Again with the Muni Theft: Purse-Snatching on the 38

purse
Image: Steve Rhodes

Yesterday, we posted about attempted smartphone theft on the 38L. Today, we’ve got another report of sticky fingers on the 38. We’re ratcheting up our steely stares and vise-like grips as we speak.

So I’m on the 38 outbound on a Wednesday morning…we’re riding down the street and the bus comes to a stop to load a passenger on when we hear this loud SCREAM…It’s a lady yelling “Hey!!! No!!!!” She is fighting with a guy that snatched her purse! He takes off running and she gets off the bus and goes after him. Our bus driver drives off as if nothing happened. It was 8:05 a.m. mind you…I knew he was bad news when I laid eyes on him. During the ride he kept staring at people up and down. No one deserves to get their purse snatched on their way to work but come on, ladies! Don’t sit so far back and keep your belongings next to your body! She sat right in front of the LAST doors when there were seats everywhere even next to the 2nd doors. People please be aware of your surroundings and hold your belongings close to yourself…and avoid sitting around the 3rd doors.

Some sage advice, wherever you’re sitting: hold on to your stuff and scan your surroundings, especially if you’re near a door.

What’s happening on Muni? Share your stories.

SUV Drives in Muni Metro Tunnel; Trains Delayed (updates)

Update (2:20 p.m.): ABC 7 has a photo of the SUV crashed in the tunnel, above.

Update (11:38 a.m.): SFPD Arrests (Possibly Drunk) Driver Who Screwed Up This Morning’s Commute. SF Appeal has the details.

Update (9:14 a.m.): Underground service has been restored, according to 511.org.

Update (7:45 a.m.): Here is SFMTA’s list of alternate transit in light of this disruption.

Update (7:35 a.m.): Sal Castaneda says, “#SFMuni says J, K ,L, M, N all suspended. Vehicle drove into a Muni tunnel. Delays. Shuttle buses btwn West Portal & Emb.”

Original post: SFGate has the story. We’ll update once we hear from SFMTA.

iThwart: Muni iPhone Theft Gone Wrong

iPhone on muni on my way to the Apple Store
Photo by Steve Rhodes

What would you do if a theft was happening right in front of you on Muni? Here’s what Rachel did.

Last night, three 38Ls rode by, all of them packed to the gills, so I waited for the regular. When it came, it wasn’t crowded but there weren’t any free seats, so I stood near the accordion fold.

There were a few kids in the back door stairwell. They played with their phones and slurped tapioca drinks.I don’t know why I watched the kids – nothing else to occupy myself with, I guess.

Most of them got out at Scott, then a couple at Divisadero.

The bus stopped at Baker and the doors opened with their usual hydraulic whoosh.

Two kids got out, and then the last kid lunged at a woman sitting across from the door and ripped the iPhone out of her hands.

She pulled away from him and shouted something. And then I was at the door too, yelling, “HEY, HEY, HEY!” as loudly as I could, grabbing for the boy, grabbing for the bright white phone, the headphones, whatever I could get a hold of.

We scrabbled for the phone and got it back. The kid took off down the street, his hood covering his face, no chance to identify him if it ever came to that.

The bus driver didn’t pay any attention. She shut the doors and we were on our way.

The woman sat back down and wound her headphones around her phone before shoving it into her bag.

“Thanks,” she said.

No one else said a thing, and no one moved.

Wow. Watch out for your phones, purses, and other items on the bus, everybody. Not everyone’s lucky enough to ride the bus with Rachel. Got your own Muni story? We wanna hear it.

Commuter Reflections

A peaceful, solitary ride is like winning the lottery, especially on those cloggy Muni Metro trains. Unless there is untold ruckus on either side of him, this rider seemingly lucked out. Still, call me crazy: I prefer when my public-transit chariot is full and quiet. I like leprechauns and white whales, too.

Nice pic from @jsoncorwin. Join the cool kids and tweet your travels with Muni to @munidiaries.

14L-Mission to Extend Route to Daly City BART Beginning Monday (update)

bart by mike l
Photo by Mike Linksvayer

Update (6:02 p.m.): We just heard from SFMTA, who says the official announcement contained an error. 14L service to Daly City BART begins Monday, not Saturday. Muni will run the buses to Daly City in the mornings and evenings only.

Original post: Just in time to ferry people to the next Muni Diaries Live, Muni has announced that, beginning this SaturdayMonday, the 14L-Mission Limited will begin serving the Daly City BART station.

SF Appeal has the story.

1 462 463 464 465 466 801