According to the San Francisco Police Department, there were 59 murders in the city in 2016, an annual total that marked a 13.5% increase in the number of homicides (52) from 2015.
[14] On February 18, 2024, during the NBA All-Star Game, Charles Barkley harshly criticized San Francisco in on-air comments for its "homeless crooks" and for being a city so dangerous that one needed "a bulletproof vest and security" just to "walk around".
[15] On August 31, 2024, San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall was shot in the chest during an attempted robbery just east of Union Square.
[19][20] Several street gangs have operated in the city over the decades, including MS-13,[21] the Sureños and Norteños in the Mission District.
[24] However, gangs founded in San Francisco with majority Black memberships have made their presence in the city.
[26] In 2004, a Westmob member fatally shot a SFPD officer and wounded his partner; he was sentenced to life without parole in 2007.
[27] Criminal gangs with shot callers in China, including Triad groups such as the Wo Hop To, have been reported active in San Francisco.
[28] In 1977, an ongoing rivalry between two Chinese gangs led to a shooting attack at the Golden Dragon restaurant in Chinatown, which left 5 people dead and 11 wounded.
[36] However, others argue that the extent of shoplifting in San Francisco has been overstated, attributing the issue to broader economic inequality.