In an unsettling contrast to the overall crime decline across San Francisco, the Southern District is grappling with a staggering 92% increase in theft incidents this year.
Between January and August 2025, the San Francisco Police Department’s Southern District, encompassing neighborhoods such as Mission Bay, SoMa, Rincon Hill, Yerba Buena, and Treasure Island, reported 1,876 larceny-theft incidents, a marked rise from 955 during the same timeframe in 2024.
In stark contrast, the city as a whole witnessed a decrease in crime, with total reports dropping about 23%, from 14,423 to 11,201.
The upsurge in thefts is primarily attributed to nonviolent crimes, notably excluding car break-ins.
According to the latest SFPD data, shopping malls and grocery stores are particularly affected, with retailers like Whole Foods, Safeway, and Walgreens noting significant increases in theft activity.
Certain intersections within the Southern District have become hotspots for retail theft, specifically Fourth and King, Fourth and Bluxome, and Fourth and Mission streets.
These key locations are experiencing not only the highest numbers of thefts but also the most considerable percentage increases in retail-related larcenies.
To delve deeper into the issue, The Standard visited several theft-prone locations in South Beach and SoMa, engaging with store employees about the shoplifting incidents they’ve observed.
At Whole Foods on Fourth, one security guard mentioned the repetitive experience of encountering a recurring thief, whom he refers to as “the Peet’s Guy.”
This shoplifter allegedly steals dozens of bags of ground coffee each week, demonstrating a troubling pattern.
Nearby at Safeway, Instacart shopper Dmitri Djatkin recounted how he’s noticed a troubling trend in theft as he frequents the store to pick up groceries for his customers.
Djatkin stated that last year he only witnessed one theft, but the current surge is undeniable, citing a recent encounter where a man attempted to sneak packets of instant ramen out of his jacket while being confronted at the exit.
“It’s been significantly worse this year,” he noted.
At Target within the Metreon shopping center, employees described an alarming rate of theft attempts, estimating around 10 to 12 incidents occurring daily.
To combat these losses, the store has resorted to locking up items like cosmetics, painkillers, and other high-value products, indicating the lengths to which businesses must go to deter thieves.
One Target worker remarked on the absurdity of a thief making eye contact while snatching a vacuum cleaner right beneath his nose, a telling sign of the brazen nature of such thefts.
Across the street at the San Francisco Centre, even as the mall struggles economically, shops like Shoe Palace are enduring their share of thefts.
Employees reported that thieves typically plan ahead, with one clever scam involving a suspect who attempted to swap a used pair of Air Jordans for a new pair right in front of staff.
The innovative methods employed by shoplifters highlight the ongoing challenge retailers are facing in this area.
As businesses in the Southern District contend with this alarming trend, questions arise regarding the police response to the crime surge.
Local businesses feel disadvantaged, as officers have been known to prioritize patrolling events at nearby venues like Chase Center and Oracle Park, detracting from their ability to focus on neighborhood crime.
Alex Ludlum, executive director of the SoMa West Community Benefit District, expressed concern over the strategic placement of police resources, stating, “If you design the police station boundaries this way, you have purposefully disadvantaged Southern Station’s ability to respond to crime.”
In response to this crime wave, the SFPD reports that curbing retail theft is a major priority.
They are expanding their use of technology, including automated license plate readers and drones, aimed at targeting and deterring organized retail theft.
Events at local sports venues that require extensive staffing by off-duty police officers can also create added pressure on law enforcement resources available for neighborhood patrols.
“The SFPD will continue to make this neighborhood a priority, focusing on the safety of our residents, businesses, and visitors,” stated a spokesperson for the police department.
Despite these assurances, residents and shoppers like Djatkin remain perplexed by the increase in crime.
Standing in the Safeway cheese aisle, he expressed his frustration, remarking, “You’d think the new buildings would make the area more sophisticated, to clean this area up.
Looks like it’s having the opposite effect.”
image source from：sfstandard
