San Francisco
Cash prizes for information regarding auto burglaries in San Francisco
San Francisco, California – Cash prizes will be offered in San Francisco for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in criminal fencing activities.
Auto burglaries have been fueled, according to officials, by the fencing of stolen goods, when items stolen from vehicles are then handed off to others to resell elsewhere. The San Francisco Police Department and other area law enforcement agencies estimate that the majority of Bay Area vehicle burglaries are committed by less than a dozen groups.
Individuals who can provide valid information regarding leaders of organized auto burglary fencing operations could receive up to $100,000 upon arrest and conviction. The pot of reward money is funded by private donors in the hospitality and tourism industry, officials said. More than $225,000 has so far been raised.
Mayor London Breed said in a statement that auto burglaries are not harmless crimes, that they financial and emotional impacts on victims, adding:
“These break-ins hurt our residents, especially working families who do not have the time or money to deal with the effects, as well as visitors to our City whose experiences are too often tarnished after an otherwise positive experience.”
The Mayor’s Office touted some of Breed’s initiatives to combat auto burglaries and crime in general, including the deployment of more foot and bike patrol police officers in some of The City’s most visited destinations.
San Francisco saw a high of 566 auto burglaries for the week ending July 11, but the most recent Police Department data suggests a decline. The number of auto burglaries dipped down to 358 in the week ending Oct. 17.
Police Chief Bill Scott said in statement that profit is a motive that fuels organized fencing operations, adding:
“This generously funded cash reward enables us to flip the script on profit motives — creating an incentive that can help us bring these criminal enterprises to justice.”
City officials assured that staff reduction due to unvaccinated status will not affect the Police Department’s existing deployment plan.
Police Department employees were required to be vaccinated by Oct. 13. Officials said 76 police officers — 3.5 percent of sworn officers — remain unvaccinated and are unable to perform their duties.