San Francisco auto repair companies see hit to profits
In San Francisco, teh property crime rate has reached a 22-year low, largely due to law enforcement’s intensified efforts against smash-and-grab crimes. Strategies such as additional personnel, sting operations, and “hot spot” overtime units have contributed to a significant drop in incident reports—from 28,500 in 2017 to around 8,500 in 2024. While this decrease is a positive advancement for the community, auto repair businesses have struggled as an inevitable result. As an example, local auto glass repair shops have reported a decline in customer calls, with some businesses considering layoffs due to reduced demand. Factors such as fewer car burglaries in high-tourism areas and increased competition in the sector have exacerbated the situation. The police have also enhanced their crime-fighting technologies, which include new surveillance tools and bait cars, leading to an increase in arrests for car break-ins. Despite improvements in public safety, the economic impact on auto repair businesses highlights the complex dynamics at play in the city’s recovery.
San Francisco auto repair companies take a hit after smash-and-grabs fall
The property crime rate in San Francisco has hit a 22-year low. Law enforcement has aggressively cracked down on smash-and-grab jobs, deploying new strategies, bringing in additional help, conducting stings, and deploying “hot spot” overtime units.
Incident reports fell to 8,500 in 2024 from 28,500 in 2017.
Couple that with Daniel Lurie’s fledgling stint as mayor, which has seen progress on crime and tourism in his first 100 days, and it appears the City by the Bay is finally turning the corner.
But you can’t please everybody all the time.
Hank Wee’s In & Out Auto Glass on Bayshore Boulevard said the crackdown on property crime hasn’t been great for business.
“We used to get 60 to 80 calls a day,” he told the San Francisco Chronicle, explaining that business was so plentiful that his workers had to turn down less-urgent day jobs, such as a windshield chipped by rocks. Now, they are considering layoffs.
“It was Black Friday every day — ‘I’m first, I’m first, I’m first,’” Wee said of the people standing in line for services.
“Now, we’re lucky to get 25,” Wee added, saying the average number of customer calls per day is about 15 to 20. Other garages and auto glass techs in the area have similarly seen business slow down.
San Francisco Police Chief Bill Scott said in high-theft areas such as the Palace of Fine Arts, police deployed bait cars and plainclothes officers. More recently, new surveillance tools became available following the passage of Proposition E.
“We had the passage of Prop E, which opened up the doors to technology that has been a game changer,” he said at a press conference last month. “The goal was 100 Flock cameras across the city, along with drones and better access to video surveillance, period.”
He also noted that arrests related to car break-ins were up more than 81% year-to-date and said catching one member of an organized burglary crew could effectively dismantle the ring.
Joel Corena, owner of On Time Auto Glass, told the San Francisco Chronicle that a drop in tourism and rental cars, which used to be prime targets for burglaries, was to blame.
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At family-owned Express Service Auto Glass, manager Morena Mendez also pointed to the high cost of glass imported from Mexico and China, which has forced businesses to raise prices. There are also hundreds more auto glass companies.
“Five years ago, there were 100 [repair] companies,” Mendez said. “And now, there are 300 companies.”
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