we can't allow our retail stores to be ravaged and expect them to stay, but we can't allow this type of lawlessness to continue. now at 11:00, shoplifting downtown san francisco. is that enough to actually change the shopping experience in the city as we know it now? hi, i'm sara donchey. police officers have been secretly staking out stores around the city, looking for shoplifters. they made 60 arrests in late november doing just that. betty yu joins us in the studio with a bigger look at this. you talked to the district attorney about the law enforcement side of things and you actually talked to shoppers about how they have been feeling about what's going on

in san francisco? >> that's right. a lot of people were out and about tonight downtown chicago, doing their christmas shopping. now this began, and we're talking about department stores, grocery stores, drugstores. tonight i spoke to one family who said they would feel more at ease knowing the city is making accountability a priority. >> reporter: this is one way ross on market street in san francisco tries to reduce rampant thefts by controlling the number of people inside the store at any time. genevieve and her daughter, felicity, got online hoping to check off some gifts. >> it's ideally the pick thin. >> were you still waiting in line? >> when you come to this area, you're shopping in christmas lines any way. >> reporter: on friday, the burglary unit announced that it has made 60 arrests since it

started its retail theft abatement operation, working with plain clothed and uniform officers, and loss prevention personnel. resulting in 13 felony bookings. and more than 47 misdemeanor citations. in recent years, we've seen countless examples of brazen shoplifters at the drugstores and the smash and grabs in union square. >> i think it will change the time we shop. sometimes i try to get more done during the day time. i do remember a lot of stories being hit, and it just feels really bad for even the people who work the stores. >> reporter: the department said about half the people arrested were offered diversion. d.a. brook jensen says her office is prosecuting about 30 people for various retail theft crimes. one of the suspect. >> there are no consequences, one they won't be caught when

they conduct themselves and their fashion with that conduct. so we have to change that culture here. >> reporter: genevieve and felicity left ross with much more than they bargained for. >> definitely because of all the theft and robbery that has been going on, i'll try to shop closer to home rather than going out into the city that much. >> just look around more when you walk and you walk exactly where you need to. >> good advice there. they say the operations like these, not only produce results, but they also send a message that there will be consequences when you cross the line in san francisco. they say this is just the start. >> okay, both of us have spent a lot of time in the city. i know we worked downtown and around union square. things have changed down there in terms of what you see and hear. do you still go downtown to do

your shopping? >> not as often, and i will say at this point i'm going more for work than i am personally. >> interesting. i know this is an issue we have covered many, many times, that you've covered issues like this before. you had interesting experiences when you covered shoplifting stories not just in retail settings, but grocery stores. >> i know exactly what you're talking about. a year ago and this is just so distinct in my memory. i was covering safeway. they installed barriers to deter thieves. when i was out there talking to shoppers, one in particular was very honest. >> i think they're not very good. because i've personally have been able to shop from here with relative ease.

>> reporter: you've shoplifted here? >> yes. >> reporter: why would you do that? >> i was hungry. >> reporter: you're saying this doesn't deter you? >> yeah. it was just a matter of fact and casual and the manner in which he said that. tonight outside the walgreens on market street, a security guard tells me he recognizes the face of these repeat shoplifters. recently someone came in and while he was stealing, and the two of them got into an altercation and the shoplifter ended up getting stabbed. we witnessed this all on market street. >> it's a lot to take in. that was a very honest interview. at the same time people who own businesses in the tenderloin say they have had enough and they want their money back.

it's a little more complicated than that. da lin talked to a business owner who says the city is not doing their jobs committing crimes right outside her door. she wants her tax dollars back. >> reporter: this is a common sight in the tenderloin. a lot say they can send a check. >> reporter: opening up her sandwich shop with love and hope and excitement. >> i was so happy because this is what i wanted. >> reporter: nine years later the tenderloin has drained much of the passion out of her. >> of course, i regret in the bottom of my heart. but the thing is i put a lot oven vestments, so i can't stop. >> reporter: she has remodeled the area twice. there were very

few customers. >> we're not making any business here. >> reporter: the problem is not inside, but outside. it's the opening air drug market and the unsafe street conditions. she and 150 business and property owners signed a petition to demand a refund if their sales taxes and the property taxes from the city. they say the city failed to do its job. >> sometimes question not even open the doors because of the traffic. and you cannot talk to them. we need to move them physically. >> reporter: it was one year ago when san francisco london breed talked tough. declared a state of emergency and vowed to crack down on the open air drug market. >> be more aggressive with law enforcement. be more aggressive with the changes of our policies. less tolerant of all the bull that has destroyed our city. >> reporter: a year after the press conference, those who live and work in the tenderloin say very few changes. some believe it has gotten worse.

>> the tourist are starting to come back, but they just look and get disgusted. >> reporter: some families choose to deal with the oncoming traffic to use the sidewalk. >> yeah, i'm used to it. >> reporter: aside from refunding the tax dollars. they want the city to crack down on the drug mailing. the officers were met earlier this week. to tell them they have the support from the city to arrest drug dealers. iman hopes there is real actions done this time, not just empty words. >> our customers need more support from the police. >> reporter: the business owners tell me they heard from the mayor's office. the plan is to meet with her in january. they want the city to come up with a plan to restore safety. in the tenderloin i'm da lin, kpix 5. tonight, bill scott is pushing back. tweeting tenderloin officers are enforcing laws daily and do not

require permission to do that. he wrote police have made 1,500 arrests in the district through november. 500 of them were for drug sales. sports is coming up in about 15 minutes. the golden state warriors were on the road in philly. we all know how the dubs have been on the road. they struggled and they were missing a trio of starters. how did they do? the answer is coming up shortly. still ahead tonight, the bay area officially california's covid hot spot now. that isn't the only illness we have to worry about. one local doctor tells us the patterns she's seeing among patients now. and later some people say it's not polite to talk about your money in public, but we will show you an atm that lets people flaunt what they have or don't. and another chilly night us we are just in a streak of cold overnight temperat

we have used the word tripledemic a lot. it looks like the bay area is actually seeing the most intense uptick in covid cases in the entire state. anne makovec has more from the north bay on what's going on to help. andria? >> reporter: yes, here at the pediatrics, it's an understatement to say doctors have been busy. waves of patients have been coming in with a number of viral illnesses. this is the first time the buck family has ventured outside the house since the flu swept through their household. >> i came in with the runny nose. all of a sudden the next morning, she was throwing up. she had diarrhea really bad. it

was like a rolling affect with all of them. >> reporter: influenza is what doctors are seeing the most so far this season. >> as we typically, between the two officers that we have, 100 to 120 patients a day on a busy day. a few weeks ago on one monday, we saw 180 patients. and that was repeated for multiple days that week. >> reporter: pediatrician dr. nelson bronco says while cases of rsc starting to decrease. center that's one of the interesting ways that we have learned to keep track of viruses in our community is through wastewater monitoring. so the testing in the wastewater it big. i think the 20% to this week. >> reporter: there is enough protection in the community with vaccines that masking should be a personal decision. not only to protect yourself from covid, but from all of the

other illnesses going around. >> you look better, buddy. >> yeah. she is not only do her part to stop spreading germs. >> trying to protect others. i don't want them to have what we've got. and it has been literally hell. [ laughter ] >> reporter: as families gather this holiday season, doctors say avoid those gatherings if you're sick. even if you're not showing any symptoms, it might be a good idea to test especially if those gatherings include the. andrea nakano kpix 5. >> that sounds terrible. the surge is wringing back talks of wearing masks inside crowds. many doctors say we should. but the idea of it coming one person wants that to

happen. >> i want masks to come back, so that our -- health is protected. we do it in a way that's equitable to all. i'm scared how it might get and before that changes. >> san jose state will require masks inside starting on the 19th. alameda county is bringing them back to jail shelters and long-term care facilities. dr. peter hong, an expert had this to say. >> i don't think we need a mandate mainly because there are too many things we could do. even if someone becomes positive and high risk. i could give them paxlovid to keep them from going to the hospital. >> if all those illnesses were not enough. the infections in children may be on the rise. there is no vaccine, but the antibiotics can help. okay, with all of those

germs. it will come winter weather. i know, a little downer there. >> everyone is gathering inside, just passing from one to the other. >> charming. and i know, it's not a good time. it felt colder today. >> yes, at least in most spots, but maybe you're being worn down by it. >> just like the flu and covid and rsv? >> and hopefully you're not coming down with either of those. let's take a look at what's happening weather wise. another chilly night especially through the central valley. that's going to be dense over the next few nights. and that's the dense fog advisory through tomorrow morning and also far eastern countries. but once that dissipates, your temperatures will warm up and it will be dry through the weekend. very limited rain chances. and there towards the

bottom end of the scale here and maybe a 20% on tuesday night and into thursday night, but that is just going to be for the north bay. it is more than a trace of moisture if it happens at all, still below 50/50. but it looks like a dry forecast at least through christmas weekend and we need the rain to wash some of the wide fire smoke out of the atmosphere for everybody using their fireplaces, the chilly weather pattern. adding a lot to the atmosphere that will get trapped by the weight of the atmosphere on top of us. a lot of unsensitive for the groups across the bay area and the current map and, of course, with pretty still conditions overnight. it will look worse by the time the air quality deteriorates. that unhealthy for sensitive group range. if

you know someone with breathing difficulty whether it is severe asthma or emphysema, check on that to scrub that stuff from the atmosphere. otherwise other than the haze, mostly clear skies with the temperatures in the mix of 30s and 40s. it's already dropping off. just a few degrees above santa rosa right now. similar temperatures with a mix of upper 30s around the bay and along the coast. we are going to warm up after that chilly start though. temperatures with full sunshine throughout the day. even that weak december sunshine is going to push our temperatures up close to what's normal for this time of the year. at least within two, three degrees of average. the warmest spot is getting up close to 60 degrees. a tiny little cool down on sunday and monday and you're probably not going to notice a whole lot unless yourself personally and temperatures

will warm up. we'll see a warming trend next week. pushing temperatures around the bay up to 60 degrees. inland parts of the bay area, more likely to get up into the low to mid-60s by wednesday, thursday, friday. that warmer air is sticking around through christmas weekend. just the two little rain chances for the north bay on tuesday and thursday. we will keep you updated as we head into next week. charlie? any update on your nightly sports, it's coming up next. why brock purdy had some hollywood in him. and plus the warriors were shorthanded and on the road at philly. just to be sure in case you haven't seen it, the recap is next. brittney griner breaks her silence. what she says she really wants to do after

brittney griner is bouncing back from being in prison from russia for almost a year. and her first major message, now that she's home, came with something of a surprise. she was released this morning from a texas military facility and she went home to arizona where she plays for a professional basketball team. on instagram she posted that it feels so good to be home and she said that she wants to play basketball again this season, this is so impressive considering what she's been through to go ahead and say i'm not taking a break, i'm jumping back in it. he says she wants to thank her supporters and fans and even who helped her. >> yeah, and for gray monday green, e thought. we'll see how long it takes to get basketball

to basketball ban. the warriors are in the longest road trip of the season. that's never a good sign. the dubs haven't won a game on this road trip. they are missing a trio of starters. andrew wiggins, draymond green is out tonight in philly. just sounds like a disaster all the yeararound. but i emphasized steph curry will return. earlier the other double were up 18-9 leerily. the big time flush. the big time highlights for wiseman who had six points in 11 minutes. and quite a few highlights from the young dubs. jonathan cominga off the pass. and he flushes it home. the young dubs are athletes, but a tough matchup in the sixers house. klay thompson with amis here. warriors are down 8. and this is the icing on the cake with the cherry as well. the flush other way from house. and joel embiid led philly with 34.

jordan pool with 29 for golden state. sixers win 118-106. warriors get this, now 2-4 on the road. the 49ers approached after the victory happened. thanks in part due to quarterback brock purdy and george kittle. kittle is second of the night. a connection of the play design that kyle shanahan marked as hollywood. >> at half time he said hey, the ball is going to go in the slant or to christian and he'll have a lead blocker in juice. >> the place is called hollywood because kittle is suppose to do a good acting job. we have done it in the past where he falls down and so they forget about him. sometimes it's too obvious when they fall down. >> he just took it to the house there. for those of you that like great plays. you don't care what sport it is or what level it is at. this one is for you. a top five on channel five on a friday night. hit the take,

justin. number five. miami, ohio. down four to uab with a second left in the bahamas bowl. this is the old titans, rams game. number four, jayson tatum, the friendly home bounce. through the foul too with the magic upsetting boston. number three, scx foibles mines with a crafty play going for two. nice, gusty, but they win and advance to the finals. number two, the mavericks and the blazers, luca doncic, oh, the poster. even luca didn't believe it, stunned. mavericks win easy by 20. number one, nets and raptors, tie in the final seconds, kyrie, kyrie irving nails it. somehow that's actually his first career game winning buzzer beater. and they have not been great this season, but that's a strong win on the road against the raptors. that's it for sports. all right, charlie, thank you so much. super star