TV reporter interviewing people in San Francisco about a recent string of car break-ins is robbed at gunpoint by three thieves who stole his crew’s camera equipment
- Don Ford, a reporter for KPIX, was setting up for a segment on car theft in Twin Cities
- Three thieves jumped out of a luxury car and demanded he give them his camera
- He agreed and the thieves drove away; a local by-passer watched the whole thing
- Ford said: ‘When someone puts a Glock into your face, you definitely let go of the camera’
- The camera was later recovered but the thieves have not been found
A San Francisco TV reporter who was preparing to film a segment about a spate of car robberies was mugged at gunpoint as he set up for the segment by thieves who stole his crew’s camera equipment.
Don Ford, a veteran journalist for KPIX was setting up to interview neighbors in the Twin Peaks about the recent car thefts when the thieves jumped out of their luxury car.
One pointed a Glock pistol in his face and demanded his camera. It’s unclear if Don was alone or if he had a crew with him, or if he had started rolling.
Don Ford, a veteran journalist for KPIX was setting up to interview neighbors in the Twin Peaks about the recent car thefts when the thieves jumped out of their luxury car. He is shown reenacting the incident but there is no footage of it actually happening
The thieves pointed a gun at him and demanded the equipment.
Ford stood with his hands up, allowing them to take the equipment, and was not harmed.
A neighbor who watched the robbery unfold told KPIX that he stood from afar, hoping that no one would be shot.
Ford later recounted the ordeal.
He said: ‘Three guys jumped out, one of them with a gun, put it up to my face and said: “We’re taking the camera.”
Ford said he did not hesitate in handing over the camera when the thieves approached him
‘My whole thought was, let’s be calm, let’s not get this guy excited. He’s got the gun. I don’t. So, you take the camera. It’s yours buddy.
‘I’m not sure my adrenaline has settled quite yet.’
The neighbor who watched it all unfolded said he watched from afar but did not want to intervene.
‘I just looked and I said “I’m not going to get shot today.”
Police have since revealed that the camera was recovered, but the thieves have not been caught.
It’s unclear if they dumped it somewhere or how it was found.
The car theft keeps happening at Twin Peaks, a famous hill in San Francisco