Surveillance video shows pickpocket crew targeting victims in SF’s Chinatown

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — Police are warning residents and visitors to stay alert as pickpocketing incidents rise in Chinatown, with officials saying organized groups can steal valuables in seconds.

Newly released surveillance video from the San Francisco Police Department shows a trio working together to target unsuspecting victims. In the footage, two people act as lookouts while another reaches into a victim’s bag, taking items within seconds. Police say the group is linked to multiple thefts, including one case where a victim lost $4,000 worth of valuables. Officers say the thefts can happen so quietly that victims often do not realize their belongings are gone until much later.

“They pulled my hair to get like a distraction and then I turned away. I think that’s the point that they help another person take something from my bag,” said Fay, who described being targeted months ago while riding a bus. Fay said she did not immediately realize anything had been taken until she received fraud alerts on her phone.

“Someone used my card to run in Walgreens. So I was like, how could that happen? I have my card with me. And then I look at my bag, it was like, oh, it’s gone,” she said.

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Police are urging people to take preventive steps, including wearing backpacks or crossbody bags in front, keeping valuables in front pockets and staying aware of surroundings – especially in crowded areas and on public transportation.

“It’s very unlikely you’d get your stuff back. But in this circumstance, we were able to recover a lot of stolen property. It’s best to not lose it in the first place,” said SFPD Capt. Chris Del Gandio.

Police say reports of pickpocketing in Chinatown have been increasing since April. In the case highlighted in the video, officers arrested three men who are now facing multiple felony charges, including grand theft, conspiracy and possession of stolen property. Investigators say a search of the suspects’ homes uncovered additional stolen property dating back to 2024 and more than $14,000. Authorities were able to link the suspects to several cases through community reports and matching descriptions.

“We were able to link a lot of these folks to those reports because all of them had that same suspect description. So with the photos and the community input, we were able to link these folks to several crimes in Chinatown,” Del Gandio said.

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Police say technology, including drones and license plate readers, played a key role in tracking the suspects and building the case.

“The drone footage pretty much tracks them as they move through Chinatown, and as you can see from the video footage, there were several victims they targeted, all working together in concert. These guys were pros,” Del Gandio said.

For victims like Fay, the experience has led to increased caution.

“From now on, I’ll be more careful,” she said.

Police say anyone who believes they have been targeted should report the incident as soon as possible so investigators can review surveillance footage and potentially recover stolen items.