The officers he spoke with said that outfits such as this are targeting small businesses like bars—which tend to keep sizable amounts of cash and often have ATMs on-site—across San Francisco.
As a bar owner who speaks regularly with other San Francisco bar owners, Hastings recognizes that his perspective will reflect his position in that industry. But after hearing from fellow proprietors—and seeing media reports of bars like SoMa’s Lone Star Saloon getting broken into—Hastings believes that a San Francisco Police Department policy not to pursue suspects in such instances unless an individual is in immediate physical danger has effectively invited late-night property crime against businesses like his.
Reached for comment, the police department confirmed that an unsuccessful burglary had taken place.
“Upon arrival, officers observed two unknown suspects exit the business and get into an SUV,” an SFPD spokesperson told The Standard. “Officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop of the vehicle, but it fled the area.”
The San Francisco Police Commission did not return a request for comment.
Hastings does not believe the break-in was related to the bar’s anniversary, nor that it was a hate crime. But he’s certain the sophisticated perpetrators will return, and his employees are unnerved, so he has begun beefing up Lookout’s security measures—as have other bars in the Castro.
“I don’t think the general public is totally aware this is happening, and I think they should be,” he said. “The ‘see something, say something’ component is very real. If that neighbor hadn’t called, this could have been way, way worse.”
Other small business owners concurred.
“I’ve been hearing about this more and more with businesses with ATMs and cash on hand,” said Manny Yekutiel, the proprietor of Mission District event space Manny’s and a member of the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency Commission.
Referring to other recent episodes, he added, “At a market half a block away, they took a box cutter and cut open the gate and cut open the door in an attempt to steal the ATM. There was [an armed robbery at] Happy Donuts on Church and 24th. We really can’t afford things like this.”
