Police Blotter

Grand Theft, Agricultural: Sept. 11, 7:27 a.m., Golden Gate Park
A gardening supervisor working at Golden Gate Park reported that 500 hydrangeas, with a value of approximately $1,000, were cut from the park in the area around Stow Lake and the museum and music concourses.

The plants appeared to be decapitated by a professional. Cuts made to remove the flower were done so the plant would not be harmed,allowing it to produce more flowers next year. If the flowers had been torn off, the plants would not have produced until they recovered from shock, according to the supervisor.

Robbery, Street with Force: Sept. 24, 7:31 p.m., Post and Scott Streets
A 25-year-old woman was walking when a group of six youths approached. One of the youths grabbed the woman's arm and started pulling it in an attempt to get her purse while the others circled around her.

"Give me the purse," the victim yelled.

Members of the group were yelling "shut the f___ up" at the woman when the purse was pried from her clutch. The suspects then ran into Kimball Playground.

The suspects escaped with $2 and the woman's credit cards.

About 15 minutes before the woman's purse was stolen, officers were called to a drug store at O'Farrell and Divisadero streets because of reported trouble. The suspects in that report matched the descriptions of the suspects in the purse-snatching robbery. The drug store's surveillance system captured pictures of the suspects.

Burglary, Safe: Aug. 12, 2 p.m. and 5 p.m., 5800 Block of Geary Boulevard
The manager of a restaurant went to a safe to get the day's tips to split among the restaurant's employees and he discovered that the safe had been battered and $3,000 removed.

The safe was located in a common area accessible to employees and, through a closet room, to patrons.

The burglary was the second at the restaurant. About a year ago someone broke into the safe and took about the same amount of money.

The responding officer suggested to the owner of the business that he locate the safe that is not accessible to so many people.

Because so many people touched the broken safe and doorway, the crime lab was not notified.

Burglary of Flat, Unlawful Entry: Aug. 23, 3200 Block of Sacramento Street
A man returned from vacation to discover the door of his apartment "wide open."

Inside the man discovered numerous items missing, including a 9 mm handgun, worth $650; two stereo amps and CD player, worth $2,800; and 1,000 CDs, valued at $15,000.

The victim said he found his mail on the kitchen counter with a note from his landlord asking him to call when he returned.

The victim said the landlord does not have permission to enter the unit and that the front door sometimes does not shut properly. He was sure, however, that the door was successfully locked when he left for vacation.

Dog Bite Attack: Sept. 17, 6:50 p.m., 2400 Block of Sutter Street
The victim was leaving a corner convenience store with his pit bull "Little T" when a second dog, without human supervision, suddenly appeared across the street.

The dog, described as being brown in color and larger than a pit bull, rushed across the street and started making threatening actions toward "Little T."

Fearing for his dog's safety, the victim kicked at the threatening dog, causing the dog to attack the man's leg.

After a short struggle, the dog ran off again, leaving the victim with a large bite on his leg. The 68-year-old victim was taken to California Pacific Medical Center for treatment, which included stitches.

Animal Care and Control was called. The responding deputy said she would drive around and look for the dog but due to the lack of specific information about the dog or its owner, it would be difficult to locate the animal.

Pickpocket Theft (Between $50 and $200): Aug. 28, noon, 1000 Block of Stockton Street
A woman came to the Richmond District Police Station to report a theft in Chinatown.

While walking with her seven-year-old daughter, the daughter noticed a man open her mother's backpack and remove her wallet. By the time the girl could alert her mother of what happened, she lost sight of the suspect.

The suspect escaped with $50, three credit cards and two gasoline and two department-store credit cards.