Central District Plainclothes Unit Arrest Serial Auto Burglary Suspect 18-049

On March 25, 2018 at approximately 2:00 PM, Central District plainclothes officers were conducting an auto burglary abatement operation in the area of North Point Street and Taylor Street. Officers began following a vehicle that matched the description of a vehicle that had been reported to police as being involved in auto burglaries.

Officers following the car observed a male in a red hoodie exit the passenger side and begin peering into random vehicles. The man’s clothing matched the description of a suspect that had committed several vehicle break-ins in the Richmond District. The suspect quickly returned to his car and drove to Bay Street and Taylor Street.  The police officers then witnessed the same male exit the car and again look into random vehicle windows. The suspect, later identified as Brian Vandercourt, an 18 year-old San Francisco resident, broke a car window and removed a bag from inside. Vandercourt returned to his car, which pulled up to another car on Bay Street. Vandercourt again exited his vehicle, smashed another car window and grabbed a backpack from inside. The officers moved in and placed Vandercourt under arrest.  The driver of the suspect vehicle sped away and was lost in the area.

During the course of the investigation, the officers were able to connect Vandercourt with several other vehicle break-ins in San Francisco. Vandercourt was booked at San Francisco County Jail on five counts of second degree burglary, two counts of possession of stolen property, one count of possession of burglary tools, one count of conspiracy and one count of resisting arrest. A booking photo accompanies this news release.

Although arrests have been made, anyone with information is encouraged to contact the SFPD Tip Line at 415-575-4444 or text a tip to TIP411 with SFPD at the beginning of the message. You may remain anonymous.