Stanley Roberts of KRON4's 'People Behaving Badly' is leaving the Bay Area Even local television celebrities can't contend with the cost of living

Stanley Roberts, a longtime Kron4 employee and the creator of "People Behaving Badly," announced his pending departure from the Bay Area on Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2018. He heads to azfamily CBS5 in Phoenix. Keep clicking through the slideshow for Roberts' picks of the worst Bay Area driving he's ever seen. less Stanley Roberts, a longtime Kron4 employee and the creator of "People Behaving Badly," announced his pending departure from the Bay Area on Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2018. He heads to azfamily CBS5 in Phoenix. Keep ... more Photo: Courtesy: Kron4 Photo: Courtesy: Kron4 Image 1 of / 10 Caption Close Stanley Roberts of KRON4's 'People Behaving Badly' is leaving the Bay Area 1 / 10 Back to Gallery

After more than a decade of catching rogue cyclists and carpool cheats, Stanley Roberts is leaving the Bay Area. The beloved (and occasionally reviled) host of KRON4's "People Behaving Badly" heads to KPHO-5, the Meredith-owned CBS affiliate in Phoenix, at the end of the month.

"Honestly, the Bay Area has become too expensive," he said by phone Thursday, hours after announcing his departure on social media.

Having spent years in a cramped Bay Area rental, and faced with college tuition for his two daughters, Roberts decided the time has finally come to say farewell to the region in which he made his reputation.

It won't be easy to leave. Roberts said he'll miss the water, the trees and the weather — though "Karl the Fog and Stanley Roberts don't like each other" — but most of all, he'll miss the people who tuned into his segment week after week, who "made me who I am."

RELATED: KRON4 reporter calls out worst Bay Area driving he's ever seen

"This is all I've known for 20 years," he said. "I got here in the 80s from Philly. I walked into the KRON, and all of a sudden, the whole world changed."

It'll change again when Roberts gets to KPHO in Arizona, but not too much. Besides a new name, the segment will remain altogether the same (only with a desert backdrop).

The reporter said he's uncertain what will happen to his old KRON4 segment, though he wishes the news station the "best of luck." He seems to share the sentiments of many commenters on his farewell Facebook post: "Nobody can replace Stanley!"

Regardless of location, Roberts will always have a knack for spotting bad behavior. It's a talent the well-behaved denizens of the Bay Area will miss. Fans and nearly a dozen local law enforcement agencies took to social media to express their gratitude for Roberts' many years of catching miscreants.

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"Our big loss and their gain," wrote Joni Dillane.

"Say it ain't so. Stanley, it has been an honor to work with you," said the Alameda Police Department.

"You were a cameraman with a vision," said Bob E. Neitro, "and you made it so interesting that we had no choice but to watch and also learn."

Many followers expressed their disappointment at Roberts' departure, but promised to, as Cortne Bui wrote, "follow you wherever you are."

Roberts assures viewers there will be plenty of misbehavior in Phoenix's 517-square-miles. He said within five minutes of a recent visit to Phoenix, he spied a motorcyclist attempting to "beat" an oncoming train.

Bad behavior, unlike the cost of living, transcends time and place.

"I'm gonna take all I've learned to Arizona," he said, and added in true form: "But I'm still not gonna give people a break."

"You gotta follow the rules."

Read Michelle Robertson's latest stories and send her news tips at mrobertson@sfchronicle.com.

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