Dramatic Decrease in Auto Break-Ins in San Francisco
Current statistics indicate that the rate of auto break-ins is at its lowest in over twenty years.
The San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) has announced the lowest number of auto break-ins in 22 years, coinciding with efforts to combat crime effectively.
In March, the city recorded 342 vehicle break-ins, a significant decrease from approximately 800 reported in March 2024, as per SFPD data. In 2023, car break-ins exceeded 2,000 monthly, maintaining a high trend for years, with 2017 marking the peak.
The police department is collaborating with Mayor Daniel Lurie’s office and the San Francisco district attorney’s office to enhance the prosecution of auto break-in cases.
San Francisco has gained notoriety for auto break-ins, particularly in tourist hotspots like Fisherman’s Wharf. However, the city has witnessed a gradual recovery in tourism since the decline experienced in 2020 due to the pandemic.
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Moreover, lawmakers in Sacramento passed legislation last year to assist local law enforcement in holding offenders accountable.
This bill, enacted in August 2024, eliminated a so-called locked door loophole, which previously necessitated prosecutors to demonstrate that an individual forcibly entered a locked vehicle.
According to Wiener’s office, victims were previously required to testify in court regarding the status of their car doors, and the presence of broken windows was insufficient as evidence.
“Such requirements could undermine strong cases of guilt, especially in instances where individuals are visiting San Francisco and cannot return just to confirm they locked their car door,” his office explained.
SB 905 addressed this issue by stipulating that forcible entry serves as evidence of auto burglary, thus qualifying it as either a misdemeanor or a felony.
Notably, the decline in auto break-ins in San Francisco began even prior to the implementation of Wiener’s legislation.
In 2023, former Mayor London Breed, Police Chief Bill Scott, and District Attorney Brooke Jenkins committed to broadening local law enforcement strategies to sustain the city’s progress in reducing auto burglaries.
This comprehensive approach included employing bait cars, deploying plainclothes officers, and pursuing rigorous prosecutions. The city reported that these law enforcement efforts led to a 50 percent decrease in car break-ins between September and December 2023.
In March 2024, the city announced plans to install 400 license plate readers at around 100 intersections to address multiple crime types, including auto burglaries.
This included increasing the presence of uniformed officers in areas most affected by break-ins, such as the Palace of Fine Arts, Alamo Square, and Fisherman’s Wharf.
