San Francisco responds to crime in Union Square with metal barriers

SAN FRANCISCO – The city of San Francisco responds to crime in Union Square.

Mayor London Breed announced a plan Tuesday to prevent cars from ramming into storefronts after police said a group of criminals tried to do so earlier in the week.

Breed said she is working with the Union Square Alliance to install barriers in front of stores.

Barriers such as bollards or large, heavy trees would fit into the nature of Union Square while increasing its safety.

The attack came after drivers rammed a Lexus into the doors of the Louis Vuitton store in Union Square on Monday morning.

San Francisco also erected similar barriers on Capp and Shotwell streets, but these poles are intended to curb sex trafficking.

“These are challenging times,” said Marisa Rodriguez, CEO of the Union Square Alliance. “These are very strange times where we have to have these conversations because people are choosing to invade our businesses, not just here in San Francisco, but across the country. This is strange, this is strange and it is unfortunate.”

The same type of crime occurred at the Dior store earlier this month, where suspects made off with stolen goods.

The city is working to install the new security measures as quickly as possible.

In addition to the bollards, Union Square is monitored by police 24 hours a day. The city is also equipped with automatic license plate readers and drone technology.