spree of several armed robberies targeting cyclists.

Avid mountain biker Louisa Spier was believed to be the first victim in the recent cases.’

READ MORE: High Winds, Plunging Humidity, Dry Hillsides Raise Fears Over Wildfire Threat

“Everything about it just fitted me perfect. The handlebars, the seat, I could lift it up,” described Spier of her beloved Giant Trance X29 mountain bike.

On Tuesday, March 29th around noon, she was riding solo on the Skyline Boulevard median trail near Parkridge drive not far from Oakland Fire Station 21. Spier said three masked suspects cornered her.

“The first one just said, ‘Give me your bike’ and I started to get off my bike,” Spier told KPIX. “And the one on the street came and pointed a gun at me and said, ‘Give us your bike’”

Spier jumped off her bike and ran into oncoming traffic. She said a woman driving on Skyline Boulevard stopped, let her in and drove her away from the gunman.

“To have a gun pointed at your face when you’re out just trying to enjoy nature and clear your mind is like the worse possible experience,” Spier said.

Police said after Spier’s robbery, they responded to two other robberies of mountain bikers on Skyline Boulevard near Joaquin Miller Road.

On March 31st, robbers pulled a gun on a father and son to take their bike. On April 6th at the same location, robbers took two bikes from bikers who were riding together.

The biking community reported on social media there was a fourth gunpoint robbery this week on a group of three bikers at the end of Skyline Boulevard near the Clyde Woolridge Staging parking lot. Police have not confirmed a fourth case.

“We made the decision to move our practice location this week because of this rash of thefts,” said Morgan Fletcher, a mountain bike coach.

He and fellow volunteers coach about 100 middle schoolers on how to bike in the Oakland Hills. Aside from moving their location, they now strongly encourage parents to pick up their kids after each session.

READ MORE: San Francisco MOMA Comes Alive For 1st Art Bash Since Pandemic

“We’re guiding the children that if someone asks for you bike, just give them the bike,” Fletcher said.

Last April, Berkeley police reported a group of robbers targeting bicyclists near Grizzly Peak. It was unclear if police arrested that group.

Victims in the latest cases reported on social media the robbers were driving SUV’s. And given the proximity of the recent locations, the victims suspected the latest cases were connected.

But Oakland police have not released any information on the suspects.

Police report that the number of overall robberies involving guns in Oakland is down slightly this year compared to last. They said from January 1 to April 3, 2021, there were 324 gunpoint robberies.

In the same period this year, there were 307 cases.

“We try to ride in big groups now,” mountain biker Jose Luis Monroy said. “We love to do night rides, (but) we start to avoid that.”

The crimes may be the latest in crimes of opportunity. Many carbon fiber bikes cost between $5,000 and $10,000.

Spier said her bike was worth less, but it was the perfect Christmas gift from her husband a few months ago.

“(I’m) really afraid and upset and scared to go back out on a bike right now,” Spier said.

Safety advocates used to tell bikers to ride with at least one other person. Now they are telling people to ride in very large groups, citing strength in numbers.

MORE NEWS: Suspect Charged With Murder In March 27 Fatal San Jose Assault

Oakland police said they were deploying more officers to areas where they were seeing spikes in robberies.

The post Brazen Armed Thieves Concentrating on Oakland Hills Mountain Bike Riders – CBS San Francisco appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

WALNUT CREEK, Calif. (AP) — Authorities and witnesses say about 80 people, some wearing ski masks and wielding crowbars, swarmed a department store in the San Francisco Bay Area, stealing merchandise before fleeing in dozens of cars.

Police say three people were arrested while the majority got away after the large-scale theft Saturday night at the Nordstrom in Walnut Creek.

According to authorities, two employees were assaulted and one was pepper-sprayed.

The incident came a day after police said several high-end stores in San Francisco’s Union Square were broken into by a large group of people who smashed windows, stole merchandise, and then ran to waiting cars.

The post About 80 thieves ransack division retailer close to San Francisco | Information appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

WALNUT CREEK, Calif. (AP) — About 80 people, some wearing ski masks and wielding crowbars, ransacked a high-end department store in the San Francisco Bay Area, assaulting employees and stealing merchandise before fleeing in cars waiting outside, police and witnesses said.

Three people were arrested while the majority got away after the large-scale theft Saturday night shocked shoppers at the Nordstrom at the Broadway Plaza outdoor mall in Walnut Creek, police said in a statement Sunday.

Two employees were assaulted and one was hit with pepper spray during what police called “clearly a planned event.”

NBC Bay Area reporter Jodi Hernandez tweeted that she saw the thieves rush into the store in the downtown shopping district in the city some 20 miles (32 kilometers) northeast of San Francisco.

“About 25 cars just blocked the street and rushed into the Walnut Creek Nordstrom making off with goods before getting in cars and speeding away,” Hernandez said on Twitter.

Cellphone video from the scene showed masked people streaming out of the store, carrying bags and boxes, jumping into the cars and fleeing the scene.

Brett Barrette, the manager of a nearby PF Chang’s restaurant, began locking doors at his establishment while watching the chaos unfold.

“We probably saw 50 to 80 people in ski masks, crowbars, a bunch of weapons,” Barrette told ABC 7 News.

The Walnut Creek Police Department said a firearm was recovered from one of the three arrested suspects.

Nordstrom employees began calling 911 around 9 pm as thieves entered the store and began stealing merchandise, police said.

“Walnut Creek Police investigators are in the process of reviewing surveillance footage to attempt to identify other suspects responsible for this brazen act,” the department said in Sunday’s statement.

Nordstrom was open as usual on Sunday.

The incident came a day after several high-end stores in San Francisco’s Union Square were broken into by a large group of people who smashed windows, stole merchandise, and then ran to waiting cars, police said.

Louis Vuitton, Fendi, Yves Saint Laurent, Burberry, and Dolce & Gabbana were all targeted Friday night, Fox 2 News reported.

San Francisco Police Officer Robert Rueca said in a statement posted on social media that officers responded to reports of possible looting and vandalism at Union Square stores Friday night and arrested several people.

Stores in Union Square, a posh shopping district popular with tourists, have been targeted for years by well-organized thieves who at times have rammed vehicles into storefronts to break glass doors and windows and enter the buildings during non-business hours.

In July, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a law that allows prosecutors to charge those who work with others to steal merchandise.

The post About 80 thieves ransack division retailer close to San Francisco – WANE 15 appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. (KRON) – The grand opening of a new restaurant in downtown San Francisco will likely be delayed after the owners say thieves broke in, stole a bunch of equipment and furniture, and apparently threw a large party inside.

The restaurant, Ramen Hiroshi, was set to open in early December. Co-owner Daniel Bomya believes the restaurant was targeted and scoped out weeks ago, feeling that there had to be some planning involved.

He says the burglars covered the glass windows so no one could see inside. He also found handmade signs posted on the walls. But that’s only the beginning.

Bomya now says the restaurant’s grand opening is in jeopardy because of what he found behind the shielded windows.

The thieves smashed a lockbox and then broke into the restaurant on a Saturday night two weeks ago, Bomya says. He quickly realized that the burglars stole some of their equipment and furniture, but later came to the conclusion that they also hosted a large underground party based on the trash and vomit left behind.

Signs were also posted up on the walls letting partygoers know where the bathrooms are located.

He says the place smelled of marijuana. Their surveillance camera system was also stolen.

‘Buy now, pay later’ surges with holiday shopping

Bomya says he’s now sharing the story to warn other businesses.

“People broke into our locked restaurant that was about to open. That wasn’t right. And … people need to be aware of this,” he said.

The post Thieves break in, throw social gathering at San Francisco restaurant earlier than grand opening appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

WALNUT CREEK, Calif. (AP) — About 80 people, some with ski masks and crowbars, searched a luxury San Francisco Bay Area department store, attacking employees and stealing merchandise before fleeing in cars waiting outside, police and witnesses said .

Three people were arrested while the majority escaped after the wholesale theft shocked shoppers at the Nordstrom at the Broadway Plaza mall in Walnut Creek on Saturday night, police said in a statement Sunday.

Two staff members were attacked and one hit with pepper spray, while police described it as a “clearly planned event”.

NBC Bay Area reporter Jodi Hernandez tweeted that she saw the thieves rush into the store in the downtown shopping district, about 20 miles northeast of San Francisco.

“About 25 cars just blocked the road and sped into Walnut Creek Nordstrom to get supplies before getting into cars and speeding off,” Hernandez said on Twitter.

Cellphone video from the scene showed masked people streaming out of the store, carrying bags and boxes, jumping into cars and fleeing the scene.

Brett Barrette, the manager of a nearby PF Chang restaurant, began locking the doors of his eatery as he watched the chaos unfold.

“We probably saw 50 to 80 people with ski masks, crowbars and a bunch of guns,” Barrette told ABC 7 News.

The Walnut Creek Police Department said a firearm was recovered from one of the three suspects arrested.

Nordstrom employees began dialing 911 around 9 p.m. when thieves entered the store and began stealing merchandise, police said.

“Walnut Creek Police Department investigators are in the process of reviewing surveillance footage to try to identify other suspects responsible for this brazen act,” the department said in Sunday’s statement.

Nordstrom was open as usual on Sunday.

The incident came a day after a large group of people broke into several high-end stores in San Francisco’s Union Square, smashed windows, stole merchandise and then ran to serviced cars, police said.

Louis Vuitton, Fendi, Yves Saint Laurent, Burberry and Dolce & Gabbana were all targeted on Friday night, Fox 2 News reported.

San Francisco Police Officer Robert Rueca said in a statement released on social media that officers responded to reports of possible looting and vandalism at Union Square shops on Friday night and arrested several people.

Shops in Union Square, a high-end shopping district popular with tourists, have for years been targeted by well-organized thieves, who sometimes ram vehicles into storefronts in order to break through glass doors and windows and enter the buildings after business hours.

In July, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation allowing prosecutors to charge those who collude with others to steal goods.

Copyright © Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, transcribed or redistributed.

Follow @ktar923

The post About 80 thieves ransack division retailer close to San Francisco appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

WALNUT CREEK, Calif. — About 80 people, some with ski masks and crowbars, searched a San Francisco Bay Area luxury department store, attacking employees and stealing merchandise before fleeing in cars waiting outside, police and witnesses said.

Three people were arrested while the majority escaped after the wholesale theft shocked shoppers at the Nordstrom at the Broadway Plaza mall in Walnut Creek on Saturday night, police said in a statement Sunday.

Two employees were attacked and one hit with pepper spray, while police described it as a “clearly planned event”.

NBC Bay Area reporter Jodi Hernandez tweeted that she saw the thieves rush into the store in the downtown shopping district, about 20 miles northeast of San Francisco.

“About 25 cars just blocked the road and sped into Walnut Creek Nordstrom, making off with merchandise before getting into cars and sped away,” Hernandez said on Twitter.

Cellphone video from the scene showed masked people streaming out of the store, carrying bags and boxes, jumping into cars and fleeing the scene.

Brett Barrette, the manager of a nearby PF Chang restaurant, began locking the doors of his eatery as he watched the chaos unfold.

“We probably saw 50 to 80 people with ski masks, crowbars and a bunch of guns,” Barrette told ABC 7 News.

The Walnut Creek Police Department said a firearm was recovered from one of the three suspects arrested.

Nordstrom employees began dialing 911 around 9 p.m. when thieves entered the store and began stealing merchandise, police said.

“Walnut Creek Police Department investigators are in the process of reviewing surveillance footage to try to identify other suspects responsible for this brazen act,” the department said in Sunday’s statement.

Nordstrom was open as usual on Sunday.

The incident came a day after a large group of people broke into several high-end stores in San Francisco’s Union Square, smashed windows, stole merchandise and then ran to serviced cars, police said.

Louis Vuitton, Fendi, Yves Saint Laurent, Burberry and Dolce & Gabbana were all targeted on Friday night, Fox 2 News reported.

San Francisco Police Officer Robert Rueca said in a statement released on social media that officers responded to reports of possible looting and vandalism at Union Square shops on Friday night and arrested several people.

Shops in Union Square, a high-end shopping district popular with tourists, have for years been targeted by well-organized thieves, who sometimes ram vehicles into storefronts in order to break through glass doors and windows and enter the buildings after business hours.

In July, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation allowing prosecutors to charge those who collude with others to steal goods.

The post About 80 thieves ransack division retailer close to San Francisco appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

INDEPENDENCE, Mo. — An Independence handyman said thieves were caught on camera stealing tools from his work truck at a local church.

A Kansas City, Missouri man saw the videos and believes his stolen truck was used to commit the crime.

“He walked over here, picked up a brick, carried it and smashed it right through the glass,” Chris Bryant said, telling FOX4 about his tools being stolen and his work truck being damaged.

Bryant said the Thanksgiving Day video showed two thieves smashing a window and stealing over $4,000 worth of tools from the truck.

Bryant works as a handyman for the Independence Church, where this happened. He said he was up the street at the time eating Thanksgiving dinner.

Deputys: Drugs found in Little Debbie’s box during a traffic stop in Arkansas

“That makes you a little sad,” Bryant said.

Bryant’s family posted the videos online in hopes of identifying the thieves. They say they’ve since seen people selling valuable tools online.

“Don’t buy them, don’t endorse them, because sooner or later your tools could be next,” Bryant said.

Austin Stephens said he recognized his truck in the videos.

“I’m 100% sure that’s my truck,” Stephens said.

Stephens said he only heated up his truck for a few minutes on the morning of November 22 and someone took it from his driveway in Kansas City.

“It’s disappointing that my truck is being used for other crimes across the city and that other people are suffering as well,” Stephens said.

Stephens added concern that the thieves had returned.

He said once they set off a car alarm and on another occasion someone could be seen getting out of a car and trying to get into his garage, which was locked.

Both families want whoever is doing this to be stopped.

“I also want to be able to have that peace of mind and know that we’re not being terrorized all the time,” Stephens said. “It would be nice if these people were caught and solved.”

Kansas City Officer Recognized for Arresting KCK Murder Suspect

Online crime data from the Independence Police show 32 vehicle and car thefts since November 22.

Officials say they historically see a spike in this type of crime at this time of year when people are warming up their cars or have valuable gifts inside.

“Get your life in order and leave other people’s lives alone,” Bryant said.

FOX4 confirmed that the Independence Police passed the information to KCPD to try to connect the cases and work together.

KCPD reported a three percent decrease in vehicle thefts from November 1st.

Close modal

Suggest a correction

Suggest a correction

The post Thieves use stolen truck to steal Independence, Missouri handyman’s instruments appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

Posted: Nov 21, 2021 / 2:46 PM CST
/ Updated: 11/21/2021 / 4:30 PM CST

Union Square visitors view damage to the Louis Vuitton store on Sunday, November 21, 2021 after looters raided stores in San Francisco late Saturday night. (Danielle Echeverria / San Francisco Chronicle via AP)

WALNUT CREEK, Calif. (AP) – Approximately 80 people, some of whom were wearing ski masks and wielding crowbars, ransacked a luxury department store in the San Francisco Bay Area, assaulting employees and stealing goods, before escaping in cars waiting outside, police and witnesses said .

Three people were arrested while the majority escaped after the large-scale theft shocked shoppers in Nordstrom at the Broadway Plaza shopping mall in Walnut Creek on Saturday night, police said in a statement on Sunday.

Two employees were attacked and one hit with pepper spray while police described it as a “clearly planned event”.

NBC Bay Area reporter Jodi Hernandez tweeted that she saw the thieves rush into the store in the downtown shopping district about 20 miles northeast of San Francisco.

“About 25 cars have just blocked the road and hurtled into Walnut Creek Nordstrom with goods before they got into cars and raced away,” Hernandez said on Twitter.

Cell phone videos from the crime scene showed masked people pouring out of the store, carrying bags and boxes, jumping into cars, and fleeing from the crime scene.

Brett Barrette, the manager of a nearby PF Chang restaurant, began locking the doors of his house as he watched the chaos unfold.

“We saw probably 50 to 80 people with ski masks, crowbars and a bunch of guns,” Barrette told ABC 7 News.

Walnut Creek police said a gun had been seized from one of the three suspects arrested.

Nordstrom employees called 911 around 9 p.m. when thieves entered the store and started stealing goods, police said.

“Walnut Creek Police investigators are in the process of reviewing the surveillance footage in an attempt to identify other suspects responsible for this audacious act,” the department said in a statement on Sunday.

Nordstrom was open as usual on Sunday.

The incident came the day after a large group of people broke into several high-end stores in Union Square, San Francisco, smashed windows, stole goods, and then ran to serviceable cars, police said.

Louis Vuitton, Fendi, Yves Saint Laurent, Burberry and Dolce & Gabbana were all targeted on Friday night, Fox reported 2 News.

San Francisco Police Officer Robert Rueca said in a statement posted on social media that officers responded Friday night to reports of possible looting and vandalism in Union Square shops and arresting several people.

Shops in Union Square, a high-end shopping district popular with tourists, have been attacked for years by well-organized thieves who have sometimes rammed vehicles into shop fronts to smash glass doors and windows and enter the buildings outside of business hours.

In July, Governor Gavin Newsom signed a law allowing prosecutors to prosecute those who work with others to steal goods.

The post About 80 thieves ransack division retailer close to San Francisco – KXAN Austin appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

Surveillance cameras caught a break in at BASA, the cannabis dispensary on Grove Street in San Francisco, last week.

“I was angry when I saw the footage,” said Anisa Alazraie, her father owns the pharmacy.

The break-in is annoying enough – but this is the fifth break-in into their business, and Alazraie said it was the police reaction – or lack of them – that angered them even more.

“I was like, ‘Why aren’t people reacting, why aren’t the police working hard to keep our business safe? So that our roads stay safe? To deter or intervene when a crime is ongoing? ‘”She said.

On November 16 at 5:37 a.m., a video shows the first suspect leaving the pharmacy with a bag in hand and then getting into the alleged getaway car.

About two minutes later, another suspect runs out of the building.

Within 10 seconds, the video shows a police car with its headlights – probably to warn the suspects that they are seeing them.

It seems the suspects are getting nervous – they drop stolen products on the floor before climbing into the car.

At this point, a second police car is in sight, but no officers outside.

Seconds later, the last suspect runs out of the pharmacy and when the getaway car makes a three-point curve before escaping.

Alazraie says it was after the suspects drove away when a police officer is seen outside their patrol car. And the officer doesn’t seem to be moving urgently.

A criminal record was made, but no arrests.

“We feel that we are very closely connected and important to the community, so it is sad that this care is not reciprocated when we have been in a time of need,” said Alazraie.

This latest break-in came just days before the recent retail theft at Louis Vuitton in Union Square – which is seen using force to arrest suspects.

“That stung,” said Alazraie.

She added that small businesses like hers need the same urgency and police response.

“We should see this kind of perseverance and hard work especially in our neighborhoods, our communities that have been the anchors of San Francisco,” she said.

Alazraie says the suspects got away with products valued at thousands of dollars.

San Francisco police said they had reached out to the Alazraie family to lodge a complaint with the police.

They said an investigation into the incident and the department’s response are now under way.

The post Thieves Goal San Francisco Dispensary – NBC Bay Space appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.