If you happen to missed the explosive report by KGO-TV reporter Dan Noyes on the theft epidemic in San Francisco, I need to each share his tales and supply some commonsense options to an issue that’s gotten method out of hand.
You understand that thieves in San Francisco (and elsewhere) are smashing the home windows of vehicles to rob stuff, sensing that the police received’t chase or arrest them. Photographers have been adopted by thieves and had their gear taken, and the gear has gotten rapidly resold on the streets. They simply transfer laptops in broad daylight, and regardless that they’ve been recorded on video doing so, town continues to permit it to occur, with few arrests.
As you’ll see within the KGO report, even footage of the transactions shot by a involved neighbor was met with indifference by the San Francisco Police Dept.
Each stakeholder concerned blames one other division. Nobody will take duty, nor do something significant to scrub issues up, together with the mayor, board of supervisors, district lawyer, and police, as you’ll see within the experiences.
The Information Studies
I used to be personally robbed of my digital camera gear in 2021 throughout a shoot in San Francisco. I used to be filming solo, speaking into the digital camera, when a thief with a giant grin on his face ran up, yanked my digital camera, tripod, and microphones in what appeared to be like 2 seconds, shoved it right into a getaway automobile, and fled the scene.
Some spectators bought images of their license plate, and I reported the crime to a member of the U.S. Park Police, which has jurisdiction over Crissy Area, a part of the Nationwide Park Service. The officer assured me that I’d by no means see my stuff once more, took down the data in a blase method, and was very onerous to succeed in afterward. I wished to know if they’d checked the license plate and whether or not an arrest was made. I needed to name him over 5 instances earlier than I bought a response.
“The plates have been stolen,” he advised me. Finish of story.
Defending Your Stuff in San Francisco
So what to do when you go to San Francisco? I referred to as a San Francisco cop this week to ask simply that, and the very first thing he suggested was to not have a rental automobile. They’re a giant attraction for thieves to smash and seize as a result of they know individuals from out of city will likely be lugging numerous beneficial stuff.
Answer: If you happen to ever go to San Francisco, take an Uber!
The cop additionally stated precise in-person robberies of digital camera gear are uncommon (regardless of high-profile experiences that say in any other case) however that pick-pocketing was on the rise, and to watch out about that.
San Francisco appears to get the lion’s share of unhealthy press for the “smash and grabs” regardless of a easy Google search exhibiting them elsewhere as properly, together with Seattle, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Minneapolis.
Nonetheless, Google “digital camera robbed” and the primary web page of outcomes all are in San Francisco and the Bay Space.
If I used to be in command of a metropolis getting that form of adverse publicity, I might be motivated to provide you with methods to place an finish to it, as a substitute of passing the buck.
So right here’s what I might do.
Concepts for Cleansing Up San Francisco
San Francisco wants a brand new mayor, district lawyer, head of police, and board of supervisors. Throw the bums out.
What downside is of extra concern than primary security? If these of us need to proceed denying their duty (as they do within the KGO report) and never provide you with significant options, they shouldn’t be allowed to stay on the job.
The reform-minded DA, Chesa Boudin, is going through a recall vote in June and insists that his workplace has had the next prosecution fee than his predecessor. However as a result of he’s introduced a coverage of fewer prosecutions for lower-level crimes, he’s develop into the poster boy as Smash and Seize Enemy #1, at the very least to critics. Police have stated they’re reluctant to make arrests as a result of Boudin received’t prosecute them.
But it surely’s not simply San Francisco. Add Walnut Creek, San Jose, Oakland, and different California communities which have additionally been sufferer to high-profile smash and grabs.
Answer: Change the legal guidelines.
Most of the officers put blame on legal guidelines which might be stated to have made the state of affairs worse, like reducing prison sentences for nonviolent crimes like shoplifting (Prop. 47) or not permitting the cops to chase for property crime. Critics say the brand new legal guidelines work. Someplace within the center is the reality.
If I have been an enterprising politician, I might know a successful ticket once I noticed it — change the legal guidelines, silly!
No road distributors allowed.
You and I do know that many road distributors have been promoting stolen and counterfeit items for years on makeshift tables. Why are we permitting road merchandising within the first place? Aren’t the streets crowded sufficient as they’re? SF not too long ago handed laws to regulate the distributors. Requiring a allow for road merchandising, as has been prompt shouldn’t be going to cease the re-selling of theft.
Answer: If these distributors need to be in retail, have them open a bodily retailer, and require each used product offered to be categorized with serial numbers filed with town.
E-commerce resellers like Amazon, eBay, and Craigslist need to play ball.
They’ll’t proceed to permit the resale of units with out proof of possession. (The eBay assertion on stolen items is laughable. The corporate “doesn’t permit” it, and the punishment is that you just received’t be capable of promote something on eBay anymore. )
Digital camera firms must put in safeguards. As has been talked about a number of instances, Nikon, Canon, Sony, and their ilk want to assist the individuals who pay hundreds of {dollars} to purchase their gear by inserting expertise that may monitor the cameras and switch them into bricks as soon as stolen, as Apple does with the iPhone.
If energy software firms may also help prospects monitor and lock stolen instruments, digital camera firms can too.
Rent extra police.
A number of photographers had their gear stolen from them bodily when visiting Twin Peaks in San Francisco, a distant part of town that doesn’t have a lot police presence. It’s so unhealthy that 2 native TV reporters went up there to do tales in regards to the rampant crime, and had their cameras stolen from them at gunpoint whereas reporting. Extra women and men in uniform out there to truly arrest individuals may make thieves assume twice about doing what they’re doing.
The opinions expressed on this article are solely these of the writer.
In regards to the writer: Jefferson Graham is a Los Angeles space author/photographer and the host of the journey pictures streaming TV sequence Photowalks. This text was additionally printed right here.
