Police say that, even if they are arrested, thieves are released almost immediately and go right back and do it again
August 19, 2023 at 18:50
A new video of criminals breaking into cars in broad daylight serves to demonstrate just how bad things are getting in San Francisco. Locals and authorities say that the problem is far out of hand. Reports suggest that there are over 1,500 break-ins a month and almost 10,000 this year already.
A local from San Francisco recently followed the driver of a white Lexus RC coupe as a passenger broke into numerous cars along the road. In the video footage shared with KTVU, the passenger can be seen in a hoodie and mask ripping bags out of multiple cars including one that was partially occupied.
“I started following them, and they just didn’t care, obviously, that they were being followed or not, and it kept happening,” the camera person told a local reporter. The practice is one that’s growing in the Golden State to the point that some people leave their doors open so as to avoid having to replace their own windows.
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“It’s called ‘bipping and boosting,’” San Francisco Police Lt.Tracy McCray told The NYPost. “It really exploded during the pandemic so much so that someone told me that the sidewalks are glistening and sparkling [with glass from windows] where cars are broken into left and right. The infuriating part is the brazenness of it has gotten off the chain. They don’t even try to hide what they are doing anymore.”
That same report claims that police data accounts for 1,670 break-ins over the last 30 days and almost 10,000 this year already. According to Supervisor Dean Preston, the issue is the result of many factors including lenient penalties for those caught.
“When we do make an arrest for a break-in, the problem is, they are released almost immediately on their own recognizance and they go right back out there and do it again,” he said. A lot of them even have ankle monitoring bracelets and they still don’t care. There’s that complete disregard because they know they will just get away with it.”
Citizens are encouraged to keep their cars empty and especially to avoid leaving bags in sight of any eyes that might look into the vehicle.