S.F. cracks down on car break-ins Hundreds per month - laptop left on seat isn't there for long

It took just 90 seconds.

San Francisco police, concerned about a rash of auto break-ins near St. Mary's Cathedral, parked a nice, shiny car on nearby Cleary Court one morning last month, complete with a laptop and GPS device visible in the front seat. They set up a video camera and waited, but it didn't take long.

A man loitered around the bait car, briefly walked away when a patrol car drove by, then came back and threw a spark plug through the window and made off with the loot, police said today.

Elapsed time from parking to window smashing: a minute and a half. The suspect was followed by an unmarked police car and quickly arrested. Jason Robinson, 25, was jailed for violating terms of the probation he received for a conviction for burglary and receiving stolen property in 2006, authorities said.

There are nearly 1,000 car break-ins every month in the city, said Lt. Mike Biel of the police auto section. Officers showed the video they made of the undercover sting today with a warning to people who park in the city - keep valuables out of sight, even power cords that suggest there are expensive devices in the car.

Car break-ins are down slightly from last year, but they are still epidemic in several places in the city, police said. Those include the Embarcadero from Fisherman's Wharf to Howard Street, the Western Addition and along the beach near the Great Highway.

Police say car burglaries are "99 percent preventable."

Deputy Chief David Shinn said motorists have to protect themselves by keeping their property out of view. "They are very good at what they are doing," he said of the thieves.

Another deputy chief, Kevin Cashman, said thieves don't hang onto the loot for very long. "Typically, it is stolen and sold within the hour," he said.

Police video: To view the San Francisco police video of the car-theft sting, go to sfgate.com.

Don't be a victim Ways to reduce the chances of becoming the victim of a car burglary. -- Don't leave valuables such as laptops, cameras, cell phones, iPods or GPS devices in plain view. -- Don't leave power cords or chargers for electronic devices in plain view. -- Lock all items, including loose clothing or bags containing personal items, in the trunk before parking. -- Lock the doors and roll up the windows. Use an alarm system and/or anti-theft device. Source: San Francisco Police Department