SF’s car smash-and-grab reality even worse than count

Statistics obtained from the city’s 911 center show it received 25,031 calls about auto break-ins during the first six months of 2017 — 7,061 more than the 17,970 reported by police.

The difference is that car-burglary victims’ first reaction is often to call 911 — but they don’t always follow through by filing an online report, and the cops don’t send anyone to the scene unless a smash-and-grab is in progress.

What goes into the official crime stats? Police responses and victims’ reports. A 911 call with no follow-up doesn’t count.

Police spokesman Michael Andraychak cautioned that 911 calls could include reports from several witnesses of a single break-in. But there’s no doubt some burglaries simply aren’t registering in the stats