Thieves on Boat Busted Stealing Metal from Hunters Point Shipyard

Michael England

​It appears stealing metal is what floats some thieves' boats these days.

According to San Francisco police, officers were doing an operation at the shipyard Monday night where metal theft has been rampant. At about 3 a.m., the cops saw a vessel approach the shipyard's eastern wall and watched the boat dock. Two people jumped from the boat, climbed the wall and walked toward the buildings, carrying flashlights.

Alphonso Muhammad

​The cops said they heard a "crashing sound" like a door being knocked in; several minutes later, they heard the loud grinding of power tools. The officers also saw flashlight beams coming from the upper level of the shipyard building.

Officers nabbed the two suspects, who were carrying metal pipes, as they were leaving the building. A third suspect who had remained in the cabin on the boat was also taken into custody, police said.
The cops recovered more evidence that had been taken from the building, as well as numerous power tools, an angle grinder, hacksaw, and wire-cutters -- all found on the suspects' boat.

Nalinle Ignacio

​Police arrested Michael England, a 47-year-old transient, and Alphonso Muhammad, 58, of San Francisco, on charges of burglary, possession of stolen property, and resisting arrest. The third suspect -- 34-year-old Nalinle Ignacio -- was arrested on suspicion of felony burglary charges, conspiracy to commit burglary, possession of stolen property, and resisting arrest.

All three were booked into San Francisco County Jail.

Follow us on Twitter at @SFWeekly and @TheSnitchSF