Want to be a Vigilante?
Don't do it. But here are 10 good ways you can fight crime in San Francisco
Like many San Franciscans, I am horrified by escalating criminal activity. “My car/home/garage was broken into!” “Somebody is stealing from Walgreens, and now there's nothing on the shelves!” “People are selling drugs openly on my street corner” “I’m scared to go outside” are all too common refrains.
I recently attended an illuminating public safety meeting put on by SOAR and related neighborhood groups, including one I’m involved with - Iconic D3. (To find and join your district’s group, click here.)
Former SFPD officer Lou Barberini (follow him on X/Twitter; his newsletter is fantastic), SF Police Officers Association president Tracy McCray, and attorney and former police commissioner Tom Mazzucco addressed the most pressing issues about crime. For example, on the subject of smash and grab robberies, they said pretty much everyone who is breaking into cars is armed and dangerous.
Where are the cops?
The truth is, there aren't enough police officers on duty these days to protect the community the way you want. This situation is getting worse as hundreds of officers are preparing to leave the force and not nearly enough are joining to take their place.
Chilling, but this doesn't mean we must accept our fate as victims. Here are ten ways to stay safe and fight crime in San Francisco.
1. Attend Community Police Meetings
If you think problems are erupting in your area, they may be. Or they may not be. Best to know, though, and to learn what the cops are doing to mitigate the problems.
Attend your monthly Station Captain's Community Meeting to find out.
2. Join or Follow Stop Crime SF
I can’t recommend Stop Crime SF enough. Among the many things they do:
Monitor court proceedings to ensure prosecutors and judges prioritize public safety.
Advocate for victims
Obtain accurate crime data
Support police staffing levels
Convene panels that seek solutions to conditions that foster crime
Publish fact-based news articles and lead public education campaigns
Support police and prison reforms that increase safety for all
Get involved. Join them.
3. Take Self Defense Classes
Learn how to defend yourself. There are so many different types of courses to explore. For example, I was doing Krav Maga (the official self-defense system of the Israel Defense Forces) for a while. After every class I felt more prepared in my environment. I recommend Combat Krav Maga. They usually have a free intro class, too.
Look around for the discipline that best meets your style and desires. I’ve heard good things about IMPACT Bay Area for women. Whichever you choose, all teach you to be aware of your surroundings and to react in the right way if something bad is about to happen - and when it does.
4. Stay SF-SAFE
You've heard of neighborhood watch programs. Well, that's what SF-SAFE does, and much more. I used to be on the board of this amazing organization and I assure you they are doing nothing but good things for the community.
SAFE also helps with personal and child safety and business security. If you want to thwart thieves from busting into your car, their park smart program is excellent. Want to walk and avoid danger? That’s covered too.
5. Become ALERT
The police force is stretched thin, so if you want to do something about it, consider being an Auxiliary Law Enforcement Response Team (ALERT) member. I was one for a while and loved it. Moreover, you will assume duties that will alleviate sworn officers from low-level assignments so they can concentrate on crime prevention and making arrests.
As an ALERT member you may take on such tasks as:
Traffic control
Foot patrol of business and residential areas
Report on criminal activity, looting and property damage observation
Work in partnership with other civilian volunteer groups to provide well-being checks and assist with medical aid
Assist Animal Care and Control in the handling of pets
Security assistance at street festivals, sports events, parades, concerts, and political demonstrations.
Interested? Email them at SFPDALERT@sfgov.org
6. Carry Something
No, not a firearm (unless you want to and have a concealed carry permit). If you're going to be outside and enjoy our beautiful city, take some personal protection with you.
A gel pepper spray that you can attach to your keychain so you never forget it is a smart idea. So is a very loud whistle. I carry both. Also consider investing in a high quality, heavyweight flashlight. A friend who has ties to law enforcement recommended the Warrior X Turbo Tactical Flashlight to take with you on evening strolls.
As for brass knuckles and batons, after purchasing some in Chinatown, I found out they’re not legal in San Francisco. Why? I don’t know.
7. Warn Visitors
San Francisco depends heavily on tourism. Everything visitors see and experience goes back home with them. Wouldn't it be great if they can tell their friends and family members that, yes, parts of San Francisco are rough, but a nice person stopped them and gave them some helpful advice about how to stay safe and still have a good time?
I can't tell you how many times I have told blissfully unaware tourists to hide their expensive cameras. If they're heading to Union Square in the direction of the Tenderloin, I stop them and explain what they will encounter. “It's really rough down there and it will be particularly tough for your kids to see. We have an extremely bad drug addiction problem, and it is very disturbing. You may wanna take a right on the street and head down Powell instead.”
If they're getting out of their cars, and you see that they have suitcases and other items in plain view, let them know that they should remove them immediately. Otherwise, prepare for none of it to be there when they get back.
While you’re at it, if you feel comfortable, you may also want to warn residents who work at cafes. Their laptops are ridiculously easy to steal.
8. React Appropriately When You See People Shoplifting
If you see somebody stealing from a store, what should you do? That's up to you, of course. Me, there are times when I do confront a person stuffing a bag full of merchandise and tell them to stop. Is it smart? No. I do not want to get hurt or killed, which is a possibility. But does it give me a sense of satisfaction because at least I have said something? Usually. I (probably) won’t do this anymore.
Much (much, much) safer and more effective is to alert a security guard who is on duty, if there is one.
Oh, and remember that employees are faced with this situation constantly, often many times a day. Can you imagine how awful it is to deal with not just a lone shoplifter but a group of them? When criminals know they can enter and take whatever they want with no actions or repercussions - they will. They do.
9. Thank the Protectors
How can we keep the people who are protecting the community and businesses on the job? The looming attrition is real and we can’t afford to lose even one good cop.
The three who spoke at the public safety meeting assured the crowd that smiling and thanking officers makes a big difference. Honestly, I feel a little silly doing it sometimes, but if it helps, marvelous. If that cop is having a rotten day and is thinking of quitting and an offer of sincere gratitude lifts them a bit, do it. Oh, an if you know people who would make wonderful officers, please encourage them to apply to SFPD.
And don’t neglect security guards. The San Francisco Board of Supervisors is trying to make store protection more difficult by not letting security guards draw a firearm. If you don’t want more people to be put in danger, stores to close, and blight to take over neighborhoods, tell Mayor London Breed. She has the power to veto this measure. MayorLondonBreed@sfgov.org 415-554-6141
10. Read This Book
Obtain a copy of The Gift of Fear: And Other Survival Signals That Protect Us from Violence by Gavin de Becker. Trust me on this. If you don’t want to buy it and pass it to someone you love, borrow it for free from the San Francisco Public Library.
Finally, Prepare for the Future
San Francisco is on the precipice of change. Results from a recently released GrowSF poll are as undeniable as they are thrilling: 86% of the respondents believe San Francisco can be fixed. This kind of positivity makes me all warm and fuzzy inside.
The 2024 election is coming at us fast. Pay attention to what the people who want to retain their positions have done and are doing — not just saying. The mayor and half the board of supervisors are fighting for their political lives. Also look toward newcomers. Many are very different from those who have now.
In the end, if San Francisco’s officials are not concentrating on crime reduction and getting perpetrators off our streets, they are not worth supporting.
Erica - Did you see the LinkedIn post about business people and billionaires pitching in to do a PR campaign for San Francisco? Their slogans are lame; "They (Heart) San Francisco" nothing but blind people's ego tripping from a big ad agency that doesn't get it. Then they had "We're Open For Business - Bring It On" That one fit nicely with the national news of naked hookers in the streets the other day.
I'm not sure how Larry Baer sees the world, and the Fisher guy, but my sense is they are way out of touch with most San Franciscans who are not wealthy as they are. Daniel Lurie running for Mayor seems interesting only because he's not a phony, but he's also not a man of the people. Renters are the dominant voting block in San Francisco, and they seem to lean heavily to the hard Left. The unions seem to not feel like enough jobs are threatened to shift their support. And Ranked Choice Voting creates a complicated mess.
Words matter. Q: When is a "Progressive" just another Marxist? A: When what they think is progress is tearing things apart, and not fixing anything.
Erica - You backed a lot of info in this article. And much of it was not uplifting.
My perspective is that most people are friendly or at least not out to hurt anyone, but there are also some mean neighbors who make others miserable, and then there are the criminals.
Whoever you are, wherever you are, whatever you are doing, you are safe until you are not. We all want to feel safe even when we are not. Anyone who has looked online can find an endless list of
self defense tools from alarm sirens, to whistles, blinding strobe flashlights, tear gas, and pepper sprays, as well as sharp items. The only thing I always have is a whistle, and when I'm wearing jeans - I have a heavy leather belt and buckle. But I have to tell you - when someone sticks a gun in your face,
your options become very limited. And most people are not trained to a point where they can tell
if it's a pellet gun, fake, or the real thing. Smart people don't want to find out.
The 2A guarantees private gun ownership rights, and unfortunately - police have been responsible for
supporting limitations and restrictions like CCPs that seem to have been declared unconstitutional, but are still in play. Unfortunately - in many cases, the victim may not even get a chance to respond to the attacker who sneaks up from behind them. But if more people were armed, I think there would be more criminals shot. The lack of deterrents make a life of crime safe and profitable.
If we want to have less crime, we need to attack the causes of it, and that is no poverty, it is opportunity.
Is it AB47 that George Gascon and some local assembly person get passed that raised the amount of a felony break-in of cars to $1,000? That bill should be written out yesterday making it a $1.00 limit, just leave our cars alone or you go to jail. Oh - not enough jail space - use tents!