1300-block break-in go on, (June 2006)

By Kellie Ell

An unsolved string of break-ins on the 1300-block of Haight Street has left business owners and residents on edge.

The area, located at the northeast end of the commercial shopping district, reportedly has been hit by at least 8 burglaries in as many weeks––dating back to April.

“It’s making the neighborhood look bad,” said Jason Harrington, owner of Sunshine Coast at 1312 Haight St. “The police aren’t doing anything about it. They are just brushing us off, not telling us about other break-ins or how many there have been.”

Scaffolding currently stands in front of Ceiba Records––1364 Haight St.––providing a platform for potential burglars to access the roof, allowing them to break in through side doors, according to Harrington.

Several stores have been victimized, including the newly reopened Golden Triangle smoke shop.

Dreams of Kathmandu, a Tibetan crafts store on the block, has been burglarized twice in the last month according to Rabin Sthapit.

“They kicked the back door in,” Sthapit says. “They took all the money in the cash register, but none of the jewelry.”

Sthapit says the robberies happened around 10 or 11 p.m., and both times the police have given him little information about similar crimes in the Haight.

Officer Brett Kaczmarczyk of the Park Police Station in the Haight Ashbury District says the break-ins are occurring during the midnight shift.

“They’re going through the back. They’re having free rein in the stores,” Kaczmarczyk says. “It’s really hard to prevent that stuff.”

The total number of robberies has not been released to the public. Kaczmarczyk says there have been no arrests made at this time.

Officer John Andrews, who was on duty during the robberies, did not return calls for comment.

Kaczmarczyk says the police department is adding more patrols in the area at night and is encouraging business owners to install alarms.

David Miller, owner of Braindrops tattoo shop at 1324 Haight St, suggests the police aren't trying hard enough to catch the crooks and prevent more robberies.

“I haven’t really seen the police do too much,” Miller says. “They haven’t really been too present about it. It’s definitely a little concerning for the neighborhood.”

Miller says the problem has recently spread from commercial burglaries to residential breaking-and-entering on the block.

“It feels like it’s an inside job,” Miller says. “It’s likely people who know the neighborhood.”

One nearby building owner/resident whose tenants have been burglarized thinks the perpetrators may live in, or operate out of, an apartment on the north side of the 1300 block. She says crime is so far out of hand that she’s considering moving.

“I’m road kill at this point,” she said. “I’m a tough bitch, and my great grandfather built this building. But I’m selling.”