SFPD Issues Warning Prior to Chinese Lunar New Year

The Chinese Lunar New Year begins on February 3. The celebration is a customary time of gift exchange, usually involving red envelopes filled with cash.

And because of this, the San Francisco Police Department is warning Asian merchants to look out for criminals that might be targeting them.

The organization SAFE, which stands for Safety Awareness For Everyone, has teamed up with the department to make local businesses more aware of possible crime.

This week’s campaign began in Chinatown and has been expanded to include both the Bayview and Ingleside districts, two areas that are now prominently filled with Asian merchants.

Officials are asking merchants to report any crime or suspicious activities and have been discouraged from carrying or displaying cash and valuables.

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It's simple. Keith Mizuguchi loves to write and write and write some more. After taking a hiatus from the journalism business, he has rekindled his passion for writing over the last two years, holding a job as both a web and on-air writer for San Francisco news radio station KCBS. While he enjoys the news business, his true passions are twofold: sports and food. Bay Area born and raised, he lives in San Jose, commutes to SF and loves every minute of it. You can follow his food adventures on Twitter @foodie_keith.