San Francisco police are investigating what may be the city’s first case of a burglary suspect using a self-driving Waymo as a getaway car — an unusual incident first reported by the San Francisco Chronicle.
According to the Chronicle, the January break-in at Hot 8 Yoga in the Marina District took less than three minutes. Surveillance video shows a suspect entering the studio, grabbing an armful of men’s activewear and leaving just as quickly.
Waiting outside: a Waymo robotaxi.
The suspect loaded the items into the trunk, got inside, and was driven away. Nearly six months later, police have not publicly identified or arrested anyone in connection with the case, the Chronicle reported.
Why the Waymo San Francisco yoga studio break-in is still unsolved
At first glance, a crime involving a self-driving car might seem tailor-made for investigators.
Waymo vehicles are equipped with dozens of high-definition cameras and require users to create accounts tied to payment information. That combination might suggest a clear trail of evidence.
But the Hot 8 Yoga burglary hasn’t been so straightforward.
As first reported by the Chronicle, police obtained a search warrant for the vehicle’s data and the account used to request the ride. According to investigators, neither led to a clear suspect.
The account information did not point to the person responsible — something police say is not unusual if stolen credentials or burner phones are used.
The video evidence was also limited. By the time officers filed their warrant in April, Waymo no longer retained interior footage from the ride, the Chronicle reported. Exterior footage was available, but faces were blurred for privacy reasons.
“I would think it would be easier to solve in a Waymo,” Sgt. Tim Faye told the Chronicle.
So far, it has not been.
Why robotaxi data does not always help police solve crimes
The case highlights a less-discussed aspect of robotaxis: they collect significant amounts of data, but that does not mean the data is readily usable by law enforcement.
Waymo told the Chronicle it does not use facial recognition and reviews law enforcement requests to ensure they are legally valid. The company also does not publicly disclose how long it retains video footage.
In this case, the Chronicle reported, that meant a potentially valuable digital trail ultimately did not identify a suspect.
How rare it is for suspects to use robotaxis in California crimes?
Criminals using autonomous vehicles remain rare, in part because robotaxi service is still limited to a handful of cities.
The Chronicle noted similar incidents are scarce. In one Los Angeles case, a suspect who entered a Waymo after a reported theft was quickly stopped when the vehicle pulled over in response to police lights.
San Francisco’s case unfolded differently.
Surveillance footage reviewed by the Chronicle shows the vehicle dropping the suspect off, waiting during the break-in, and then departing — less like a hurried escape and more like a scheduled pickup.
“He just stole a bunch of men’s shorts,” the studio’s manager told the Chronicle.
New law allows citations for driverless cars in California
California regulators are moving to address the broader challenges posed by autonomous vehicles — even if cases like this remain uncommon.
Starting July 1, law enforcement agencies will be able to issue citations directly to autonomous vehicle companies under a new framework tied to Assembly Bill 1777.
Previously, officers faced a basic problem: traffic tickets were written to drivers. Robotaxis do not have one.
The updated rules allow police to issue a notice of noncompliance to the manufacturer instead. Companies will have 72 hours to respond and could face further action for repeated violations.
The changes also require improved communication systems for first responders and allow temporary geofencing to keep vehicles out of emergency zones.
At the same time, Waymo is scaling back part of its operations.
The company has temporarily suspended freeway service in several cities, including San Francisco and Los Angeles, as it works through software issues related to roadway conditions, such as flooded streets and construction zones.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: No way to Waymo. SF police still searching in robotaxi burglar
Reporting by James Ward, USA TODAY NETWORK / Palm Springs Desert Sun
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By James Ward, USA TODAY NETWORK | USA TODAY Network
