San Francisco appears to have a high-end wine thief.
At least two wine shops in Russian Hill have been targeted this month, reported the San Francisco Chronicle. The most recent incident happened at Habibi Bar on Hyde St., where 65 bottles worth an estimated $2,253.43 were stolen late Wednesday or early Thursday. Just days earlier, wine shop Biondivino on Green St. reported an attempted break-in on March 18.
While the would-be thief didn't get into Biondivino, security footage showed him trying to pry the door open with a crowbar and using a blowtorch on a window.
Stills from security footage showed the attempted break-in earlier this month at Biondivino on Green St. in San Francisco.Biondivino/Facebook
The two businesses are about a 10-minute walk apart.
Biondivino's owner, Ceri Smith, told the paper she's sure the thief was after the shop's "unique selection of sought-after Italian bottles."
"Guy's got good taste," she added.
This month's incidents come after a similar one last May at William Cross Wine Merchants on Polk St. "A sizable amount" of wine was reportedly stolen. There, the Chronicle said, two men filled up camping bags with wine, left, came back and loaded even more wine into a recycling bin.
In at least two of the instances, items like cash, laptops, iPads and other valuable trinkets were apparently left.
The suspect or group of suspects really does have good taste. Some of the bottles stolen are said to be "rare and allocated, meaning the shop only gets a limited amount."
Police reports confirming the incidents weren't immediately available.
