Six arrested after ‘flash mob’ robbers in ski masks rushed into a San Francisco Walgreens and filled bags and a wagon full of stolen merchandise
Six people were arrested after a mob of ski-masked robbers burst into a San Francisco Walgreens and filled bags and a cart with stolen merchandise.
Two teenagers, ages 16 and 18, as well as three men, 20, 24 and 54, and a woman, 34, were all arrested on burglary charges when officers caught them in the act.
The Walgreens, located on the 900 block of Geneva Avenue, was raided by more robbers – but police were only able to catch six of them.
The cops, who were carrying out another retail ‘blitz’ operation nearby, chased and arrested the crooks.
It comes just weeks after San Francisco appropriated $15.3 million to fight retail theft in the city — which has been riddled with crime, homelessness and worsening drug problems since the start of the pandemic.
Two teenagers, ages 16 and 18, as well as three men, 20, 24 and 54, and a woman, 34, were all arrested on burglary charges when officers caught them in the act. The Walgreens, located on the 900 block of Geneva Avenue, was raided by more robbers – but police were only able to catch six of them
The San Francisco Police Department said in a statement: ‘On Wednesday, October 11, 2023, San Francisco Police officers from the Ingleside District conducted an organized retail theft operation at a retail business on the 900 block of Geneva Ave.
‘These operations are intended to help businesses that have experienced commercial break-ins and theft.
‘Around 18:37 the officers rushed into the business a group of about eight people wearing masks and bags with masks and suitcases pulling a wagon-style wagon.
‘The subjects quickly began to fill their pockets and the cart with shopping items. Officers made contact with the subjects who all fled the store and a foot pursuit ensued. Officers were able to detain several subjects for the incident without further incident.
“Officers developed probable cause to arrest 6 suspects (16-year-old male, 18-year-old male, 20-year-old male, 24-year-old male, 34-year-old female, 54-year-old male) on felony charges of burglary, conspiracy and organized retail theft.’
Mayor London Breed said Friday: ‘I know often when a crime occurs and videos circulate, there is a bit of a perception, a perception that these crimes are happening and a perception that nothing is being done.
“Well, to tell the truth, something is being done.”
Just last week, it was announced that seven Starbucks stores in downtown San Francisco planned to close as the city continues to deal with crime, drug use and a homeless epidemic.
On Tuesday, the coffee company announced the locations of the stores that will close starting October 22 as part of an evaluation of the company’s portfolio.
The official said they are committed to San Francisco as a whole, adding that they have opened three other stores in the area in the past six months.
Despite seeming denial that the closings are related to the city’s ongoing issues, it’s just the latest in a string of recent big-box store closures in the Bay Area.
In August, the area’s flagship Nordstrom closed after three decades in business, while other notable closings include Whole Foods, CB2, Anthropologie and more.
A map shows the major businesses that have left, or plan to leave, San Francisco in recent months
More than 849 people are expected to die from drug overdoses in 2023, on pace to surpass the current record of 720 deaths in 2020
And as for the drug problem, San Francisco’s overdose deaths continue to rise — rising in August with an additional 84 deaths, 66 involving fentanyl — to become the city’s deadliest month since 2021.
More than 849 people are expected to die from drug overdoses in 2023, on pace to surpass the current record of 720 deaths in 2020 when substance abuse treatment programs were forced to reduce capacity or close during the pandemic.
The city has struggled with an overdose epidemic driven in part by the spread of the synthetic opioid fentanyl, which is up to 50 times stronger than heroin and deadly even in very small doses.
Open-air drug markets, overdose deaths, prolific shoplifting and violence have marked the coastal city’s ‘downfall’ as companies close shop and tech workers opt to work from home.
San Francisco police have been trying to shut down drug markets in the hard-hit Tenderloin and SoMa areas of the city where Mayor London Breed declared an official state of emergency in December 2021.
The force seized 42 kilograms of fentanyl between 29 May and 17 September.
Arrests for drug use and sales also rose to 1,106 in the same period, according to police statistics.