SAN FRANCISCO—Car burglaries in San Francisco have seen a sharp rise, according to a report by the city. Last year, the trend saw a spike of nearly 50 percent compared to 2013. In the first few months of 2015, that number has risen from 30 to 38 percent.

One of the worst neighborhoods hit in the city is SoMa, which is busy with parked cars. The Financial Districts have also been hard hit by criminals.

The Financial Districts of the city are one of the areas most targeted by car burglars.
The Financial Districts of the city are one of the areas most targeted by car burglars.

Car burglaries haven’t just spiked this year in the downtown area of San Francisco. Back in May, it was reported that at least 11 car break-ins were recorded at or surrounding the area of UC-Berkeley.

In most cases, burglars are reported to steal common personal belongings such as electronic devices, articles of clothing, or even loose change.

On July 1, Juan Francisco Lopez-Sanchez, reportedly burglarized a federal agent’s vehicle and took their gun. It was a bullet from that weapon from Lopez-Sanchez that is believed to have taken the life of Kathryn Steinle.

Thanks to the passing of Proposition 47, car burglaries where stolen property does not exceed an amount of $950 is now classified as a misdemeanor, where offenders simply receive citations.

"I have no valuable things in my car. No need to break in." Photo courtesy: CBS SF
A car owner leaves a note of courtesy for a would-be burglar to save their time.
Photo courtesy: CBS SF

Car burglaries have become so common that drivers all over the Bay Area have learned to take extra precautions in preventing their cars from being targeted, such as making sure to not leave any belongings in plain sight or at all inside their vehicles.

Some car owners have gone even further by actually leaving notes on their car windows for potential burglars to inform them they have no valuables in the vehicle.

Crime in the city of San Francisco decreased last year from 2013, according to city police data.