How DFR is Driving San Francisco’s Drop in Auto Theft and Larceny

Auto theft and retail crime have challenged cities nationwide, yet San Francisco is charting a different path. In 2024, the San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) outperformed the national decline in auto theft by 260%, driving a 44% reduction in auto theft and a 22% drop in larceny theft citywide. These gains reflect a coordinated strategy built on strong leadership, disciplined operations, and integrated technology across the department’s Real-Time Investigation Center (RTIC).

In this session, Commander Tom Maguire, one of the founding members of the SFPD RTIC, will break down the specific practices that helped support these results. He’ll walk through the workflows, communication structure, and technology stack—ranging from Drone as First Responder (DFR) deployments to RTIC intelligence—that are improving response times and supporting case closures across the city.

What you’ll learn:

1. Tactics that contributed to SFPD’s 44% reduction in auto theft and 22% drop in larceny theft
2. How drones and RTIC operators improve situational awareness for patrol units
3. Coordination patterns between drone pilots, investigators, analysts, and officers during active incidents
4. Policy and transparency practices that built community confidence
5. Practical steps any agency can take to stand up or expand its DFR and RTIC programs

This session offers agencies a clear, operational look at how an integrated technology and intelligence model can support meaningful citywide crime reduction.