San Francisco: 6, Including 2 Teens, Arrested on Walgreens Theft

A group of eight masked individuals attempted to carry out a robbery at a Walgreens in San Francisco. They arrived with a wagon-style cart and rushed into the store to steal merchandise.

However, the police were already on the scene, conducting an organized retail theft operation, and apprehended six suspects.

The group began filling bags and the wagon with stolen items before the officers intervened at approximately 6:30 PM on Wednesday at the Geneva Avenue store.

Among the suspects arrested were a 16-year-old boy, an 18-year-old man, a 20-year-old man, a 24-year-old man, a 34-year-old woman, and a 54-year-old man, The San Francisco Standard reported.

"Eight people run in with ski masks and a wagon, and they grab anything they can get their arms around," SFPD Chief Bill Scott described of the incident.

He warned the two suspects who remain at large, saying, "The other two: you'd better watch over your shoulders 'cause we're coming for you."

San Francisco's Crime Fighting Efforts

San Francisco's Mayor London Breed and Chief Scott held a news conference addressing various public safety concerns, including smash-and-grabs, drug dealing, and car theft, per KTVU.

They updated the city's efforts to combat organized retail theft, emphasizing how new state funds are utilized.

Mayor Breed highlighted that San Francisco has one of the lowest crime rates among major cities and one of the highest clearance rates for homicides.

Chief Scott noted a decrease in burglaries and thefts compared to the previous year, with overall larceny burglaries down by about 10% and car break-ins down by approximately 7%.

In September, San Francisco received $17 million from the state to combat organized retail theft.

These funds are allocated to various initiatives, including paying overtime for police officers, funding investigations, and providing additional prosecutors for the District Attorney's Office.

Some funds are also being used to support new police tactics, such as "blitz" operations targeting groups of thieves who overwhelm store security.

San Francisco Street Vendors Arrested for Allegedly Selling Stolen Goods

San Francisco prosecutors have filed charges against two individuals who were arrested for allegedly selling stolen goods in the Mission District.

Veronica Lumbreras-Villanueva of Daly City and Deysi Ramirez of San Francisco are accused of "fencing," which involves selling merchandise stolen from various Bay Area retail stores, according to KRON 4.

The San Francisco Police Department identified two illegal street vending booths where suspected stolen merchandise was being sold.

Items at these booths were displayed with retail store tags, security tags, and other identifiable antitheft devices still attached.

The police recovered from the duo stolen merchandise with an estimated value of $16,066.

Fencing operations like this contribute to organized retail theft rings seeking to profit from criminal activities.

Lumbreras-Villanueva and Ramirez pleaded not guilty to receiving stolen property and one count of conspiracy. They could each face more than three years in state prison if convicted.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

WATCH: San Francisco police arrest several people in operations - From KRON 4