Crime in San Francisco, CA, United States

Resident of San Francisco since 1985
San Francisco Firefighter since 1993

The City has changed considerably over the last 10 years. Narcotic usage in the open (street) is common place in several neighborhoods. Particularly, the Tenderloin, South of Market/SOMA, Mission District, Haight Ashbury... This is due to local government policies such as free needles and City sponsored "shoot-up" centers. San Francisco allows such controlled substance use without much oversight.

Robbery and vandalism. You cannot park in parts of the City without having to worry about your car being broken into and searched for items. These are no longer just opportunist. These heists are now organized where the goods stolen are actually sold to a middleman (middle-person). These items eventually end up on the internet for sale or at a flea market booth. Even if you leave your items in the truck, the thieves will still lower the backseat to look into the trunk for luggage or other items.

Assaults and robberies. You can be assaulted in most areas of San Francisco. Usually by a few individuals. These things typically happen in the evening or later. But it can also happen early in the day before the streets are busier with commuters.

Home break-in or invasion. There are many home break-ins in SF. Lots of prowlers and also package thieves.

Urban Campers. As you travel through SF you will see RVs, motor homes, old school buses and "bobtail" trucks parked in many areas of the City. The reason they are there is because the City refuses to enforce any vagrancy laws to people that live in vehicles. It doesn't matter that the vehicles are parked in the same spot for months. It doesn't matter if they are parked in residential neighborhoods. The City will not enforce parking infractions even though it impedes on traffic or pedestrian safety. I know this from personal experience when calling the 311 Cityline and explaining a situation.

Homelessness is rampant in many parts of the City. Tents are pitched in Golden Gate Park, underneath freeways, parking lots and in front of small business doorways. Defecation on the street or in shrubbery anywhere there are homeless encampments. Parts of the City are so bad that the City has an actual team of human fece cleaners. They also have a team that responds to City sponsored needles left on the street.

San Francisco is a beautiful City and it located in a magical part of the State. But, you dot have to look too closely to see that the City is failing and falling into demise.

I was raised in Palo Alto and moved to the Richmond district in 1979 right after college. (I also lived in Los Angeles for 3 years and earned my graduate degree in Dublin, Ireland, from 1993-96). this is a very "middle-class" quiet, area of families on the west side, near Golden Gate Park and the ocean. My friends said it was "boring" -- it is the FOGGY side of town. But I lived here as a single woman--most of the time I lived alone -- until 2015, when I married at age 58. I ran in Golden Gate Park and the Presidio, ran and walked at Ocean and Baker beaches, went to concerts and clubs, movies, restaurants -- often alone. I wasn't stupid -- at night, I never carried a purse (which is what thieves target), didn't wear high heels or dress to get sexual attention that I didn't seek. I never had a problem -- having said that, I'm 5'10" and fit and I suppose there are easier "marks." I have loved my neighborhood, still run in GGPark 5 or 6 days a week -- but now that I can work remotely, I have only gone downtown 3x in the last 2.5 years. It is SICKENING. It BREAKS MY HEART -- my gorgeous city! Homeless encampments all over the MAIN business street of the city, clearly mentally ill people, drug addicts everywhere. Even in my sweet, safe (boring!) neighborhood, for the first time in my life (and I've been here 43 years!) I am starting to feel a bit...uncomfortable. TOO MANY crazy people everywhere. We seem to be being held hostage by our tradition of tolerance, which i have loved all my life. But the people who pay the taxes and make this city work are now having our lives totally ruined by this! I don't know what the answer is -- but I tell people who want to come on vacation, not to. Our city depends on tourism and conventions -- but I would NOT recommend friends or family to spend their money -- and this city is EXPENSIVE -- to come here at this time.

Lived in SF 20 years. Entire adult life. All my 20’s spent going out (often until 3am in the Mission) spent time living in many neighborhoods. Now in 2021 its a rich techy playground.

Yes, there are a crazy number of car break-ins. Vandalism. And HUGE homeless population. But you dont need a car there. And well, avoid the homeless camps! Its sad, yes, they are everywhere now, but if you ignore them, dont engage, they dont bug you. Be street smart. You can see/smell the homeless from a mile away. I never found them to be aggressive with me.

Its a city... and you need to have common sense (like no dont hang out in Bayview/Hunters Point, or under freeway underpass unless you are seeking out crack dealers) Certain parts of Tenderloin, Civic center, & Outer Mission are to be avoided. But overall, Ive never felt unsafe or in danger. And Im female.

Ive also lived in Bangkok & Paris. Honestly Paris feels much more unsafe as a woman. With the illegal Arab/immigrant gangs & kid pickpockets everywhere. You must have steel security doors because the number of break-ins. The Metro is ridiculous with pickpockets, even for locals (and police there wont help you!! ) In August, everyone gets their house robbed. Yeah, there arent even guns in France like the US but i feel so much safer in SF.

@Neil Parker Jr
I never went into the city but as a Canadian (Montrealer), I read the news that Toronto might be the next San Francisco because of the widening gap between the rich and the poor, especially that the former is raising its ranks among the global tech hub.

Lived in SF for almost a decade. I witnessed stabbings, witnessed rampant drug use, was mugged at gunpoint, was burglarized multiple times, witnessed car break-ins, the list of crime/danger I saw or experienced goes on and on.

You think I'm just unlucky? Hardly. Think any of that was in particularly bad neighborhoods? Nope, I always avoided those. My experience is what a relatively careful person who sticks to good neighborhoods experiences over a decade. So really, just the tip of the crime iceberg in this otherwise totally beautiful city.

In short. Beware. You are safe nowhere.