SF crime numbers down overall, according to mayor

( KRON ) — In an update on the installation of new automated license plate reader cameras (ALPR), San Francisco Mayor London Breed shared that the city is experiencing an overall decrease in crime, including a 13% reduction in violent crime and a 33% reduction in property crime overall compared to last year. The most recent report of these crime stats includes numbers through the end of this May, the mayor’s office announced on Wednesday.

Among the share of “continued improvements in crime,” other numbers included:

• 38% reduction in homicides
• 18% reduction in robberies
• 8% reduction in assaults
• 18% reduction in burglaries
• 19% reduction in vehicle thefts
• 51% reduction in car break-ins

The mayor credits much of the reduction in crime to the installation of the city’s new automatic license plate reader cameras (ALPR). "This shows the impact that technology can have in assisting our officers in doing their work and is sending an important message to those who think they can come to our city and commit crimes," Breed said.

The mayor’s office said 100 of the 400 cameras have been installed so far, with the remaining 300 to be installed by July this year.

In praise of the safety cameras, the mayor shared the following crimes that were located using them:

• Organized Retail Theft: On May 13, a woman on a no-bail warrant for organized retail theft was picked up on an ALPR camera in the Mission District.
• Carjacking: On May 3, police identified a car involved in a carjacking at SF State. Police spotted the vehicle, deployed spike strips and arrested three suspects.
• Robbery: On May 13, a vehicle used in a robbery entered San Francisco from Oakland and was captured on multiple cameras. Officers located the car in the Bayview and took the driver into custody.
• Sexual Assault: On June 8, San Jose police contacted other agencies across the region for help locating a sexual assault suspect. The suspect's car was picked up by the cameras in the Taraval Police District, and officers took the suspect into custody.

"I want to thank our officers for their outstanding work. Looking forward, we will be integrating our ALPR network with our other technologies, including technologies voters approved in March under Proposition E, like drones and public safety cameras,” SFPD Chief Bill Scott said.

Mayor Breed's proposed budget, which is currently before the Board of Supervisors Budget committee for review, includes $3.7 million to implement voter-approved technology. With this new funding, SFPD can expand on its plans to install public safety cameras and use of drones.

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