Crime In And Against The LGBT Community Part One: Hook-Up Violence

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Part one (read part two here) in a three part series funded with the help of Spot.us.

On May 18th at 5:41am, someone robbed a store at the corner of 18th and Castro. A week earlier, at 18th and Sanchez, there was a strong arm robbery on the street at 2:30am. And at 1:45am on May 9, there was a mugging involving bodily force at Market and Sanchez.

That's an average rate of crime in the epicenter of the LGBT community, where every week there's a handful of robberies, simple assaults, car break-ins, and occasionally a narcotics arrest.

But in those routine city-life crimes, there's a subtle pattern of a particular type of crime for which LGBTs are particularly at risk; and although it's avoidable, many victims unwittingly put themselves directly in harm's way. Complicating matters further, victims are often reluctant to contact the police.

It's a crime known as "hook-up violence," and although it's always been a problem, several unrelated factors have recently converged to exacerbate risks in the Castro.

JUST AS FREQUENT -- BUT NOW MORE VIOLENT

Hook-up violence is, as it sounds, a crime involving what the victim thinks is a casual sexual encounter. Sometimes, the hook-up is simply used as a pretext to lure a victim; other times, it begins as a run-of-the-mill meeting before one or both parties become violent with each other.

Stacy Umezu is Membership Director at Communities United Against Violence, which for 30 years has worked to prevent and respond to violence in the queer community. "Across the nation, there has been an increase in hook-up violence or pickup violence," she said. CUAV keeps close tabs on crime statistics released by police departments, and closely monitors reports made to their own 24-hour safety line.

Carlton Paul, founder of The Castro Community on Patrol, agreed. "Over the last 6 months, there has been a little bit more."

Carlton founded the Castro Street Patrol in 2006 in response to a series of sexual assaults and a firearm confiscated at the Castro Street Fair. Curbing hook-up violence was a top priority for CCOP, and with their bright orange jackets and regular presence, the group has maintained a high visibility in the neighborhood since its inception. Operating on a $20,000 yearly grant, the organization patrols from 9:15pm to midnight on Fridays and Saturdays, as well as randomly during the week from 7pm to 10pm.

"When we started the patrols, the violence was more hardcore," said Carlton "there were reports of three unconfirmed rapes in four months. The patrol was about hook-up violence."

It's not just the incidence of crimes that's been edging up -- the severity has increased as well.

"I've studied the crime metrics for a couple of years now," said Greg Carey, Chair of the CCOP. "Statistically, there've been about twelve assaults a month in the Castro, which to me is a large number. ... I think it's more of a case where people doing the robberies are more violent than in the past, when they would just demand that the person would just turn over their belongings."

In other words, he said, crimes aren't just becoming more frequent -- they're becoming more violent.

Damian Ochoa, a social worker who works with the Patrol, described some recent crimes. "There has been an increase in smash and grab, theft, and muggings," he said. "So many people go to the Castro to party, and they don't realize all the things they need to do to stay safe."

UNPREDICTABLE CAUSES, PREDICTABLE VICTIMS

The Castro is an area particularly sensitive to fluctuations in crime rates, in part because its residents are disproportionately targeted. CCOP founder Carlton Paul recalled a meeting with former Police Chief Heather Fong in which the Chief explained that Asian women and drunk gays are "perceived to be a 'soft hit.'"

"I think that what we're seeing now has something to do with rage and the economy," said CCOP Chair Greg Carey. "What I've been hearing is that people are losing smart phones, backpacks that might have laptops in them."

Thieves have recognized that they can easily attract victims by posing as a potential hook-up. A report last month from the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs reported a national rise in hook-up crimes that range from sexual assault to robbery to drugging to even murder.

The cause of these statistical increases in violent crime are unclear, but the economy is frequently cited as a contributing factor.

"We see an indirect relationship between crime and confidence in the economy," said Theresa Sparks, former President of the San Francisco Police Commission. Although some CCOP members have observed a rise in hook-up violence, Theresa expressed optimism about reversing the trend. "The SFPD says overall crime is down in the city. Rape for instance is up, but overall violent crime is down. ... If the economy's starting to pick up, which some people suggest it may be, it would have an indirect impact on crime."

Indeed, the SFPD's statistics on rape in the Metro Division -- which includes the Castro -- show a 17 percent increase over the first quarter of last year. Citywide, rape is up from 33 incidents at this time last year to 44 in 2010; violent crime is up as well, from 1,658 to 1,748.

Arrests for violent crimes are down 12 percent.

Having such precise numbers readily available is a new phenomenon, thanks to Police Chief George Gascon's implementation of the CompStat system, which compiles exhaustive crime statistics. The system is so new that data for 2009 is not available online, making it difficult to identify trends over the last 12 months.

The system has already improved the efficiency of SFPD patrols.

"The police track all these crimes and deploy resources based on the frequency," said Theresa, adding that it's crucial for crime victims to come forward so that the police can adjust patrols accordingly.

KEEPING SAFE

"When people are drunk and they're walking home, they look like such an easy hit," CCOP founder Carlton Paul explained.

The solution is simple: don't walk home alone.

"When people leave and they're wasted, they need to make someone walk home with them," Carlton urged. "Walk where there's other people. Stay on better-lit streets." And, he said, "everybody needs to carry a whistle."

He also identified some "areas that have had some difficulty": Hartford and 18th, near Moby Dick; Beaver Street, half a block north of Cafe Flore; and the southwest end of Church near Dolores Park.

Even though these areas are higher-risk, Carlton said, you don't need to avoid them altogether. It simply comes down to exercising care. "Be alert," he said.

Social Worker Damian Ochoa listed additional areas in which people should exercise caution at night. "Most crime is concentrated at the corner of Market and Castro," he said, and also listed Nineteenth and Eureka, 19th and Church, near Safeway, near Duboce Park, and around the Davies Campus.

If you are confronted by a mugger, he said, give them what they want, and only fight back if they are intent on harming you. "Get away from the assailant as quickly as possible, don't separate from the crowd, make noise, attract attention, and run like hell." If possible, take note of the direction from which the mugger arrived or departed.

CUAV's Stacy Umezu offered additional tips. Trust your gut instinct, she said; and when you're meeting someone, make sure your friends know where you're going. Always have an exit strategy.

Carlton also recommended self-defense classes at Triangle Martial Arts. "It fosters a sense of empowerment that is unreal," he said. "We have a class that is a model for the entire world."

Castro Community on Patrol's presence has undoubtedly discouraged crime. For example, they worked with Bank of America to improve security programming on the ATMs at 18th and Castro, where drunk users would often forget their cards in the machines.

Like the SFPD, CCOP relies on crime reports to dispatch their patrols to high-risk areas. "We've been doing it three years," said Carlton. "when you're walking on patrol and you stand there and you watch something suspicious, it's like casting a light on it."

"We're taking care of our own," he added.

Tomorrow: Tracking hook-up violence, and challenges with the SFPD.