Capt. Michael Yalon: Police Beat

Swimming Pool Robbery

Two armed desperados walked into Sava Pool at Larsen Park, located at 19th Avenue and Wawona Street, near closing time. They knocked on the office door and produced a pistol.

"Open the safe," they demanded. Finding it inaccessible to the on-duty cashier, the pair rifled the cash register and then took the victim's jacket and personal finances.

Next, the leader held his gun up to the cashier's stomach and clicked the action. She had endured enough and bravely called out for help.

Begrudgingly, the thieves ran from the store pulling jacket hoods over their faces. The suspects jumped into a waiting Ford Expedition and sped from the scene. Witnesses saw the lighted rear plate, but described it as being covered by a red cross symbol.

Armed robberies of public swimming pools are few and far between. No one was hurt - but they could have been.

This is a lot of excitement for a quiet city park once famous as the Larsen Family Chicken Farm. It's brought considerable attention by uniformed and plain clothes police to the area - looking for a pair of "fouls" of a different and more dangerous sort!

New Pyramid Scheme

The classic pyramid scheme involves a letter inviting the recipient to join in a mutual wealth plan.

"Just send $10 to each of the names and addresses on the list," the story goes. "Afterwards, cross out the top name, place yours at the bottom and send it to 10 close friends. They will do the same and ... by the time your name reaches the premier spot, you'll be rich."

Unfortunately, only those who get in on the ground floor ever make any money - and they are usually the con men themselves. Also, it's against state law to run or participate in a pyramid scheme. Federal statutes also prohibit use of the mail for such a nefarious purpose and postal inspectors actively investigate.

Hence, the latest 21st century version - a thick envelope is placed on car windshields or dropped into mailboxes.

The slick letter inside features photos of two "trustworthy" men - closely resembling used car salesman at best. The pair has spent a long time studying other pyramid plans.

"What we've found," they say, "is that the plan is really a good one. People do make money - lots of it and tax free. The problem has long been with the US Post Office.

"You see," they explain, "postal employees soon figure out that people are sending money so they steal it ... and that's why you have never made a cent! Also, those mean old postal inspectors recognize the organizer's address and close them down."

"We have a fool-proof way to make you rich. Just don't use the mail ... use UPS or Fed Ex instead. And, so they won't close us down, we will make it real easy for you. Instead of sending many people $10 each, send us $100 one time. Then you just wait for the "private postman" to deliver your fortune - guaranteed over $1,000 a month!

"Want more? Send us $200 or $300 and its yours. Oh, and we'll keep our address secret and tell it to only our trusted members, like you!"

21st century or not, this is merely an old scam in a new package. It involves intrigue, skates on illegality and puts one over on the US Government - and people across the country that have been "investing."

One more time: "If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is!" Please spread the word and don't let friends or family get flim-flammed by this slick presentation!

Crime Rate Update

Longtime readers will recall that our Taraval District enjoyed San Francisco's largest drop in crime during 2000. Our statistics through August, 2001 presents a less rosy picture, however.

Significant increases in burglaries/home break-ins (41 percent) and auto theft (52 percent) have resulted in a 17 percent overall crime increase.

In response, we've run several stakeouts and increased patrols in effected areas. Several arrests have been made but at least two undercover operations had to be shut down - because observant neighbors called in suspicious person reports on the deep-cover officers.

Attempts to set up decoy target vehicles have also been blown when Good Samaritans pulled the keys left purposefully in the trunk and turned them over to nearby store security. I can't fault any of these crime stoppers for taking action. It's just hard to run a surveillance in neighborhoods with so many solid citizens on alert!

Most stolen cars come from the near-luxury category of small, fast Japanese imports.

Not surprisingly, most auto thieves are young males in their teens and early 20s. Just how young the "joyriders" can be was well illustrated by a recent arrest made by members of Sgt. Mike Williams' Taraval Neighborhood Team.

Responding to reports of a mid-sized van burning rubber and doing doughnuts, team officers arrived at one intersection just in time to hear the screeching of tires a block or two away. Finally, they caught up with the car full of youngsters from 11 to 16 years of age. A computer check showed that the van was stolen. The driver soon pulled over, with occupants running to the four points of the compass.

But TNT was faster and soon corralled all fugitives. The driver turned out to be the 12 year old!

He admitted his role in the theft and the cops asked him where he had learned to drive.

"It's easy," he responded. "I just steal a car and drive it till I run out of gas or into something. Then I leave it and steal another. Each time I get better and I know that nothing will happen to me if I get caught."

Even scarier were some of the statements from the other kids in the car. It seems that they pretty well knew that the van was hot. In fact, the 12 year old was sort of giving them driving lessons.

Farewell of a Sort

One practice that the civilian police still share with their military ancestors is the periodic rotation of unit commanders - whether they or their community likes it or not.

I've been extremely lucky for the past six years for being assigned to the Taraval Station. But six years is nearly twice the average time that a station captain remains at a single assignment - and time has caught up with me!

As some have probably heard, I'll be reassigned to the traffic company Dec. 8. Traffic is a citywide unit most visibly staffed with solo motorcycle officers who write tickets, investigate injury accidents and escort numerous dignitaries around town during official visits.

I will sorely miss the great community of our Taraval District. Working for you has been a pleasure - as has working with an outstanding team of officers, supervisors and volunteers.

A new captain will take over in January, with our talented day watch Lieutenants Dan O'Leary and Denise Schmitt assuming interim command.

We have some great programs, practices and relationships here at Company I.

I pledge to do my best to maintain what we've done together. And I also promise that you will be seeing quite a few more SFPD motorcycles in the Taraval - at schools, along Muni lines and in the more popular speed zones. If you look carefully, you just might recognize a rather large motorcycle cop riding by - that is if I successfully pass the six-week riding course and earn the right to wear the winged wheel on my sleeve.

Thank you all for making these six years the best of my 33 with SFPD.

Police Community Forum

Please join the acting captain and me for our annual Christmas Party meeting (please bring an unwrapped toy to donate) on Tuesday, Dec. 18, at 7 p.m., in the Community Room at the Taraval Station, 2345 24th Ave. This is always a fun event and the prizes could be memorable.