Vehicle Burglaries: What to Know When You Go

NPS photo

The San Francisco Bay Area, including Golden Gate National Recreation Area, continues to see high levels of property theft from vehicles. In a nearly six-year period between 2015 and September 2021, San Francisco saw tens of thousands of larceny from auto cases. During this time, National Park Service law enforcement rangers and United States Park Police (USPP) officers responded to more than 3,969 cases in Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Muir Woods National Monument, Fort Point National Historic Site, and Presidio of San Francisco.

When visiting the park, be aware of your surroundings and the people around you as you would anywhere else.

Make sure your park visit is enjoyable by taking these extra steps to protect your belongings:

1. STOW BEFORE YOU GO — Leave your valuables at home or at least put them in your glove box or trunk before arriving at your destination. Thieves watch for people moving their valuables in the parking lots.
2. SECURE YOUR VEHICLE — Keep doors locked and windows rolled up all the way. Take ID's, passports, backpacks, and purses with you. Always lock your vehicle, even if you only step away from it for a moment.
3. KEEP ITEMS OUT OF SIGHT — Make sure items like luggage, shopping bags, and valuables are hidden. Never leave anything on the seats, dashboard, or floor.
4. TAKE ELECTRONICS WITH YOU — Thieves find phones, laptops, computers, or other devices by scanning for Bluetooth networks. Power down, turn off Bluetooth, or keep phones and other electronics with you.
5. BE ALERT — If you observe suspicious activity or experience criminal activity in the park, call our 24-hour park dispatch center:

• Non-Emergency: 415-561-5505
• Emergency: 415-561-5656

“If You See Something, Say Something!” Your report could save the next visitor from being a victim of crime.

If your vehicle is burglarized and you need a copy of your Incident Report, please contact the appropriate agency: either United States Park Police or the NPS Vistor Resource Protection ranger who took your report. To obtain copies of records from the Incident Management Analysis and Reporting System (IMARS) as a Privacy Act "routine use" requester must complete Certification of Identity and Consent Form 10-945, then sign, date, and return completed form.