B8ta has stores around the globe, and Norby told SFGATE last month that the crime in San Francisco is unlike anything the company experiences elsewhere. “This actually doesn’t happen anywhere else in the country,” he said. “We have 17 other stores, including three internationally. This just doesn’t happen anywhere else. It’s only here.”
Why do the stores in SF attract violent crime compared to, say, a store in another West Coast city? Is there a gang that specializes in this sort of crime in the Bay Area, or is the level of all kinds of violent street crime off the charts? Or something else?
Stealing <$950 is a misdemeanor regardless of how often someone does it.
It would be surprising if this didn't lead to a substantial increase in the crime rate.
[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_California_Proposition_47
Probably doesn't make a big difference to San Francisco vs other major West Coast cities, since most of the major West Coast cities are also in California.
Theft should be punished in the strongest forms possible so no one even thinks about doing it. Minimum 1 year in prison for stealing anything.
Convince me otherwise.
The B8ta store here is in an upscale mall in the University District. If violent crime starts affecting these more affluent areas, then maybe voters will care.
Guns aren’t really necessary in SF, so there may be some gang initiation threshold.
Not anymore they won't. And you think criminals from outside the city/state don't know that people have no guns there? That's attractive to anyone trying to break the law.
1: https://www.kqed.org/news/11799308/bay-area-has-highest-inco...
Because the people of San Francisco allow it.
Vast wealth right next to abject poverty and hopelessness. Like a spark that, with sufficient potential, jumps a gap.
Some day some tech figure will get stabbed for an empty wallet and people will be shocked.
Population density and economic inequality are probably the big factors.
Hayes Valley used to be the place people wanted to move to because it had good food and local merchants. This was ten years ago. Now it’s just as bad as the b8ta owner makes it out to be.
City politics is to blame for this because they spin up programs to help, but it doesn’t fix the systemic problem long term. Most of the people who are homeless or need help don’t want to abide by the rules for a free place to stay or get the help they need. They’d rather stay on the streets and live life how they see fit. This isn’t a political opinion either. It’s a reality of failed policies of the city.
I still love this place, and its been my home for 15 years but it ain't easy.
Based on the descriptions in this thread, I actually think my neighborhood is safer and more pleasant than many places in San Francisco.
It's making me feel better about my own situation.
Not because there are few b8ta stores but because there is no way that will continue to be considered a nice neighborhood
For months after the first lockdown, the place practically had a favela setup across $6500/mo rental units until someone tricked business owners in signing a petition to summon the police to come with clubs. The police did come and clear it out.
And the Walgreens being continually emptied out despite not being on the main Market St or other typically decrepit neighborhoods was a sign that people would not ignore the place anymore
Pretty much every currently “nice neighborhood” was super sketch during the time periods of SF that people seem to reminisce about
"b8ta is a retail-as-a-service company with a chain of 22 standalone retail stores, which serve as presentation centers for consumer electronics and home goods. Companies can pay to rent out space for their product to be displayed inside the locations, along with a tablet that each brand customizes with software."
I'd imagine it would be really bad for business if customers found out, and they print money at that location
Doesn't really matter. They can still be flipped for a few hundred bucks for the components.
The Devialet speaker in the article is a good example. Retails for over $3k, and weighs 12kg.
This problem is really up to the city to solve, and it doesn't seem the city is interested. Gated communities and all that.
If you check out jewelry or other luxury goods stores, they generally have
- concreted in pillars to prevent cars smashing into them
- a combined doorman/security person (you know the type - 6 foot 4, tight suit, earpiece)
- an airlocked doorway (possibly even a locking revolving door)
