Police Blotter

Burglary: Between Jan. 5, 8:30 p.m., and Jan. 6, 6:30 a.m., 5300 Block of Geary Boulevard
The glass window of a business was smashed as an entry point for unknown suspect(s). Taken in the heist were several cartons of cigarettes.

Vehicular Vandalism, Possession of Stolen Property, Theft from an Automobile: Jan. 21, 4:33 a.m., 700 Block of 31st Avenue
When the first police officer arrived at the scene, he discovered two suspects trying to hide behind a vehicle that had just been vandalized. The sergeant detained the two 17-year-old suspects, who were determined to be trying to remove the front end of a Nissan. In the back of the suspect's car was a spoiler they had taken off another car in the Taraval District. The two youth were booked on numerous charges.

Armed Bank Robbery: Jan. 11, 11:23 a.m., 4400 Block of Geary Boulevard
An armed man walked up to a teller, flashed a gun and demanded money. The teller complied. The suspect took the money and fled southbound on Ninth Avenue, toward Anza Street. A search of the area was to no avail. The FBI was notified and the investigation is ongoing.

Drunk Driving: Dec. 31, 1:40 a.m., Geary Boulevard and 16th Avenue
A Richmond officer on patrol observed a woman driving westbound on Geary Boulevard. She was swerving her vehicle in a dangerous manner. The officer stopped the suspect and determined she was intoxicated. A subsequent check revealed she had twice the legal amount of alcohol in her system.

Commercial Burglary: Between Jan. 11, at 8:30 p.m., and Jan. 12, at 3 a.m., 700 Block of Clement Street
An unknown suspect removed a window from a business and entered to burglarize the place. The suspect escaped with several bottles of liquor.

Burglary: Jan. 21, 2:32 a.m., Unit Block of Clement Street
A witness reported that two men on a motorcycle drove up to a business that had its window smashed in. One of the men jumped off the motorcycle and entered the store through a hole in the glass. When he emerged, he was holding the store's cash register. He put it on the sidewalk, opened it, and took money out before jumping on the motorcycle and escaping.

Robbery: Jan. 14, 9:20 p.m., Geary Boulevard and 42nd Avenue
A woman was sitting in a shelter area waiting for a Muni bus when the suspect approached and sat two seats away from her. Suddenly, the suspect moved next to the victim and grabbed her purse, which was around her shoulder. He fled eastbound on Geary Boulevard.

Grand Theft Auto, Possession of Stolen Property: Jan. 16, 4000 Block of Balboa Street
Officers discovered a stolen vehicle on Balboa Street and ascertained who the person was who was driving it. The 28-year-old suspect was familiar to Richmond Station officers because he had previously been arrested near the same location for stealing a vehicle. Officers went to the suspect's home and discovered numerous pieces of mail that belonged to other people and wallets and checkbooks that had been stolen as well. The officers were able to locate the suspect and determined that he had stolen another car, which was located in the 5000 block of Anza Street. The suspect was booked at the Richmond Station.

Robbery, Impersonating a City Employee: Jan. 15, 2:15 p.m., 200 Block of 21st Avenue
Three men posing as water department employees were able to talk their way into the home of an elderly couple. As one suspect stayed with the victims, the other two prowled the house looking for loot while under the pretense of "checking the pipes." When the male victim became suspicious and started following the fraudulent pipe inspectors, one of the suspects "patted down" the victim and took money from his pocket. After the three suspects fled, the man called the police. Several of the victims' bedrooms had been gone through, but a total loss was yet to be determined.

Attempted Burglary: Jan. 8, 7:30 a.m., 2800 Block of California Street
The owner of a business went to open up when he discovered the front door was open. He alerted an employee of a business next door to keep an eye on the front while he went inside to see the extent of the burglary. When the victim was looking around, the suspect suddenly ran out from a nearby room, startling the suspect. In an instinctual reflex, the victim threw an elbow at the suspect as he was flying by, striking him in the nose and knocking him down. The suspect got up rapidly, fled outdoors to a waiting get-away bicycle, and peddled off eastbound on California Street.

Burglary: Jan. 3, Between 8 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., 700 Block of Presidio Avenue
An unknown suspect gained entry into a house via a bathroom window, which was accessible because of scaffolding that was erected on the building. The suspect escaped with a laptop computer and a camera.

Attempted Burglary: Jan. 22, 1:11 a.m., 500 Block of 37th Avenue
A homeowner was awakened by the sound of loud noises coming from outside of his home. When he investigated, he discovered the suspect trying to pry open his front gate. When the suspect saw the homeowner, he fled.

Burglary: Between Jan. 14, at 4:30 p.m., and Jan. 15, 7 a.m., 3100 Block of Clay Street
An unknown suspect smashed out a window on the front door of a home in Presidio Heights and gained access. Missing from the building were several tradesman tools. There were no witnesses. The thief escaped.

Auto Boosting: Jan. 5, 5:40 a.m., 6800 Block of Fulton Street
When a report came over the police dispatch system that there was an auto theft in progress in the Outer Richmond, numerous officers responded to the scene. A man who called police said he heard a noise outside his bedroom window, and when he went to see what it was, he saw the suspect trying to break into his son's car. The father yelled and his three adult sons charged outside and apprehended the 38-year-old suspect, who was on parole. The sons held the suspect until police arrived.

Burglary: Jan. 1, 5 p.m., 500 Block of 33rd Avenue
A store employee discovered someone had stolen her keys and cell phone, which were behind a counter. When she went outside to go home, she discovered her car had also been stolen.