Four Italian tourists helped apprehend an alleged auto burglar near the visitor-heavy crooked part of Lombard Street early this afternoon.

A tip came in to Hoodline saying four tourists witnessed a "young muscled man" breaking into a SUV parked near the Crooked Street (Lombard near Leavenworth streets). "They immediately sprang into action and brought the struggling would-be thief down in a rather nicely executed takedown," the anonymous tipster wrote. "A huge, but peaceful, crowd of international tourists gathered around taking pictures and watching the unusual events unfold."





A call came in to 911 at 1:05pm about four people holding a man near Leavenworth and Greenwich streets, said SFPD Capt. David Lazar. Officers arrived a few minutes later and took him into custody, he added. The suspect is 22; no hometown information was available.

The alleged burglar was with someone driving a late model silver Ford Mustang, Capt. Lazar said. The person drove off southbound on Leavenworth Street and eastbound on Greenwich Street. Police have asked for help in finding the vehicle and driver. If you witness a crime, Capt. Lazar added, "Get as much information as possible in terms of the description."

A resident of the 220 block of Leavenworth wrote in to Hoodline to say, "All the residents who were witness to this 'citizens arrest' of an apparent perpetrator of the 'smash and grab' incidents that happen almost daily on our block are relieved ... finally."

