This is an excerpt of the weekly newsletter from San Francisco Police Captain Curtis Lum of the Taraval Station. It was released on Aug. 19.

Alert: Copper Theft in the Taraval Police District

Dear Taraval Community,

Beginning on August 10, 2011 there have been numerous thefts of copper piping and/or copper wiring. The suspect(s) are posing as legitimate contractors by dressing in contractor attire, including reflective vests and hard hats. The suspect(s) appear to be working on the buildings, but are really stealing the copper down spouts from the exterior of buildings. The buildings that have been burglarized have been schools and/or churches. Many of the incidents have
been on the weekend or after normal business hours.

There have been four incidents at 1541 – 12th Ave., one at 29 Rockaway Ave., one at 286 Ashton Ave., and one at 1201 Ortega St. One incident had two suspects; the first suspect is described as a white male, 30-35, 6’0, 190 lbs. with blonde hair. The second suspect is described as a black male, 30-35, 6’0, 190 lbs. Both suspects were wearing yellow reflective vests and blue jeans. The second suspect was also wearing a white construction worker hard hat.

A separate incident had one suspect whose description is a white male, 30-40, 6’0, 200 lbs, blonde hair, and wearing a yellow long sleeve plaid shirt with tan pants.

If you see any suspicious activity or persons engaged in this type of activity please contact the police department. If the suspicious activity is in progress, call 911.

Sincerely,
Captain Curtis Lum
Commanding Officer
Taraval Police Station

Noteworthy Incidents

Theft, False Pretenses
8/17/11
1:30 p.m. to 3:15 p.m.
1800 Funston
An 89-year-old man was standing outside his house when Suspect 1 approached him and told him that he was a roofing contractor. Suspect 1 climbed on the man’s roof and told the man that his roof was damaged. Suspect 1 said that he could spray on a substance that would repair the damage instead of replacing the entire roof. The man agreed to this. Suspect 1 drove the man to the bank to withdrawal $5400. When they left the bank, Suspect 2 entered Suspect 1’s van. They all went back to the man’s house and the man gave them the money. The suspects told him that a spray truck would be coming to spray the roof. The suspects left and the spray truck never came.
Suspect 1: White male, 30-35 years old, 5’8”, 150 lbs., brown hair; wearing: red jacket, khaki pants.
Suspect 2: Hispanic female, 5’3”, 120 lbs., black hair; wearing; black dress
Vehicle: White van

Domestic Violence – ARREST
8:30 p.m.
1200 20th Ave.
Officers responded on a report of man fighting with a woman. Upon arrival, they met a witness who said that her window faces the victim’s window. The witness said that she saw a man hitting the victim with a stick. The officers went to the victim’s residence and spoke with the husband and the victim. They were uncooperative. The victim said that she was not hit by her husband. The husband said that he did not hit the victim. The officers were unable to locate the stick. The witness signed a citizen’s arrest against the husband. He was arrested. The judge did not issue an emergency protective order.

Theft
8/15/11
9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
2000 42nd Ave.
A woman reported that she believes her landlord entered her room and stole her dog.