San Francisco is now a model for how to fight crime. A few years ago it averaged 86 car break-ins per day. Today: 15. SF did two things:
1. Got a DA that prosecutes criminals: Following the successful recall of Chesa Boudin, DA Brooke Jenkins started prosecuting prolific offenders and said so loudly. Crime dropped every year since she took office. 2. Put tech to use: In 2024, SF activated 400 license plate readers and deployed 80 drones citywide. This tech feeds officers live intelligence on suspects in motion. Drones alone have assisted in 1,000+ arrests since then. The technology lets authorities solve crimes as they happen rather than depend on much more intensive, legally perilous post hoc investigations (which ironically are often more intrusive than using tech).
The results: - Car break-ins down 85% - Robbery down 30% - Burglary down 33%. - Homicides hit their lowest level since 1954. Plate readers, drones, a prosecutor who prosecutes. That's the whole formula! I’m curious, do you feel safe in Seattle? Do you know of a business or store that has been robbed? Has your car ever been broken into?
