Thieves looking for cannabis attempt to bust their way into San Francisco building, video shows

Thieves attempt to bust into San Francisco cannabis shop

Thieves were seen on video trying to bust into a San Francisco cannabis shop.

SAN FRANCISCO - A group of thieves were recorded on video attempting to break into what they thought was a San Francisco cannabis dispensary. The botched job comes less than 24 hours after a group of local cannabis business owners called on the city to reduce crime.

"The people got the wrong location," said Reese Benton, a cannabis business owner familiar with the neighborhood. "I know the owners of the real location. I told them to be safe."

San Francisco cannabis dispensaries concerned about recent break-ins

Some San Francisco cannabis dispensaries are sounding the alarm after several locations were broken into over the past few weeks. Owners said it’s dispensary products the suspects are after.

The incident occurred around 3:20 a.m. on Friday. The masked thieves can be seen on camera trying to bust their way into the building at 70 13th Street. The individuals first slammed a Nissan minivan into the building’s steel roll up door, but that didn't work. They then turned to tools, including a torch to pry away at the steel door to no avail. They took off before police arrived. The minivan was later found abandoned on Van Ness Avenue.

"It’s sad," said Benton. "It’s other businesses that now have to deal with the repercussions of this nonsense that’s going on in the city."

"It’s a storage unit," said a neighbor who asked not to be identified for safety purposes. "There’s no dispensary behind the metal gate. I don’t know what they would have found."

The actual cannabis business is intact, the owners didn’t want to comment. As for the damaged building it needs to be repaired.

"I’m waiting for a crew to just patch the hole and try to get this thing fixed," said the concerned neighbor.

If you have any information about this crime, the suspects or any cannabis business break-ins you’re asked to call San Francisco Police at 415-575-4444.