Pirates in the bay: San Francisco crime wave spreads to the seas

Amid a surge in crime and homelessness, San Francisco now faces the threat of maritime piracy, with bandits descending upon Bay Area ships and making off with both cargo and domestic vessels.

Former Harbor Master Brock de Lappe, during a recent town meeting, said that the problem has brought considerable risks for people living at the docks, some of whom have had to personally fend off bandits seeking to steal their floating homes.

"Multiple vessels have been stolen and ransacked. Victims have had to resort to personally confronting the criminals to recover their property without the benefit of police support. Is this appropriate activity for a 79-year-old senior?" he said, according to Fox News.

"The open shoreline of the (Oakland-Alameda) estuary is littered with sunken wrecks and derelict, end-of-life vessels, and crime has risen to truly intolerable levels," he continued.

The outlet highlighted that there have further been incidents of bandits using stolen boats to approach other vessels in the Bay. Much of the pirate activity has plagued the Oakland and Alameda areas. Several marinas have faced raids since the Summer.

Many of the stolen boats ultimately wind up scuttled and at the bottom of the Bay.

News of the maritime incursions comes as the area battles a broader crime wave that has led major retailers and local outlets alike to mull withdrawing from the region entirely.

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter.