‘Changes’ for San Francisco after ‘horrible’ night of looting
San Francisco’s mayor and police chief have promised “changes” after a night of massive looting, a crime becoming more and more common in the city, and one that’s driving businesses away.
Numerous stores, including Louis Vuitton and Bloomingdale’s, were hit on Friday night as part of a massive looting spree hitting businesses in the California city’s Union Square.
In a Saturday press conference addressing the attack on businesses, Mayor London Breed promised “changes” to the area that will limit car access after the “horrible” night of crime. Police Chief Bill Scott similarly pointed to infrastructure changes as a measure that will prevent future mass robberies.
“We have to make it difficult for people to do what they did last night. Pull up right next to a business, shatter the windows, wipe out everything they can carry, get right in their cars parked at the curb and leave,” Scott said, adding that eight people had been arrested in connection with what police believe were planned robberies.
Some of the looting was caught on camera, with few police in sight and many of the thieves passing by police with no resistance.
Just an ordinary night in San Francisco pic.twitter.com/Eh9rwH8W5u
— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) November 20, 2021
At first glance I thought this was people knocked to the ground.
— Dion Lim (@DionLimTV) November 20, 2021
Reality: Louis Vuitton was cleared out by robbers Friday night.
I passed Burberry where about a dozen maybe more were starting to vandalize/break in.
Windows at FENDI & YSL were broken too. #SanFrancisco pic.twitter.com/cVsstKTIg2
YET ANOTHER #LouisVuitton looting video from this evening #SanFrancisco pic.twitter.com/q2aKhNDbtd
— Richie Greenberg (@richieSF2016) November 20, 2021
Scott said police will “flood” the area where the robberies took place for the “foreseeable future.”
“We will do what we need to do to put an end to this madness,” he said.
On top of the Friday night vandalism and looting, a Nordstrom store in Willow Creek was hit on Saturday night by dozens of looters, who entered and looted the location in under a minute, according to police. Three employees were assaulted in the raid.
Footage captured at the scene appears to show most of the looters getting past police.
#Breaking About 25 cars just blocked the street and rushed into the Walnut Creek Nordstrom making off with goods before getting in cars snd speeding away. At least two people arrested at gunpoint. pic.twitter.com/AG3R94M9L3
— Jodi Hernandez (@JodiHernandezTV) November 21, 2021
Theft has become a trend in San Francisco, leading to companies like Walgreens to shut down numerous locations and other retailers to limit their hours of operation.
Activists have pointed to the city making the theft of items valued at less than $950 not a felony as a major factor in the rise in theft and its subsequent effect on businesses.
Stealing in the city has reached the point where videos of criminals ripping off businesses with ease have become increasingly common on social media, often leading to the city becoming a punchline for some critics.
Meanwhile, in San Francisco… pic.twitter.com/b4bYbhpMxl
— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) November 12, 2021
This is how we address income inequality in San Francisco, by encouraging crimes and reducing life quality for everyone.
— Jenny, Girl from 4th ????, 鄰白廢物 ???? (@JennyChachan) November 18, 2021
This is a Tesla footage of a smash and grabs on the entire block of Japantown on Tuesday evening. There was nothing in the car and it was smashed anyway. pic.twitter.com/CathVZE1qf
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