Bay Breakers Boxing SF: Gym Burglary

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) – Two thieves were caught on camera breaking into a San Francisco boxing gym early Saturday morning. The owner of Bay Breakers Boxing Gym can’t help but feel “sad and angry” after valuables were stolen from her business.

The gym was burglarized around 5 a.m. when two unknown suspects entered the business, San Francisco police said. Police arrived on scene approximately 10 minutes after receiving the call, but the suspects had already left.

The thieves managed to steal the gym’s computer, card reader, public address system, boxing gloves and hand wraps. No suspect description is available at this time, but surveillance video (above) shows the two intruders breaking into the business.

Bay Breakers Boxing Gym, co-owned and founded by Abbe Skinner and Daniel Rodriguez-Mendez, is located at 2001 Van Ness Ave. Even after being robbed a few hours earlier, the gym was open again for its members to work out.

“We are always present. We opened the gym anyway,” Rodriguez-Mendez said. “It doesn’t matter. They got us in the first round, but there are 12 rounds in a fight.

Despite the frustration caused by the break-in and the feeling of “violation,” Skinner appreciated the community’s support afterward.

“The support we have received has been truly heartwarming. We focus on the wrong things, but immediately afterwards we have strangers on the internet (supporting us),” Skinner told KRON4. “At the end of the day, the most important feeling is that feeling of love and support.”

Rodriguez-Mendez says the city is a “hostile” environment for small businesses, but remains positive because of the outpouring of support from the community.

“I know the (San Francisco) community is very supportive of small businesses, but the environment is hostile to small businesses,” Rodriguez-Mendez said. “We had a huge outpouring of support that made me cry a little. It reminded me why we do this.

“Just because a few bad people did what they had to do to survive or just because we were an easy target shouldn’t overshadow the fact that we’re here to build a community…that’s not going to stop us.”

Rodriguez-Mendez added that the best way to support the gym is to take a class and show up.

As of Monday morning, no arrests had yet been made. SFPD says anyone with information about the burglary is asked to contact the department at 415-575-4444 or text TIP411 and start the message with “SFPD.”

Bay Breakers Boxing Gym opened in February this year.