The retail theft incident on Friday night triggered some changes in San Francisco’s Union Square, which will no longer be accessible to cars.
According to the San Francisco Police Department’s statement, the law enforcement responded to looting and vandalism reports at multiple retail businesses at 8:10 in the evening. Among the establishments targeted was Louis Vuitton, SFGATE reported.
More officers were requested to the location to respond to crime reports.
The suspected thieves broke the windows and left the smashed glass around near the Macy’s department store. Police said Burberry, Yves Saint Laurent, and Bloomingdale’s were also among the establishments targeted by thieves.
Mayor London Breed and Police Chief Bill Scott appeared in a press conference on Saturday afternoon in line with the stealing reports. They also announced some changes that will be applied at Union Square.
“We’re going to making some changes to Union Square and how cars are able to access,” Breed said. “There will be limited access in terms of when you come to this area.”
While the mayor did not specify when the restrictions will start, it is expected to come soon. Increased police presence was done by the SFPD in the wake of the incidents.
“We will flood this area with police officers for the foreseeable future,” according to Scott.
“We have to make it difficult for people do to what they did last night,” he added. “Pull up right next to a business, shatter the windows, wipe out everything they can carry, get right in their cars parked at the curb and leave.”
So far, eight people are under the custody of the authorities in line with the incident. This number is expected to increase as Scott said the police have “hours and hours of video” and some thieves “are familiar to us.”
The retail robbery was also condemned by San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin through Twitter.
“Trust and safety are our core values in this city,” he wrote. “Last night’s organized crime in Union Square, Bayview District and beyond must never happen again. These crimes are happening around the Bay and across the country. I stand in partnership with our local, regional, state, and federal partners as we work together to do whatever it takes to keep you safe.”
