What!? No one called the National Guard?

Shouldn't they still have every available officer looking for him? After all, it wasn't just a phone. It was a Droid smartphone.

Was it Jobs' phone or what? How much do you have to pay to get the helicopter involved in your perp search?

Helicopter? How ridiculous is our police dept? How about 100 officers working overtime for the next year to find this smartphone, morons? Who is running all these? Fire everyone if they are this stupid? Oh, sorry I forgot, our city council is also run by the same kind.

Obviously it was a quiet night ...

There's gotta be more to this than we're being told. Maybe law enforcement was looking for something else and is using this as a cover story. Maybe there was something on that phone that was more than personally critical. Consider the cost of the search vs the cost of that phone -- they could have taken up a collection to buy a new one and spent their time enriching donut shops. There seems to have been no violence reported in the loss of he phone.

What is this really all about? Did it say police from 3 different communities and a helicopter were used to track down someone who stole a phone? WOW. Kinda makes ya wonder who is minding the store when something like this takes place. Am I really that much safer or do I live next door to the droid bandit?

Does this mean the Stanford Ave Starbucks was left unprotected by the four PAPD cars usually parked there?

I really find it hard to believe no one can look at this in a more comprehensive manner. Anyone who will take such extraordinary measures to evade police for stealing a phone could very well be a felon on the run, maybe an escaped convict. What grief the police would take if they let off and that man on the run then took hostages, committed a more serious crime. Should police "not" consider these things. The resources were already in place, there was no reason not to use them and many reasons to do so. Kudos to the police and whoever authorized their use in this manner. I am not a policeman.

you are kidding me, a helicopter to find a cell phone thief?

The Droid has GPS. They could have called Verizon and asked where he was.

Obviously there's more to this than the public is being told. The problem is the public thinks they are entitled to know everything, even if it jeopardizes saftey and/or lives! If you've never been in law enforcement (most people haven't), then you have no understanding of the dangers of being a Police Officer, and the mental & physical toll it takes on you, and your family (everytime they approach a vehicle on a "routine" traffic stop, they know it could be the last thing they do in life; try dealing with just that on a daily basis several times a day, wondering if today is the day you die)! Police Officers in America are at risk 24/7. Police in America are murdered on a near daily basis, and are attacked (often with substantial and/or serious injuries) daily! If you had ANY clue of what Police Officers deal with DAILY (felons, muderers, rapists, gang bangers, child molesters [no, they're NOT in prison, it's called parole!]) you would have a much greater appreciation for their sacrifice!! And give them a break for meeting at Starbucks, that could very well be the ONLY time they've had to take a rest between calls. I know you think no crime happens in MV, PA, LA because you don't see it, ever wonder why you don't SEE it?!?! Because the Police are doing their jobs and keeping you safe from the criminals BEFORE you and/or your family are attacked, raped, and murdered (look at what happened to the Petit family in Connecticut in 2007, one of the murdering rapist/child-rapists was just convicted). Until you've done the job, be thankful for those willing to die for YOUR safety!!

I guess this must have been the droid they are looking for.

Dear Navy_Gunner:
Obviously, you do know what's going on. When you found out, let us know-as long as it doesn't jeapordize public safety.

wasnt there an armed robbery at a shell station on embarcadero, i guess the helicopter wasnt needed then....

so Navy_gunner pipe down

As a local resident, I am concerned about the waste of taxpayer money on the seemingly excessive response in using a helicopter to hunt down a Droid thief. This in a year when there were so much budget cuts and service fees increases? Please don't get carried away with your fancy gadgets.

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Obviously just using up excess cash in the budget before year end, to make it necessary to ask for as much next year.

How about this brilliant idea: lease the helicopter to the Oakland PD, where it would be put into service every night hunting down killers and thugs. Or would that be too insensitive? Maybe we should have a ballot initiative and town halls first, I'm sure someone will take offense at actually doing something about thuggery.

Navy_gunner, well said! And to all you hypocrites mocking our brave police officers do this........next time there is a violent felon armed with a gun entering your home and putting the life of your loved ones in danger, instead of calling the police, why don't you guys deal with the criminal yourselves!
You have absolutely no idea what you are talking about.

dear Daval,
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