Several Missionites woke up to a rude awakening as they returned to cars they had parked on 18th Street, between Church and Dolores. Nearly the entire block of parked cars, approximately eight in total, had their windows smashed.
“It was really crazy,” said Tom Filmyer, a resident of 18th and Church who saw the row of smashed cars this morning. “You might see one smashed car on a block, but between Dolores and Church it seemed like every window was broken…this is out of control.”
According to Filmyer, one of the car’s owners called the police but were told that they could do very little. Other neighbors said that this block is notorious for smash and grabs.
Filmyer said he had his own car window broken recently. Though nothing valuable was stolen, he had to pay around $200 in repairs. He said he didn’t call the police.
“It seems like almost every three or four years this happens, it’s like the cost of being in a city,” he said, though admitted the sight of a whole row of cars with broken windows was pretty jarring.
The police could not yet be reached for comment.
Oklahoma Sam, Your attitude is a cancer on civility in the City.
This is not thievery. This is punishment for owning a car. And frankly, I’m cool with it. Sick and tired of having this city overrun with these giant machines.
You’re cool with it? Why? You think it’s a good idea for people to go around smashing other people’s property? Or smashing other people? Do you think it’s cool to live in a lawless neighborhood? That’s not what the Mission is about. We need to be about being a community, a diverse, tolerant community.
Call the police. It is their responsibility to deter crime and to solve it. Call them every time there is a crime. Every time. They should protect and serve us. This is not a lawless place. We have our problems, and some are difficult, but we are not a place where people can run around breaking the law because some guy from Oklahoma is “cool with it.”
I wonder if SFPD has EVER done anything to combat smash and grabs. EVER, one of the most common and annoying crimes in the city. Come on SFPD.
This particular block is notorious for car break-ins. And with the screening on the fence due to construction it is worse it seems. Wish the high school had cameras on this part of the block, might help a bit.
As the gap between haves and have nots widens, you will see this more. Sucks for the car owners…
yeah godzuki, ts probably that teacher from around the corner that jack halprin is trying to evict
Actually I doubt that has anything to do with it. It seems unlikely that these were previously well-behaved citizens driven to crime by poverty.
I wonder if it’s those startup people?! I’ve been seeing a lot of tech gangs lately!!!!! Eeeeek!
I also saw this scene Wednesday morning. The thieves had for sure searched the cars for valuables – open glove compartments and whatnot. One car with a broken window had a note on it asking if the owner wanted to sell the car?? Perplexing.
This happens on Franklin Street weekly. A block of 4-5 cars in a row all with windows smashed. Typical.
Rumor has it that some local window repair shops are in cahoots.
Not until you just said it. That is an irresponsible thing to say in a public forum, to anonymously accuse local business people. If you have some evidence, present it openly.
This has been going on around that area for months. Not necessarily for theft. Someone is angry and crazy out there.