A burglary suspect got more than he bargained for last night when he became stuck on Telegraph Hill after attempting to flee from police. But there he remains, with police planning a renewed effort to get him to come down today.
As the Chron reports, it all started when a woman spotted the suspect stealing a ring at her apartment near Lombard and Kearny St. at around 5:30pm Tuesday night. Though the Chron reports that the woman’s building manager gave chase, pushing the suspect to leap over a back wall leading to a cliff above Chestnut St, CBS5 instead contends that authorities stated the suspect saw two undercover cops, then raced over the wall.
Regardless of whoever sent the suspect headed towards an 8-10 story cliff, he apparently got stuck there and remained overnight, ABC7 reports, as authorities are attempting to wait him out rather than risk the suspect’s death in such treacherous conditions.
According to CBS5, the SFFD has made contact with the suspect, who said he doesn’t want to be rescued. He is described only as a white male wearing a hooded sweatshirt, SFPD Officer Albie Esparza said. Police do not believe he is hurt.
As of 9 this morning, the suspect remains in his perch, Esparza says.
Hostage negotiators plan to return to the site later today to try again to convince the suspect to come out, Esparza said.
Jon Golinger, president of the neighborhood group Telegraph Hill Dwellers, said he has heard of seven or eight residential burglaries in the neighborhood in the past few months, including some that have occurred while the residents were home.
“I don’t know if it’s the same burglar, but if it is, he’s been very bold,” Golinger said.
Dan McMenamin of Bay City News contributed to this report.
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