I didn’t expect to be a crime victim on the streets of San Francisco. Nobody does. But it happened, on a beautiful evening this past weekend near Union Square. As crimes go, it could have been much worse. I was helping an elderly man when somebody sneaked up behind me and stole my garment bag. I lost a nice suit, a nice pair of shoes and overnight toiletries. Not the end of the world, but frustrating.
The real crime was the vulnerability of it all, the idea that I could leave my bag on a crowded street, turn my back for 30 seconds and have my stuff stolen.
My weekend began with the best intentions. I was looking forward to attending a conference in San Francisco with people from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the same folks who are joining with the city of Sacramento to provide arts education to our children.
I thought it would be nice to take public transportation, so I rode Amtrak from Sacramento to Richmond. From there, I transferred to BART for the subway ride into San Francisco.
At the Richmond station, I noticed an elderly man, well into his 70s, struggling with two bags and holding a book. He asked a BART employee for directions to Sutter Street in San Francisco. I told the gentleman I was headed the same way, so we could ride BART together. I found him a seat on the train, and helped him with his bags. At the Powell Street Station, we began to walk.
I noticed he was slowing down. I offered to take his bags and his book, plus my own stuff. We walked further. It was obvious he couldn’t walk to Sutter Street, about four blocks away.
“I can’t make it,” he said.
I suggested we find a taxi. I found a cab and put the gentleman’s bags in the trunk. I gave the driver $20 to cover the four blocks and a tip.
When I turned around, my bag was gone.
Angry now, I ran up and down the street. A woman asked if I was OK. Nobody saw anything. My bag vanished into the crowd.
There are lessons here. Pay better attention. Don’t let anything out of sight. Always be on guard.
It’s a shame we have to live that way.
Next time I see San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, I’ll tell him the story and give him my word nothing like that will happen to him in Sacramento.
And I’ll hope I can make good on the promise.
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