Phonejacked at knifepoint at 5:30PM on 24th Street

Mission Local reports:

Two suspects, described as 35-year-old men, approached a young man on Thursday, brandished a knife and demanded the victim’s smart phone and gold necklace, according to police reports.

The incident happened at 24th Street and South Van Ness Avenue at about 5:30 p.m. Thursday. Police said that both suspects fled on foot. [link]

73 Responses to “Phonejacked at knifepoint at 5:30PM on 24th Street”

  1. scum says:

    If you walk around showing that you have shit to take it will get took. Be aware of your surroundings and save your fucking text walking for later.

    • Brillo says:

      And that concludes today’s lecture in Victim Blaming 101.

      • scum says:

        I don’t blame the victims asshole, I am saying don’t set yourself up for these pieces of shit to rob you.

        • scum says:

          Or the victims, asshole.

        • Erik says:

          By “set yourself up”, you apparently mean “walk down the street in your neighborhood at 5:30pm”.

          • scum says:

            If you watch the news or read the newspaper, or get the news online you would know that due to the high price of gold people have been getting robed at all times of day/night. Also smart phones are a big draw for the scumbags because of the high resale value.

          • GG says:

            OH SHIT robed? For gold? I better start leaving my gold robe at home. It’ll make it tougher to advertise my status as the pimp queen of S. Van Ness, but I need to keep that thing safe. Thanks for the tip.

      • OMG LOL says:

        um…yeah, I’d blame any victim that wears a visible gold chain and walks around with a smart phone at 24th and van ness too. It’s called don’t be a fucking moron in a big city. Common sense should always be expected.

        • Herr Doktor Professor Deth Vegetable says:

          That’s absurd. 24th and Van Ness isn’t a particularly bad area of the city by any stretch of the imagination. Get a grip.

    • Erik says:

      Agreed, any time I am approached by two 35-year old men from now on I will immediately go home and hide under my bed.

    • MrEricSir says:

      Do you work for SFPD by any chance? Blaming the victim is their modus operandi.

    • kusfwtf says:

      Yeah, try not to talk on your cell phones while you’re outside, dipshits. As a side note, she deserved it, did you see what she was wearing?

  2. henri! says:

    I HEREBY DELCARE all iphone and texting use shall cease when passing Valencia St.

  3. carlos. says:

    were they wearing hoodies?

  4. Blog Death says:

    I’m a decoy text-walker. Bring it.

  5. Nosmo King says:

    The lesson is pretty clear; quit playing with your electronic toys on city streets if you’re worried about people taking them away from you while you’re distracted by playing with them. If you think that’s a harsh message, then get used to having your electronic toys taken away from you by thugs who are bigger than you.

    Simple. These fuckers have figured out the game, even if you have not.

    • Erik says:

      They didn’t grab the phone and run while he was distracted and texting; the article says that they approached him with a knife and demanded it and some other stuff and then he gave it to them. No amount of alertness can stop that from happening unless your plan is to panic and bolt any time someone gets within ten feet of you on the street.

      • Nosmo King says:

        QUIT PLAYING WITH YOUR ELECTRONIC TOYS ON THE STREET! HOW MUCH MORE OF A MESSAGE DO YOU NEED?

        • jamin says:

          It says nowhere that his phone was out.

          Using your phone should be safe. If it isn’t, then cops need to step it up.

        • MrEricSir says:

          We should all change our behavior to cater to criminals. Got it.

          • kusfwtf says:

            I never agree with anything you say, but, plus one hundred fucking billion. What’s with all the “shame on you for talking on your phone,” comments?

          • Leif Garrett says:

            Your iPhone is a stack of $20s that is held up to your ear – damn right you better change your look.

            Mark.

          • GG says:

            Thanks for your input, Nosmo King. I’ve been walking around on 24th Street during the day blithely BEING A WOMAN. I’ll cut that shit out pronto, I mean, I’m just asking to be raped, right?

  6. Jawl says:

    I was assaulted and mugged (phone only) last Thursday at 8pm on Valencia and 14th right in front of Pauline’s pizza. Thieves be gettin’ ballsy. That said, I have found the police to be helpful. They’ve pulled surveillance from several places to try to get a clear view of the asshat and have been really responsive about my case.

    • Lamb says:

      Ugh, that sucks. I am sorry to hear that.

    • Amy says:

      Sorry to hear about the mugging and good luck with getting those dicks caught. I was assaulted and mugged last year and both dudes were caught on camera and convicted. In theory I should be receiving restitution some day, and while I don’t expect it to happen, I feel pretty victorious knowing they were held accountable.

      • Jawl says:

        I would love for the guy to be caught. I would really like to know that he is held accountable for his actions. We’ll see.

  7. need a phone says:

    The least they can do is sell it cheap on Craigslist.

  8. Jay Beaman says:

    I was trailed hard this morning by a guy between mission and SVN on 14th. he was following me with a deliberate intent (I’m no dummy), staying out of my peripheral. I saw that I was moving away from more active areas and just turned around and passed him, heading back towards Mission.

    And, yes, I had my phone out. And, no, I don’t need to keep it in my pocket to keep criminals at bay. That’s just dumb.

  9. ALWAYS HIGH says:

    THE FIRST SENTENCE IS A HAIKU

  10. JJ from SF says:

    I’m a SF native – which means I was born here. I can remember when parts of the Mission were kinda sketchy and dangerous. Guess what? Nothing has changed. Parts of the Mission are still sketchy and dangerous. Only thing that has really changed are all the whiney hipsters complaining about being mugged. If you don’t like it move to the Marina.

    • Emily says:

      Well, that’s bullshit. Yes, nothing has changed. There will always be dangerous neighborhoods and people need to be smart. However, it doesn’t mean that people can’t complain about being threatened and robbed. Moving to a city or a neighborhood is not giving the green light to be assaulted.

    • scum says:

      What high school?

    • Herr Doktor Professor Deth Vegetable says:

      Uhhhh… I don’t care how long you’ve been living here, it is is not “whining” to be not OK with being fucking mugged.

      • Jay Adams says:

        If you didn’t only live on the internet, you would get mugged too.

        • Herr Doktor Professor Deth Vegetable says:

          I don’t get mugged because I’m a fucking giant who looks like he doesn’t have much money; so on a mugger’s “Worth It?” scale, I am way down there.

    • born and raised por vida in la mission says:

      I was born and raised in the Mission and I happen to like the assaults, rapes, stabbings, murders, tagging, phone theft, bike theft, car theft, bank robberies, gang activity, public urination/defecation/intoxication, drive bys and stuff. That is life in LaMission so if you can’t hang go somewheres else. All this stuff was going down before the barrio got gentrificated.

      unreal.

  11. With all the yuppie gentrification going on around here this was bound to happen…

    I hate these hipsters who think they can use their phone outside of their house. Where do they think they are Nebraska?

    I remember the good ol’ days in the Mission where you heard nothing but the sound of people dying from knife fights.

    These art school pricks wouldn’t have even left their apartments after 5 in those days.

    • Torger Johnson says:

      HAHAHA, funny – but bullshit. I lived here before YOU.

      • GG says:

        I am automatically discounting both of your comments because I LIVED HERE BEFORE BOTH OF YOU. As a member of the Ohlone tribe, I remember when the Mission was all hunter-gatherers — emphasis on the HUNTERS — and you didn’t go near there without your best spears, after making generous offerings to the Coyote trickster spirit.

  12. EH says:

    Ha ha, gentrification. No, this crime simply wouldn’t have happened without the old-standby gold chain.

  13. JJ from SF says:

    Maybe I was a bit harsh when I said they are “whining”. I feel bad for the guy who got mugged. That really sucks.

    When I read that a mugging happened in the Mission, was I surprised? Of coarse not. The Mission is filled with junkies, hookers and gang bangers. Does every noob who comes in off the turnip truck know this? Probably not. It’s a dangerous place – even in broad day light. Does that stop people from coming in to the Mission? Of coarse not. That also part of the attraction of the Mission. It’s the edgy part of town, filled with artists, cool bars and hipsters. My guard goes way up when I’m in the Mission. You have to know & be aware of your surroundings.

    • Herr Doktor Professor Deth Vegetable says:

      Yeah, except it’s really NOT a particularly dangerous place.

      • blah says:

        rrrright, except for the every-9-months-or-so driveby murder, no big deal. I live in the mission and love it, but let’s not kid ourselves while we stroll past the altars of candles and flowers.

  14. Luke Spray says:

    I’ve had two friends get mugged near 15th and Guerrero within the past 6 months, both in broad daylight. Both happened to be on their cell phones, but that still doesn’t make it their fault. While everyone should be aware of their surroundings, no one should have to live in fear of picking up a phone call outdoors when it’s 11am.

    • Torger Johnson says:

      It’s only going to get worse unless things get better. Fact is, to the few poor, desperate, opportunistic folks that somehow still live here, the Googlebus and Yahoobus kids with their fancy toys are just rich invaders who have no rights on the street to whatever crap they are failing to protect properly. Not saying that’s OK, but it’s like that. If I was a poor, disenfranchised, VG kid, I’d probably do the same thing. Most of you are straight up Marks. Only your own kind respects you, and even that’s questionable..

      • stiiv says:

        I know history is hard to keep track of, but please. It’s already gotten much better. The Mission in the 90′s was a much tougher, sadder place.

        There’s no robin hood angle here. The poorer residents hate these assholes as much as everyone else. It’s not like they restrict their predations to the privileged.

        • Herr Doktor Professor Deth Vegetable says:

          Yeah, that’s part of when I get at when I point out that the Mission really isn’t very dangerous. It used to be much worse, but even at it’s most dangerous we’re not talking the South Bronx or even 3rd and Palou.

  15. Bruce Logan says:

    Damn, Torger – get stoked, Bro! I didn’t know you were on here!!! Peace – the Earth*Ski team.

  16. batman says:

    sadly.. batman has been kinda on a bender lately.. and i do not start work till 8 pm… so you hipsters on your own before then !! also when some one robs you for your phone…just stuff it in your crotch… if they really want it see if they reach in and grab it out..

  17. joeys pal says:

    in the 1960s mission was known as hardscrabble and (kinda)rough..mostly it was “white boys”does anyone remember the old ” white shoes”gang?or the undertakers gang??mostly drug murders in those days(heroin) .Whites were gang fighters;but they didnt do drive bys in those days..lots of american (drunken)indians;and a number of bars on 16th.that had a mostly american indian clientele.also:leland lee was head of the grand jury at that time;and he would jump out of his chauffered car and go beat down a gang member or two with a couple of law enforcement cronies.(we) could go on and on..but what do you (newbies)know about the mission?????

    • Um, dood… why are you posting (in the same style) under two different names (joeys pal and damian) so close together? Some kind of art project for your high school class?

    • my opinion says:

      Keep it coming – I love that history – I’ve been here since the 80′s (leaving soon). I’t cool to hear that stuff – no joke.

  18. joeys pal says:

    how about we share the same computer doooood?does that make sense..did you read where i said:WE(in parentheses)could go on and on..meaning several of us kick it;and got our OWN opinions..on the same comp piece…hopefully this makes sense..and most of us have been in and around frisco since the 60s…DOOOOD..i cant remember high school..buncha einsteins in the mission;i tell ya!!!and the “same style” IS somewhat deliberate.like illuminated messages..DO_O_O_O_D!!!

  19. JJ from SF says:

    Here is a cool website where you can find out where, when and what type of (reported) crime has happened in San Francisco.

    sanfrancisco dot crimespotting dot org

  20. Matt says:

    Just heard about this. I was mugged five days before this, just about three blocks away (26th and Shotwell), about the same time, broad daylight, and at knife point.
    Dude asked for the time but I got a weird vibe and did NOT pull my phone out, but then he pulled out the knife and said, “It’s not your lucky day,” demanded my money and my phone or he’d stab me. I pulled the cash out of my wallet and asked if he’d let me go with just that, but then he threatened to cut me if I didn’t give him my phone. I lied and said I didn’t have it on me and started walking slowly away then I ran. Maybe I should have just given up my phone but I just didn’t feel like he was going to attack me in the daytime or something.
    That is a pretty sketchy spot, but I’ve never felt uncomfortable there in the daytime.
    I’ve lived here a long time and never had any problems. Not sure if I’ll actually stop talking on my phone or listening to music on the street, so I’m not sure there’s much else I can do other than choosing my streets a bit more wisely. But I’m definitely going to continue just telling people I have no idea what time it is when they ask!

  21. GG says:

    Saw this amusing “sign” on Reddit today and immediately thought of this post: http://i.imgur.com/Jqy7H.jpg

  22. Dan says:

    If you have an iphone, you should enable Find My iPhone. Let them take your phone. Give the cops your iCloud login so they can track them down.

    • GG says:

      I’ve been genuinely curious about this feature and whether SFPD would even try and track down the thief. I remember a while back on one of the blogs I read, someone had had his laptop stolen, and the laptop sent information on its location and even took photos of the thief with the built-in camera, and SFPD just couldn’t be bothered to follow up. Maybe other commenters could share their experience?

    • JJ from SF says:

      I was just thinking about that. Is there a way to track down stolen phones? How about other types of phones?