Around 3:30 a.m. last night firefighters responded to reports of a burning car at Webster and Rose Streets (between Page and Haight). A two-door gray Pontiac was fully engulfed in flames, and after putting out the fire they discovered a body in the passenger's seat. KTVU is reporting that the body was female, though was very badly burned. more ›

Yes, yes, this very likely isn't the same carsonist who kept us on our toes for much of last year (or this recent string of 12 arsons in Berkeley), but just on the off chance... Six cars were torched last night in the long-term parking lot at SFO, with a seventh damaged from the heat of the multiple blazes. more ›

Bucking conventional wisdom about how crime rises as incomes fall and unemployment rises, the FBI's latest report on nationwide crime statistics for 2009 shows an overall decline in both violent and non-violent crime. In the West, there was an overall 8% decline in the murder rate, a 4% decline in burglaries, and a 17.5% decline in auto theft over 2008 figures. As you may recall, our own city's murder rate was sliced in half, from 98 in 2008 to 45. more ›

A car fire in the city of Richmond last night is, presumably, related to the other car fires sweeping the East Bay. KTVU reports: :Units responded to reports of a vehicle fire in the area of Clinton Street and Ventura Avenue at around 3:15 a.m. and arrived to find a 1993 BMW on fire, Richmond police said." No arrests were made; no injuries were reported. more ›

More vehicles were set ablaze in the recent string of car fire hitting the Bay Area. BCN reports, "The fires were reported at around 2:15 a.m. in the 2100 block of Vale Road near San Pablo Avenue, where two vehicles appear to have been set ablaze at the same location." No injuries were reported; no arrests. Over 20 cars have been torched in the last month. more ›