3 arrested after $275K in merchandise stolen during smash-and-grab theft SF Dior store, police say

BySuzanne Phan KGO logo

Friday, October 13, 2023

SF looks at retired officers as part of solution to crime: mayor

Mayor London Breed says she's hoping to help tackle some of San Francisco's ongoing problems with the help of retired police officers.

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- San Francisco police have arrested three people in connection with a brazen smash-and-grab at the Dior store in Union Square early Thursday morning.

They are still looking for more suspects connected to the burglary.

Video shows the damaged security gate outside the store.

San Francisco police say a driver crashed through the store to break in, and then people from three vehicles ran into the store, grabbing everything they could. A store employee told ABC7 News Reporter Suzanne Phan that thieves stole $275,000 worth of merchandise.

Police chased one of the cars as the suspects took off and headed toward the Bay Bridge.

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In tower cam video, two people can be seen running, causing traffic to stop on the way up to the lower deck.

Officers tracked them down and arrested them. They also recovered about three-to-four dozen stolen purses from one of the cars.

SFPD hasn't said how many suspects are still at large.

A store employee said that the suspects attempted to hit several other shops in the morning -- YSL, Goyard and Fendi -- and were unsuccessful before moving on to Dior.

San Francisco Mayor London Breed announced an expansion of a plan to crack down on crime.

"We know there's still a need to get support on the streets immediately," Breed said.

Breed proposed an expansion of San Francisco's Reserve Police Officer program to increase foot patrols.

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It's different than the current SF Police Ambassador program.

"The difference with the reserves is they wear uniforms, they can make arrests, and they can do a lot more than some of our ambassadors. In light with of the ongoing challenges we face, and having more feet on the ground, more officers on the ground is going to help us with public safety, and that's the goal," said Breed.

The mayor wants to make the volunteer reserve police officer program a paid program. The plan needs be approved by the San Francisco board of supervisors.

If approved, the mayor's proposal will allow for the immediate deployment of 30 reserve police officers to high-profile foot beat assignments through the city.