This Week In Noe Valley: It's Pride Week (And A Few Other Things)

News from, about and for Noe Valley from around the interwebs:

• Omnivore Book's Celia Sack made a quiet announcement Wednesday [@omnivorebooks]
• So it was Andy Anduha who was arrested near Bernal last week for stealing packages [SF Examiner; also NVSF]
• FOCC is looking for help to green Ames and Quane St - two alleys at the eastern edge of Noe Valley [FOCC]
• Some of British writer Tony Quarrington's pictures of his time in Noe Valley [Tony Quarrington]
• Jerry Kuns is blind and has a beautiful garden full of texture, smells and sound [San Francisco Magazine]
• Joyriding kids take out a stoplight and flee from the awesome Prius that labels them Noe Valley hoodlums [f6x]

[Photo: zoxcleb]

Crime Beat: Bicycle Bandit Package Thief Arrested (Again?)

Information is from Mission and Ingleside District San Francisco Police Station newsletters.

Obviously not Noe Valley, but worth a read:

June 18, 2013

Theft w/Prior --12:30pm, 1500 Blk Hampshire. Officer Bernard responded to the call of a person stealing packages from the entrance of a private residence. Prior to his arrival, several officers had detained a suspect matching the description provided by dispatch. The officers brought the witness/reportee to the location where the suspect was detained, and he positively identified him as the person who had taken the package from the home.

Officer Bernard interviewed the reportee who told him that he observed the detained suspect riding a bicycle which he parked and got off of. The suspect then walked up the street and reached over a retaining wall where he removed a package from the front porch of a home. The reportee then called the police.

Officers located the package on the suspect. They took control of the package and the bicycle he was riding. All items were given to Officer Adams who responded to Ingleside station for further investigation. The suspect was also transported to Ingleside station pending follow up. A record check revealed various arrests for stolen property and that he was on active probation.

Officer Bernard made contact with the resident of the address where the package had been taken from. The resident confirmed the package was addressed to him and verified he had ordered its contents. He told the officer that he did not know the suspect and gave him no permission to remove any items from his home. The suspect was booked at the instruction of Sgt. Sawyer. Report Number 130500514

Of course we don't know for sure, but this sure sounds like Andy Anduha - the Bicycle Bandit who stole packages off Noe Valley doorsteps until he was taken down by Bear Spray. We've heard lately that he has a strict stay-away order for Noe Valley but has been seen on 23rd St and in Bernal Heights. Sounds like he may be behind bars again, but here's a bit of advice in case you see him:

Please let everyone know Andy Anduha (the bicycle bandit) has a Stay Away Order for all of Noe. Call police at once @NoeValleySF @Bernalwood
— Zack Lara (@zacklara) June 19, 2013

[NVSF: Crime Beat: Suspected Package Thief Doused With Bear Spray, Arrested]
[NVSF: Video: Thief Empties Box Left By OnTrac]

Crime Beat: Have You Seen This Package Thief?

From Jonathan:

I live on 22nd Street. We have been victimized by the "bicycle bandit" for years. We have called the police on several occasions when we have seen him in the neighborhood but they told us there was nothing they could do until someone caught him the act. Fortunately for us (and the residents of Noe Valley) he was arrested the other day after Sonya Yu's daring arrest.

I took this photo of him a few weeks ago. When we yelled at him to get out of the neighborhood and leave us alone he smiled and waved. I'm sending this to you because his arraignment is today and most likely he'll be released. If anyone sees him riding his bicycle in the neighborhood they should call the Mission Police Station at 558-5400. If they see him stealing anything or even up on anyone's front porch they should dial 911.

So what about it Noe Valley? Do you have pictures of this guy in the area? We want everyone to know who this guy is. Send your photos and we'll add them to the post - and tell your neighbors to be on the lookout.

Here's another via Twitter user @gmbrickley (from Bernal Heights):

[NVSF: Crime Beat: Suspected Package Thief Doused With Bear Spray, Arrested]
[NVSF: Video: Thief Empties Box Left By OnTrac]

Crime Beat: Suspected Package Thief Doused With Bear Spray, Arrested

Update (11/28): Zach pulled the videos after being hounded by too much media (some actually camping out in front of the house). The image above is just a screen shot.

Also this from SFGate:

Police held Andy Anduha, 51, on her citizen’s arrest before booking him into county jail on suspicion of attempted burglary. Anduha is scheduled to be arraigned on one count of first-degree residential burglary, said Alex Bastian, a spokesman for the district attorney’s office. He faces up to six years in state prison if convicted, and one strike against him under the state’s three-strikes law.

The original post continues below:

Great news sent to us straight from people involved: Zack says a package thief was arrested today in spectacular fashion:

My fiance Sonya chased him down today after pepper spraying him. 10 cops and a citizens arrest later, he is currently being processed for attempted burglary.

Here's a nice video of her running out the front door with a bokken in hand. [Ed.--deleted]

Zack had previously installed a motion-activated camera in their entryway that sends an alert when recording. Presumably, Sonya received an alert and took off in pursuit. "Sonya was actually sitting on the front balcony above the gate. The sound of the gate opening is what startled her." What happened next may become legend:

HE IS BEIN TAKEN AWAY IN AN AMBULANCE CUZ OF THE BEAR SPRAY I DOUSED HIM WITH.
— Sonya Yu (@sonyayu) November 27, 2012

And:

@nettatheninja he didn't try to attack me but he did have a knife. I was above him on the 1st floor balcony, dousing him with bear spray.
— Sonya Yu (@sonyayu) November 27, 2012

And:

I WAS ALSO HIT WITH BEAR SPRAY BLOW BACK, SO MY FACE IS BURNING BUT IT FEELS SO GOOD.
— Sonya Yu (@sonyayu) November 27, 2012

But she's ok:

Now onto making a dinner of blowtorch prime rib roast & fried brussels sprouts for friends tonight. All in a day’s work.
— Sonya Yu (@sonyayu) November 27, 2012

The Bad Guy on the other hand:

@_bryce_ he escaped, but not far. The bear spray debilitated him & painted him orange so other cops picked him up within 5 minutes. GOT HIM!
— Sonya Yu (@sonyayu) November 27, 2012

As for the cops?

@nettatheninja hhahah cop asked me if I have a license for it - I told him it's sold on the shelves at REI. Very handy for home protection.
— Sonya Yu (@sonyayu) November 27, 2012

But their initial reaction?

@nettatheninja yes otherwise ok :) I chased him with the spray & bokken. Cops were cracking up when they arrived to see me & my weapons.
— Sonya Yu (@sonyayu) November 27, 2012

The best part? Sonya said she received a call from SFPD and that the perp has been booked for attempted burglary (a felony). He'll be in jail for a while.

Well done, Sonya!

Update (5/28/13): From the comments below:

Looks like Mr Anduha the "bicycle bandit" may be back on his rounds. I saw him this morning on his bike checking doorsteps in Bernal. He actually parked his bike up on it's stand in the middle of the street and looked both ways before walking up my neighbors drive. I should add I didn't see him take anything this time but I'll be challenging him next time I see him.

[Twitter: @sonyayu]
[Wikipedia: bokken]
[REI: Bear Spray]
[NVSF: Video: Thief Empties Box Left By OnTrac]