Burglary Caught On Video Highlights Increased Reports Of San Francisco Startup Business Break-Ins
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) -- Some startup businesses in San Francisco have been plagued by burglaries lately, according to police.
Automotive online advertising firm Demand Local and home contractor web portal BuildZoom have both reported break-ins at their San Francisco offices.
Thieves have stolen thousands of dollars of electronic equipment, according to police.
Both companies have installed surveillance cameras. Footage from a burglary at BuildZoom on Mission Street shows a woman with brown hair calmly casing the office.
A BuildZoom blog post says the same woman has burglarized at least four other startups in San Francisco in July alone and may be using a physical key to access Doorking/DKS lock boxes that use a number code to open. According to the blog post, the startups hit by burglaries use the same type of lock boxes.
The post shows other images of the woman along with a male accomplice and says the company is offering a $2,500 reward for information leading to the woman's capture.
San Francisco police spokesman Gordon Shyy told the San Francisco Chronicle there are more reports of burglaries among businesses, and that some burglaries which may have gone unreported in the past are now verified and reported to police because of increased use of video surveillance.
Shyy also told the Chronicle police are seeing more burglaries where suspects try to blend into the workplace during the day.
