SAN FRANCISCO—The San Francisco Police Department are investigating a mysterious set of weaponized baseball bats that were chained to telephone poles around the city on Thursday, November 26. The latest report of a chained bat was in the Fishermen’s Wharf area, discovered on Friday, November 27.
Approximately 27 bats were found and reported to police throughout the city as of November 27. The altered wooden and metal bats range from having nails and spikes mounted to them, or sharp metal blades; many looking exactly the same.
SFPD officers have speculated the amount of pre-meditated effort that went into the baseball bats, stating that they were drilled with bolts mounted into them. In an interview with ABC7 News, local San Francisco resident Gerrie Burke stated, “They knew what they were doing. Whoever did this put it together, this was not put together in an hour.”
The SFPD bomb squad evacuated several sites of the reported bats, and performed X-rays of the bats, ensuring they are not explosive devices planted around the city.
Police are further investigating whether the bats are a form of artistic expression. SFPD Sgt. Michael Andraychak indicated that possession of these altered bats would be considered a felony under California state law, due to the fact that they are considered deadly weapons.
Andraychak noted that they are still investigating various motives and aspects of this “very strange” occurrence.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Anonymous Tip Line at (415) 575-4444 or text a tip to TIP411, indicating that it is a message for the SFPD.
