Here's an unwelcome bit of news out of the Castro gay-bar scene: There have been a string of incidents recently involving gay men getting rufied, led back woozily to their homes by crooks posing as potential tricks, and then robbed of their belongings. In one instance, a victim was assaulted after he had been vomiting in his bathroom, and when the thief demanded his computer password, the victim fled to a neighbor's home for help.

The victims have apparently ranged in age, though the incidents most recently reported on by the Examiner appear to have targeted middle aged men. One cop investigating the incidents says that it has happened to "younger guys" as well.

So, word of advice: If you're gay and standing around in a Castro bar and get approached by someone seemingly out of your league or much too young who is aggressively flirting with you, cover your drink and run.

[Examiner]