Surveillance camera on the hill?

An article in today's chronicle, 'Mayor wants additional surveillance cameras,' reports that Mayor Gavin Newsom has identified six areas in San Francisco where he'd like to install surveillance cameras. These six new locations were recommended by police and requested by crime-weary neighbors.

I've been tracking crime in our neighborhood for the past couple of months and have identified a particularly hot spot for crime in our neighborhood: the south end of Connecticut St near the Friendship Garden (see star on the map above).

If there is interest in the community (I'll be proposing this idea at the Potrero Hill Boosters meeting on Tues, Oct 25, 953 DeHaro St, 7pm), I'd like to contact the mayor's office and request that they consider putting a camera in this location.

Below are the police reports related to the markers on the map above. There is a footpath that leads from Arkansas and 22nd to the end of Connecticut St, which is why I've included markers F and I. Also note that markers G and H are probably related.

Markers on map

A) A young male currently enrolled in High School in San Francisco did not go to school on this day. Instead he and another conspirator attempted to rob a man on the 600 Block of Connecticut Street. The two suspects attempted to block the sidewalk of a man walking his dog. The suspects asked the man what time it was and the man replied and continued to walk past them. The suspects than asked the man where he was going. The man told them that he was on his way to work. The suspect inquired to where that was and the man refused to answer. One of the suspects caught up to the man and said, “Your wallet, where is your wallet?" The man replied, “Uh, Uh…not going to happen." The suspect stood stunned for a moment and the man continued his walk.

As the man reached 20th Street he saw Officers Damonte and Barron at Thinkers Café enjoying a cup of coffee with off duty Officer Fitzpatrick. The man told the Officers what happened. Officer Damonte and Officer Fitzpatrick rounded the corner on foot and Officer Barron jumped in the patrol car in attempt to head off the suspects. Other Officers were notified and began respond to the area. The suspects managed to flee into the park at the dead end of Connecticut. But this was far from over.

Just prior to their attempted robbery the suspects went into one of the stores on 20th and Connecticut. Fortunately, the store had a video surveillance tape. Unfortunately, for the suspects one of them was wearing distinctive clothing. Officer Damonte drove through the Potrero Hill Projects and spotted the suspect where he was detained. A “cold show" was performed by the would be victim where he positively identified the male as one of the robbers. The male would not be returning to school in the immediate future for he was booked at Youth Guidance Center. The other suspect is at large.

An interesting footnote to this incident….Another citizen flagged down one of the responding Officers. This citizen told them that she saw the two suspects from this incident running down the street. She then found a loaded semi-automatic pistol in the vicinity. The pistol was seized and Crime Scene Investigators are checking the pistol for fingerprints and a match to the suspects. A pistol was not displayed during the incident.

Tuesday, October 11, 9:24 AM, Case # 051146394

B) Thursday, September 29, 9:40 PM, Armed Robbery: A 55 year-old man residing on the 600 block of Connecticut told his reporting officers that a 20 to 25 year-old Black male (6'04 190 lbs.) wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, dark colored pants and shoes used a black semi-automatic handgun to rob him. The victim had just pulled into his driveway and had begun opening up his garage door when the suspect asked him for a dollar.  When the victim pulled out his money to give him one, the suspect stepped back and pulled out a gun.  The suspect then grabbed all the man's money and ran south on Connecticut.  The officers searched the area to no avail.

C) Monday, September 26, 1:00 PM, Robbery with a Gun: A PG&E employee told his reporting officers that he had been in his work truck completing paperwork on the 600 block of Connecticut when two 18 to 19 year-old black males robbed him at gunpoint. The armed suspect (5'11" 175 lbs.) had been wearing a black jacket with hood, and bluejeans, and he had been armed with a small caliber semi-automatic handgun. The suspects were last seen walking east on Missouri toward Potrero Hill. Officers searched the area to no avail.

D) Sun, June 26, 2:43 p.m., a man and woman were playing tennis at the courts at 801 Arkansas when they saw four young men approaching their property (on a nearby bench). Two of the young men grabbed the woman's purse and ran down the hill with it. The man pursued the two individuals and caught them, but they punched him several times and fled again with the purse. Suspect one is a black male juvenile wearing a black leather jacket with sports team patches. Suspect two is a black male juvenile with gold teeth

E) June 18, 9:15 p.m., a cabbie was picking up a fare on the 600 block of Connecticut when two suspects approached him and robbed him at gunpoint. Suspect one is black male, 26-31, 5'7, 145, wearing a black Gap sweatshirt and red sweatpants. Suspect two is a black male, 5'6, 150, wearing a black sweatshirt with hood, black sweatpants, and white tennis shoes

F) Knife Robbery, 600 block Arkansas, June 3, 10:45 a.m. Bayview Officers Garate and Ernst responded on a robbery call and spoke with the victims, a man and woman, who had just been attacked and robbed. The couple had just left their home when two suspects approached them, demanding money. When the male victim stated he had no money, he was knocked to the ground. The second suspect then approached the female victim, who was pushing a baby stroller, and demanded her purse as he displayed a knife. The second victim began to run away and scream, and a nearby witness then ran toward the suspects carrying a shovel and scared them away. Both suspects then ran toward the Potrero Hill Housing Development. Suspect one is a black male, 18-21, 5'8, 160, twists in hair, wearing a blue shirt with red horizontal stripes. Suspect two is a black male, 18-20, 5'8, 160, wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt, armed with a knife.

G) Gun Robbery, 801 Arkansas St., May 27, 11:48 a.m. Victim robbed of wallet. Suspects fled into Potrero Hill Rec Center (050 592 063).

H) Gun Robbery, Connecticut Community Garden, May 27, 11:40a.m. Victim robbed of wallet. Suspects fled on foot southbound Connecticut (050 592 104)

I) Robbery, Wisconsin and 22nd, April 11, 5:58 p.m. Bayview Officers Cruz and Festa responded on the call of a robbery and spoke with the victim who stated that he had been walking up the stairs at Wisconsin and 22nd when he was approached by two suspects who robbed him. The first suspect went through the victim's pockets as the second suspect simulated a weapon by keeping his hands under his sweatshirt. Suspect one is a black male, 20-22, 6'0, 200, short hair, dark complected, wearing a black sweatshirt and baggy pants. Suspect two is a black male, 6'0, 220, dark complected, wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt and baggy pants (050 401 254).