A Czech news crew was robbed of its camera equipment in during the APEC conference in San Francisco. ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images

San Francisco’s push to use a major international conference to reverse its image as a city in decline is getting off to a rocky start.  

A Czech journalist and his camera crew were robbed at gunpoint Sunday evening by three armed assailants, according to a statement from the San Francisco police. The incident occurred in the North Beach neighborhood, about two miles from the city’s downtown, where world leaders are meeting for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. 

“The suspects demanded their production equipment and the victims complied,” the police said. “The suspects then entered their vehicle and fled from the scene.” 

North Beach is a busy tourist area known for its Italian restaurants and City Lights, a landmark bookstore made famous by beatnik poets such as Allen Ginsberg. The San Francisco Chronicle, which earlier reported the robbery, said Czech TV journalist Bohumil Vostal was filming the bookshop at dusk to capture the city’s beauty. 

The camera equipment was valued at $18,000 and San Francisco Mayor London Breed has promised the city will help replace it, according to the newspaper. 

The incident occurred as San Francisco hosts legions of international delegates, world leaders and journalists for the APEC event. While most of the attention is focused on a planned meeting between President Joe Biden and President Xi Jinping of China, San Francisco is hoping to use its moment on the world stage to encourage tourism and pitch itself as a thriving hub of innovation. 

Municipal workers have been been power-washing sidewalks, moving homeless people, and sprucing up buildings in its downtown core, all in hopes that visitors will see a positive side of the city. 

San Francisco has notoriously high property crime rates, and local television crews have been known to travel with armed guards. However, homicide rates are below those of cities such as Austin, Miami and Washington, DC, according to federal and local data.

The post San Francisco’s effort to wash up its tattered picture suffers a blow after a Czech information crew is robbed of digital camera tools throughout APEC Summit appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

OAKLAND, Calif. (KRON) — An Oakland business owner is out thousands of dollars in equipment after his technicians got robbed twice in less than a month.

One of the robberies was captured on camera. The owner said the people who work for him are like members of his family so to see this last robbery caught on film is very upsetting to him.

For me it’s very disturbing and hurtful to see what occurs,” said Ygnacio Becerra, Oakland Rooter and Plumbing owner.

Becerra said in the last month his plumbing technicians have been robbed twice while trying to do their job. The second incident happened on Tuesday, and it was caught on their customers’ home security video.

KRON On is streaming news live now

“It’s pretty straightforward, my guys were targeted. The thieves circled the block a few times before they decided to make their move,” said Becerra.

In the video, the two suspects approach the technician and one of the suspects holds up his arm as if he has a gun.

“Three guys with a gun walked up to my technician and demanded that they release the camera equipment. They stated ‘We’re here to take your camera. Don’t worry about it, you don’t want to die, you don’t want to lose your life, just give us the camera and we’ll let you guys go,’” said Becerra.

At the end of the video, the suspects take everything and run away. Becerra said they use video equipment that costs about $20,000 to do inspections of sewer lines for people who are buying or selling a home.

He said a similar incident happened back on August 12. After both incidents he filed a report with the Oakland Police Department.

Oakland drug dealer arrested with large stash of narcotics after months-long investigation

He does not believe his particular business is being targeted. He believes it is the neighborhoods that are attracting the criminals.

“The targeting is happening more in affluent neighborhoods. It’s not really happening in the flat lands, but it’s happening in the affluent neighborhoods where they know the people can afford remodels,” said Becerra.

He said his goal is to make people aware of these types of crimes are happening every day in the City of Oakland. Despite these recent robberies, Becerra said he is staying put.

“I’m very proud to be born and raised in Oakland. It was a big decision for me to name my business after Oakland. I’m here for the long run. I’m not going anywhere,” said Becerra.

He said that his technicians know that it is not worth losing their life over a piece of equipment and that they should let the suspects take it.

The post Oakland plumbing firm robbed twice in a single month appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

Plumbing crew robbed at gunpoint in Oakland, sewer cameras stolen

A small business owner in Oakland is concerned for his workers’ safety after they were robbed at gunpoint twice in recent weeks. Each time it happened when crews were working on a job. The workers and business owner said the robberies were traumatic. A sewer camera system and a van were stolen.

OAKLAND, Calif. – A small business owner in Oakland is concerned for his workers’ safety after they were robbed at gunpoint twice in recent weeks.

Each time it happened while crews were working at a job site.

The most recent incident happened Tuesday morning.

The surveillance video showed the armed robbery.

Two thieves walked up to a plumbing crew working in Oakland’s Laurel District around 9:15 am

“It’s hurtful, traumatizing,” said Ygnacio Becerra, owner of Oakland Rooter & Plumbing.

“Twice in a matter of three weeks. But this year, we’ve had three vans stolen, thousands of dollars of equipment stolen from us,” said Becerra.

This time, one thief grabbed plumbing equipment and ran to the getaway car.

And shortly after, a thief opened one of the work vans and stole tools.

“It happened pretty fast. It happened pretty quick,” said Jose, one of the three workers on site, who asked KTVU not to show his face.

He said two thieves walked up to him in the driveway and the one armed with a gun approached him.

“He said don’t say anything. And don’t do nothing or I will kill you right now. I just got scared,” said Jose.

He said the thieves wore face masks, black hoodies and black jean.

He added that the thief with the gun spoke English with a Central American accent and he wore black and red Nike tennis shoes.

“Last night when I got home, I could still see his face,” Jose said he could identify the thief even though he wore a mask.

The robbery took place in the driveway of Gilbert Chin, who is a client of Oakland Rooter & Plumbing.

The plumbing technicians were there to repair a sewage line.

Chin was inside his home at the time of the robbery but his surveillance camera captured what happened.

“I’ve been here for 31 years. I’m very comfortable here. We’ve got to do something about the crime,” said Chin.

Becerra showed the expensive sewer camera system that was stolen.

He said this equipment alone costs $20,000.

He estimated that the loss from the armed robberies and stolen vans add up to $100,000.

“Someone’s going to get hurt. Someone’s going to get killed, either us as field techs or the thieves,” said Becerra.

Amber Lee is a reporter with KTVU. Email Amber at Amber.Lee@Fox.com or text/leave message at 510-599-3922. Follow her on Facebook @AmberKTVU, Instagram @AmberKTVU or Twitter @AmberKTVU

The post Oakland plumbing enterprise robbed twice at gunpoint appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

OAKLAND, Calif. (KRON) — An Oakland business owner is out thousands of dollars in equipment after his technicians got robbed twice in less than a month.

One of the robberies was captured on camera. The owner said the people who work for him are like members of his family so to see this last robbery caught on film is very upsetting to him.

For me it’s very disturbing and hurtful to see what occurs,” said Ygnacio Becerra, Oakland Rooter and Plumbing owner.

Becerra said in the last month his plumbing technicians have been robbed twice while trying to do their job. The second incident happened on Tuesday, and it was caught on their customers’ home security video.

KRON On is streaming news live now

“It’s pretty straightforward, my guys were targeted. The thieves circled the block a few times before they decided to make their move,” said Becerra.

In the video, the two suspects approach the technician and one of the suspects holds up his arm as if he has a gun.

“Three guys with a gun walked up to my technician and demanded that they release the camera equipment. They stated ‘We’re here to take your camera. Don’t worry about it, you don’t want to die, you don’t want to lose your life, just give us the camera and we’ll let you guys go,’” said Becerra.

At the end of the video, the suspects take everything and run away. Becerra said they use video equipment that costs about $20,000 to do inspections of sewer lines for people who are buying or selling a home.

He said a similar incident happened back on August 12. After both incidents he filed a report with the Oakland Police Department.

Oakland drug dealer arrested with large stash of narcotics after months-long investigation

He does not believe his particular business is being targeted. He believes it is the neighborhoods that are attracting the criminals.

“The targeting is happening more in affluent neighborhoods. It’s not really happening in the flat lands, but it’s happening in the affluent neighborhoods where they know the people can afford remodels,” said Becerra.

He said his goal is to make people aware of these types of crimes are happening every day in the City of Oakland. Despite these recent robberies, Becerra said he is staying put.

“I’m very proud to be born and raised in Oakland. It was a big decision for me to name my business after Oakland. I’m here for the long run. I’m not going anywhere,” said Becerra.

He said that his technicians know that it is not worth losing their life over a piece of equipment and that they should let the suspects take it.

The post Oakland plumbing firm robbed twice in a single month appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

OAKLAND, Calif. (KRON) — An Oakland business owner is out thousands of dollars in equipment after his technicians got robbed twice in less than a month.

One of the robberies was captured on camera. The owner said the people who work for him are like members of his family so to see this last robbery caught on film is very upsetting to him.

For me it’s very disturbing and hurtful to see what occurs,” said Ygnacio Becerra, Oakland Rooter and Plumbing owner.

Becerra said in the last month his plumbing technicians have been robbed twice while trying to do their job. The second incident happened on Tuesday, and it was caught on their customers’ home security video.

KRON On is streaming news live now

“It’s pretty straightforward, my guys were targeted. The thieves circled the block a few times before they decided to make their move,” said Becerra.

In the video, the two suspects approach the technician and one of the suspects holds up his arm as if he has a gun.

“Three guys with a gun walked up to my technician and demanded that they release the camera equipment. They stated ‘We’re here to take your camera. Don’t worry about it, you don’t want to die, you don’t want to lose your life, just give us the camera and we’ll let you guys go,’” said Becerra.

At the end of the video, the suspects take everything and run away. Becerra said they use video equipment that costs about $20,000 to do inspections of sewer lines for people who are buying or selling a home.

He said a similar incident happened back on August 12. After both incidents he filed a report with the Oakland Police Department.

Oakland drug dealer arrested with large stash of narcotics after months-long investigation

He does not believe his particular business is being targeted. He believes it is the neighborhoods that are attracting the criminals.

“The targeting is happening more in affluent neighborhoods. It’s not really happening in the flat lands, but it’s happening in the affluent neighborhoods where they know the people can afford remodels,” said Becerra.

He said his goal is to make people aware of these types of crimes are happening every day in the City of Oakland. Despite these recent robberies, Becerra said he is staying put.

“I’m very proud to be born and raised in Oakland. It was a big decision for me to name my business after Oakland. I’m here for the long run. I’m not going anywhere,” said Becerra.

He said that his technicians know that it is not worth losing their life over a piece of equipment and that they should let the suspects take it.

The post Oakland plumbing firm robbed twice in a single month appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

Plumbing crew robbed at gunpoint in Oakland, sewer cameras stolen

A small business owner in Oakland is concerned for his workers’ safety after they were robbed at gunpoint twice in recent weeks. Each time it happened when crews were working on a job. The workers and business owners said the robberies were traumatic. A sewer camera system and a van were stolen.

OAKLAND, Calif. – A small business owner in Oakland is concerned for his workers’ safety after they were robbed at gunpoint twice in recent weeks.

Each time it happened while crews were working at a job site.

The most recent incident happened Tuesday morning.

The surveillance video showed the armed robbery.

Two thieves walked up to a plumbing crew working in Oakland’s Laurel District around 9:15 am

“It’s hurtful, traumatizing,” said Ygnacio Becerra, owner of Oakland Rooter & Plumbing.

“Twice in a matter of three weeks. But this year, we’ve had three vans stolen, thousands of dollars of equipment stolen from us,” said Becerra.

This time, one thief grabbed plumbing equipment and ran to the getaway car.

And shortly after, a thief opened one of the work vans and stole tools.

“It happened pretty fast. It happened pretty quick,” said Jose, one of the three workers on site, who asked KTVU not to show his face.

He said two thieves walked up to him in the driveway and the one armed with a gun approached him.

“He said don’t say anything. And don’t do nothing or I will kill you right now. I just got scared,” said Jose.

He said the thieves wore face masks, black hoodies and black jean.

He added that the thief with the gun spoke English with a Central American accent and he wore black and red Nike tennis shoes.

“Last night when I got home, I could still see his face,” Jose said he could identify the thief even though he wore a mask.

The robbery took place in the driveway of Gilbert Chin, who is a client of Oakland Rooter & Plumbing.

The plumbing technicians were there to repair a sewage line.

Chin was inside his home at the time of the robbery but his surveillance camera captured what happened.

“I’ve been here for 31 years. I’m very comfortable here. We’ve got to do something about the crime,” said Chin.

Becerra showed the expensive sewer camera system that was stolen.

He said this equipment alone costs $20,000.

He estimated that the loss from the armed robberies and stolen vans add up to $100,000.

“Someone’s going to get hurt. Someone’s going to get killed, either us as field techs or the thieves,” said Becerra.

Amber Lee is a reporter with KTVU. Email Amber at Amber.Lee@Fox.com or text/leave message at 510-599-3922. Follow her on Facebook @AmberKTVU, Instagram @AmberKTVU or Twitter @AmberKTVU

The post Oakland plumbing enterprise robbed twice at gunpoint appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

A lifelong San Francisco resident said on “Fox & Friends First” Friday that crime is spiking and homelessness is rampant in the city, with “no clear end” in sight to the problems.

“My business was robbed. It was broken into and my equipment was robbed. My vehicle was constantly being broken into,” said Tom Wong, a private security firm owner who recently moved to the suburbs as crime has risen by 8.5% in the city since 2021.

“There’s open drug use. One of my client’s sites is right next to a safe injection site and the street is literally filled with drug dealers. There are probably about 15-20 drug dealers around the clock on the same block. And the residents are scared. My client, he could barely protect his home. And it’s just really, really bad right now.”

A shocking new survey revealed that almost half of San Francisco residents have been robbed in the last five years. The poll, conducted by a California NPR affiliate called KQED, revealed that nearly half of San Franciscans have been robbed in the past five years, while the city has not yet addressed the crime issue.

San Francisco officials tallied nearly 8,000 homeless people in February — the second highest number since 2005, according to a city count that happens every three years.

Furthermore, The San Francisco Chronicle recently reported that a homeless encampment run by San Francisco cost the city $60,000 per year per tent.

Tom Wong is a private security firm owner who recently moved to the suburbs after his business was robbed. FOX News

Wong said it breaks his heart to see what has happened to the city where he grew up.

“It was a home that I knew and loved. We got here because of the district attorney, we’re loose on crime, we have open drug use, we’re a sanctuary city, it just doesn’t work. Their policies don’t work. It’s a feel-good, it’s a slogan, but it doesn’t work. And we need to change that,” he told Carley Shimkus.

Businesses in one of San Francisco’s trendiest neighborhoods are threatening to withhold tax payments unless the woke politicians remove homeless people from the area and implement a stronger police presence.

The Castro Merchants Association, which represents 125 businesses, sent a letter to city officials earlier this month outlining three demands: 35 shelter beds for “mentally ill and substance-abusing individuals who have taken up residence in the Castro,” monthly metrics on services offered to the homeless in the Castro and a devised plan following a homeless person’s refusal for services.

Fox News’ Rachel Paik contributed to this report.

The post San Francisco native Tom Wong strikes after enterprise robbed appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

Now he’s doing more than just sharing his story. He and his family took a proactive approach to security for their entire neighborhood.

RELATED: San Franciscans Are Concerned About Public Safety, 70% Say Quality of Life has deteriorated

It was a typical Friday night for the man in his forties who asked not to reveal his name as he washed his car at his house near McLaren Park.

A surveillance video from across the street shows a vehicle lapping the block at least four times before the incident happened. A gun is seen in the suspect’s hand as he approaches the victim, who drops his bucket and is forced into the garage.

“They took me to my house, where my family took us all to the bathroom,” says the man behind the sunglasses and face mask.

EXCLUSIVE: San Francisco couple forcibly robbed after being chased home

When two suspects made their demands, “They said where is the money, where is the money?” and stole thousands of dollars’ worth of jewelry, and the husband’s wife and two daughters endured what they believed to be a bleak end.

“I thought either someone would be shot or someone would call the police, like our neighbors, and it would be a hostage situation,” said her 11-year-old daughter.

The man took off his glasses to reveal the deep bruises around his eye and stated, “They just pressed my face against the wall to let me know this was a real situation.”

The rest of the family was not physically injured.

Even so, this husband and father are aware that the emotional burden is much higher and burst into tears for a moment.

This story doesn’t stop there.

RELATED: Frustration Over “No Impact” For Organized Crime In SF

The father and 11-year-old daughter went out the next day and met with every single neighbor and left letters describing what happened to them.

“When you see a neighbor and a child tell them what happened … there is more heart. They take it to heart immediately,” says the man, who believes that a police officer who heeded the same warning Intimidates neighbors.

The family believes the immediate abandonment of their property kept them alive, and for that they are grateful.

“If they want your belongings, don’t let them harm you or your family or anything that is irreplaceable,” the daughter said.

The San Francisco man speaks out to show how neighborly love, like sharing a warning or surveillance video, can make a difference.

“I love the city, but the city is changing. Be careful. Be vigilant, if you have to wash your cars, do it with a neighbor.”

The SFPD continues to search for the suspects.

Copyright © 2021 KGO-TV. All rights reserved.

The post EXCLUSIVE: San Francisco household held at gunpoint in personal rest room and robbed after father is ambushed whereas washing automobile appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

“There was a point where I thought they were going to kill my husband,” says the woman in the surveillance video, who asked for the protection of her identity and the exact location of the terrible incident on Tuesday afternoon.

She and her husband were driving home after shopping in the Stonestown Galleria when they suddenly noticed a limousine following them. The limo then drives the couple’s vehicle behind it and what if the chaos begins.

VIDEO: Tourists suffer blue eyes and bruises after being attacked in the Emeryville parking garage

“I get out of the car and at some point I see that they have guns, so I told my husband to run away,” says the woman, who tearfully explains that she is a mother of two and could never imagine anything like that.

Two suspects knock her husband to the ground when she asks them not to harm him. The men then steal an iPhone, car keys, and a Rolex watch.

When asked what went through her mind during the 15 seconds of horror, the woman begins to cry.

“I definitely don’t want to lose my family and I don’t want my children to lose their father.”

VIDEO: A man from San Francisco is kidnapped and kidnapped, having to jump out of a moving car

This isn’t the first time criminals have pursued a potential target. In April, ABC7 newscaster Dion Lim reported on a woman who was followed from Richmond to sunset and attacked for her purse and jewelry. That same week, a father was held at gunpoint outside his Concord home after being followed home from lunch in Walnut Creek.

Although she cannot sleep, the woman is grateful to the homeowners for providing the police with these videos, fearing the perpetrators will return.

RELATED: What Is San Francisco Doing To Fight Organized Retail Theft? SFPD and DA Chesa Boudin answer Bou

She decides to share her story in the hopes that she will save someone else from suffering from the same nightmare.

“As a mother of two, I want to protect my family. I want people to know what happened to me and to be aware in order to protect their families. So if the same thing happens, please don’t get out of your 911 car. “

The SFPD’s search for the three suspects continues.

Copyright © 2021 KGO-TV. All rights reserved.

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