San Francisco Car Break-Ins Drop to Historic Lows in Early 2025
Targeted policing strategies and crackdowns on organized crime have driven a sustained decline in car break-ins, reaching a 22-year low and continuing to improve in 2025.
- San Francisco reported a 50% drop in car break-ins from 2023 to 2024, with incidents now at their lowest level in over two decades.
- Tourist-heavy neighborhoods like North Beach and Russian Hill saw the most significant improvements, with reductions of up to 70%.
- The San Francisco Police Department credits the decline to strategies implemented in 2023, including targeted stings, overtime units, bait cars, drones, and license plate readers.
- Key arrests of individuals linked to organized crime rings have played a pivotal role in sustaining the downward trend in car break-ins.
- Residents and businesses report visible improvements, such as fewer smashed windows and less broken glass on streets, reflecting broader citywide crime reductions.