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San Francisco Police Department personnel from Ingleside Station responding to a report of multiple armed robbers discovered a "sophisticated" gambling den instead, leading to the seizure of gambling devices and one narcotics citation.
Officers responded to a report of an armed robbery in progress involving multiple suspects with rifles and handguns inside a storefront on the 4100 block of Mission Street at 4 p.m. on Saturday.
The seriousness of the reported situation required officers to establish a perimeter, evacuate occupants and conduct a "tactical protective sweep," according to Ingleside Station's "arrest of the week" report.
"Although no robbery had occurred, officers uncovered what appeared to be a sophisticated illegal gambling operation concealed inside the business," according to the report.
Officers seized multiple gambling devices, a money counting machine, payout slips, possible methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. One occupant was cited for a narcotics-related violation. No cash was recovered.
Ingleside Station's report noted that the operation appeared to have a dedicated manager who employed locked rooms and surveillance cameras to secure the scofflaw business. An investigation is ongoing.
"While there was no robbery, this incident highlights the proactive work being done by Ingleside officers to identify and disrupt illegal gambling establishments operating within our district," the report states.
Illegal casinos are magnets for all manner of crime, from armed assault to narcotics. A man wanted for murder was picked up at a gambling den inside an Ingleside home in 2024. The Mission District den where the homicide occurred was raided last month.
Police often know where gambling dens are and even who frequents them. Because the gambling itself is only a misdemeanor, officers leave the work of shutting down the illegal casinos to the Office of the City Attorney, which leans on property owners to evict their wayward tenants. Otherwise, they may find themselves in court.
This part of Mission Street is no stranger to gambling dens. In 2015, Ingleside Station officers took The Ingleside Light inside one called Jhec of All Trades at 4182 Mission St. to chat with the wagerers.
Given Ingleside Station's low number of officers (it no longer has a plainclothes unit), hampering a 911 call-generating gambling den is a boon for police who have other work to do.
The SFPD HQ and Ingleside Station Capt. Gerry Newbeck didn't immediately respond to a request for more information and photos.
