Assemblyman Leland Yee: Protecting our Homes, Families

Recently, the neighborhoods served by the Taraval Police Station were plagued by a series of home burglaries that resulted in substantial losses for residents and caused great anxiety throughout the community.

According to police, many of the homes were owned by Asian residents and were targeted around the celebrations of the Lunar New Year and other holidays, when cash and gifts were likely to be abundant in households. Burglars often target households, often in the Richmond and Sunset districts, that they identify as occupied by Asian residents because they believe they may contain valuable antiques and heirlooms. Additionally, many immigrant families keep their money hidden within their house rather than in a bank.

Most of the thefts occurred on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings when residents were away from home, resulting in the loss of cash, jewelry and other valuables.

Thanks to the superior police work of several dedicated officers working at the Taraval Station, the burglaries were stopped. Specifically, the Taraval Station Undercover Street Crimes Unit tracked a burglar with the assistance of the city's crime lab technicians with fingerprints lifted from one of the burglary scenes. Following the identification of the burglar, the street crimes unit staked out the individual's home and apprehended the suspect without incident.

In addition to ending the string of burglaries, the officers also recovered many of the items stolen from area residents. Without the focused effort of these officers, the burglar would have continued to reap ill-gotten gains from hard-working community members while simultaneously undermining the peace of mind which residents otherwise enjoy.

On March 15, 2004, in recognition of their service to the community, I presented Assembly resolutions to the officers of the street crimes unit, including Sgt. Rick Galande and officers Gerald Lyons, Reginal Scott, Jose Guardad and Greg Pak. These individuals exemplify the dedication of law enforcement officers throughout California who seek to provide the highest level of service and protection to their communities.

One of 11 police districts in San Francisco, the Taraval Police District is one of the largest, encompassing a large area of the western part of the City. The Taraval District is largely residential, contains a large number of schools and features many active commercial corridors.

Residents can help prevent burglaries by taking the necessary steps to protect their families, businesses and homes. I encourage residents to leave lights on at night, keep all doors and windows locked, use safes for valuables, like jewelry and cash, and consider installing an alarm for your home or business. Also, residents should refrain from storing antiques or computers and electronics near windows because these items may attract the attention of burglars. For more tips and information on burglary prevention, visit San Francisco's web site at www.sfgov.org and the link to the SF Police Department's home page.

Finally, if you are a victim of crime, please call the police immediately. You can simply dial 911 or call (415) 553-8090. If you have information about a crime, call the police at Taraval Station with an anonymous tip.

Leland Yee is the speaker pro tempore at the California Assembly.