SFPD Southern Station Operations Result in 104 Arrests and Citations for Retail Theft
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – The San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) has concluded a series of targeted enforcement operations resulting in 104 arrests and misdemeanor citations between September and December. These “blitz” operations, conducted within the jurisdiction of the SFPD Southern Station, focused on organized retail crime and involved a total of 81 misdemeanor citations for Petty Theft. According to department officials, several individuals were also cited for narcotics-related violations discovered during the course of these investigations.
Charges and Arrests
In addition to the citations, 23 subjects were arrested and booked into the San Francisco County Jail. The charges against these individuals included robbery, conspiracy to commit a crime, vandalism of fire safety equipment, and probation violations. Some arrests were specifically made for petty theft involving suspects with at least two prior convictions. Officers also cleared existing theft-related warrants and arrest warrants for other felonious crimes.
The enforcement actions were a collaborative effort between SFPD Southern Station uniform officers and the SFPD Organized Retail Crime Taskforce plainclothes officers. Law enforcement worked alongside employees and loss prevention teams from grocery, convenience, and retail stores to identify frequent offenders. Reports from store personnel indicated a high frequency of theft incidents, including instances where suspects exhibited violence toward staff.
SFPD Police Chief Derrick Lew stated that the department has deployed additional resources to the Southern Police District to hold offenders accountable and maintain a safe environment for businesses. The Southern District covers the South of Market area, the Embarcadero, China Basin, Mission Bay, Treasure Island, and Yerba Buena Island. Southern Station Captain Amy Hurwitz noted that individuals with prior theft convictions would be booked into jail regardless of the monetary value of the stolen merchandise.
These operations are supported by funding from the Organized Retail Theft Grant Program, provided through the Board of State and Community Corrections. The SFPD indicated that these strategic enforcement initiatives will continue for the foreseeable future to address retail theft and its impact on the safety of employees and shoppers throughout the city.
