San Francisco Police Using New Technology to Target Auto Break-Ins, Making Arrests in Hotspot Areas

San Francisco, CA - The San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) is expanding efforts to use technology to disrupt auto break-ins and other crimes throughout the City and publishing a new website to provide transparency about technology usage and to educate the public about these efforts.

The recent deployment of new drones and automated license plate readers (ALPR) alongside bait cars and plainclothes operations, are proving to be successful tools as auto break-ins continue to drop, now down 57% in 2024 compared to last year.

SFPD is also launching new transparency tools to inform the public about the use of this new technology. The Department has created a page on its website where it will post its most current policy on drone use along with monthly flight logs.

A recent drone deployment led to the arrest of three armed auto burglary suspects who stole luggage from a family's vehicle parked along the Embarcadero on August 22. SFPD officers were alerted about the suspect vehicle by the city's new Flock Automated License Plate Reader cameras. The drone captured the burglary in progress and followed the suspect vehicle through parts of the city, avoiding a police chase. Officers disabled the vehicle and arrested all three suspects. The property was returned to the victims.

The case highlights how technology can work together to assist the hard-working members of the SFPD who are consistently making arrests leading to a drop in all categories of crime this year.

This expanded use of technology has helped ramp up enforcement, leading to further drops in reported break-ins this summer. This summer San Francisco has seen the lowest rate of break-ins in years, including lower than it was during the pandemic when the city was mostly shutdown and tourism had evaporated.

• 72% decrease in auto break-ins in June '24 compared to June '23
• 70% decrease in auto break-ins in July '24 compared to July '23

"The use of game-changing technology is helping our officers to be more efficient in making arrests and holding people accountable," said Mayor London Breed. "The results we are seeing from our use of technology is not just about the numbers, it's also about the impact it's having on people's lives. When our officers are able to use tools to not only apprehend those who break the law, but return stolen property to victims of crime, then we are making a difference."

"Our hard-working officers now have the technology they need to make more arrests and drive crime down in San Francisco," said Police Chief Bill Scott. "Tools like drones and ALPR work together as a force multiplier for our officers. I look forward to new and innovative ways we can continue to use technology to keep the public safe."

"More than two years ago I asked SFPD to explore the use of drones to address emerging public safety challenges, including sideshows," said Supervisor Rafael Mandelman. "Earlier this year, I joined Mayor Breed in asking SF voters to approve Prop E. With its passage, SFPD has access to 21st-century technology to combat auto break-ins and organized crime rings. We have more work to do, but the initial results are promising. Congratulations and thanks to Mayor Breed and Chief Scott for their insistence on giving our police the tools they need to keep San Franciscans safe."

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