Man throws dog to its death after breaking into car in SF, police say

Dunky, a 4-year-old Chihuahua, died after a suspect broke into a car and threw him over a railing near San Francisco’s Union Square, police said. Dunky, a 4-year-old Chihuahua, died after a suspect broke into a car and threw him over a railing near San Francisco’s Union Square, police said. Photo: SFPD / SFPD Photo: SFPD / SFPD Image 1 of / 5 Caption Close Man throws dog to its death after breaking into car in SF, police say 1 / 5 Back to Gallery

San Francisco’s car break-in epidemic took a disturbing turn over the weekend when a man smashed into a car at a parking structure and threw a Chihuahua to its death seven stories below, police said.

Four-year-old Dunky didn’t stand a chance.

At first, it wasn’t clear exactly what happened to the small black and tan dog Saturday afternoon. A passerby discovered the animal dead on the pavement outside the Stockton Street Tunnel near Sutter Street around 2 p.m.

Dunky’s owner, who was not identified, made the sad discovery upon returning to the structure near Union Square. He thought the dog had escaped from the vehicle and somehow fallen over the railing, police said.

But when investigators began looking closer, it was clear something more sinister happened.

Blood and broken glass was in the car. The glove compartment had been rummaged through. A trail of blood led from the car to the railing.

Dash camera footage eventually revealed the crime in all its horror.

Police said 35-year-old San Francisco resident Wakeen Best, a man they immediately recognized “from prior contacts,” broke into the car and threw Dunky over the ledge.

Officers arrested Best at Polk and Bush streets Sunday on suspicion of felony burglary, animal cruelty, grand theft, possession of stolen property, carrying a concealed weapon, vandalism and probation violation.

Best was also held on suspicion of misdemeanor counts of possession of burglary tools, possession of drug paraphernalia and violating a court order. He is being held without bail.

The incident comes in the wake of several shocking recent car break-ins in San Francisco.

Criminals have taken musicians’ instruments, ash-filled urns, and an Olympian’s ice skates and dress, to name a few items. But Dunky’s death marked a new low in an already abysmal situation.

More than 30,000 auto burglaries were reported in San Francisco in 2017, the worst year on record.

San Francisco police said they are using new methods to combat the epidemic, but morning streets are still littered with shattered glass.

Police haven’t been spared from the trouble, either. On Feb. 1, an auto burglary suspect intentionally ran over a plainclothes officer during a bust at Alamo Square, police said.

Evan Sernoffsky is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: esernoffsky@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @EvanSernoffsky