Local Merchants Aid SFPD In Stolen Property Arrest 18-046
On Monday March 12, 2018 at approximately 11:30 AM, SFPD officers responded to the area of 18th and Harrison Streets regarding a report of individuals attempting to break into a toolbox attached to a vehicle. A 911 caller said that the vehicle was parked behind a bus that was converted into a mobile home. Officers arrived on scene and detained three suspects.
Further investigation revealed the vehicle was a small golf cart-like vehicle that appeared to belong to a private business in the area of Fisherman’s Wharf. Officers contacted the business and learned the vehicle was stolen hours before the 911 call in the Mission District.
Officers spoke with a local merchant in the area of 18th and Harrison Streets and learned that the bus had been parked in the area for a number of weeks and merchants suspected the individuals were operating a bicycle “chop shop”. Officers observed numerous bicycles on the sidewalk just outside the bus. One of suspects indicated he was the owner of one of the bicycles. The rest of the bicycles were unclaimed.
Central station officers obtained security footage from the Fisherman’s Wharf business and observed consistencies in the clothing description of the suspect that stole the vehicle and the suspect detained in the Mission District. Employees of the Fisherman’s Wharf business responded to the scene and confirmed items taken from the vehicle were the business’s property.
The vehicle and stolen property were returned back to the business’s employees. Officers seized the bicycles for safekeeping, towed the bus pending further investigation and arrested the three suspects. Twenty three year-old San Francisco resident Francisco Platero was booked for grand theft, possession of stolen property and conspiracy. Thirty- nine year-old transient Oscar Centeno and a 28 year-old San Bruno resident Chester Rebolledo were both booked for possession of stolen property and conspiracy. Booking photos of all three suspects accompany this news release as well as surveillance footage and photos of the bus and golf cart.
This investigation is an example of officers and members of the community working together to solve a crime. The cooperation of merchants in both Central District and the Mission provided the officers with information that proved valuable to their investigation.
While an arrest has been made, this remains an open and active investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact the SFPD Tip Line at (415) 575-4444 or text a Tip to TIP411 and begin the text message with SFPD. You may remain anonymous.
