The first individual apprehended under San Francisco’s recently implemented Bait Car Program has received a plea deal, causing dissatisfaction among victims of his car burglaries. Robert Sonza, 27, was released after serving 11 months in jail, a sentence deemed insufficient by those he victimized.
Dan and Linda Oldiges, tourists from Indiana, experienced a car break-in on September 1st of the previous year. They had parked their rental vehicle to visit Alcatraz Prison when the incident occurred.
Dan Oldiges stated, “You’re in a busy parking lot with, you know, thousands of people all over. Usually, that’s not where crime happens. It happens late at night and-” Linda Oldiges added, “Not in broad daylight.” Dan Oldiges continued, “Not in bad areas of the town, but this is a tour site.”
The Oldigeses suffered the loss of cash, a $1,200 iPad, and a $3,500 laptop. Robert Sonza was apprehended on the same day after breaking into another rental car and a San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) bait car. In San Francisco Superior Court, Judge Harry Jacobs approved a plea deal: two years in county jail for each of three burglary counts, to be served concurrently. Factoring in the 11 months already served and good behavior credits, Sonza was released on Friday.
Upon learning this news from ABC7 I-Team’s Dan Noyes, Dan Oldiges expressed his disappointment: “Well, I can’t say it surprises me. I mean, the people of San Francisco elect these people. They support them. Yeah, I don’t know what else to say. I- to me, that’s a joke.”
San Francisco Public Defender Anita Nabha communicated via email that Sonza had completed “over 300 hours of programming in custody… working toward college credits,” and social workers had assisted him in “identifying further opportunities for him to access upon his release.”
This case also involved a probation violation. In April 2022, Sonza was identified driving a stolen SUV used in multiple car break-ins earlier that day.
“The police sort of trapped him,” recounted witness Patrick Rylee, “This is a one-way street. They trapped him down there.”
Police cornered Sonza on a dead-end street, but he evaded capture, damaging a garage, sideswiping vehicles, and then confronting Officer Riley Bandy’s car. Body camera footage obtained by the I-Team captured the incident.
SFPD Officer Riley Bandy recounted, “He just headed right straight for my car and tried to run me over. So I had to jump back into my car to avoid getting killed.”
Sonza then reversed, drove on the sidewalk to bypass police, struck a staircase and a Vespa scooter. He eventually collided with a civilian’s vehicle, injuring the driver, before fleeing on foot and being apprehended in Chinatown.
SFPD officer: “He was in the driver’s seat of our car when the car rammed our car. So, he’s got–” Riley Bandy: “I can feel it. I’m starting to feel my back kind of lock up.”
Sonza’s actions resulted in injuries to two officers and a civilian. Initially, prosecutors charged Sonza with multiple felonies, including “Assault Upon a Peace Officer with a Deadly Weapon,” “Hit and Run,” “Evading an Officer with Willful Disregard,” “Leaving the Scene of an Accident,” “Resisting Arrest,” and a misdemeanor “Possession of Burglar Tools.” However, the plea deal led to the dismissal of all charges except one count of “Evading an Officer.”
Officer Bandy expressed his surprise to the I-Team, “I was really surprised to know that they, that they really dropped, you know, to know that they dropped almost everything.”
Another incident from February 2nd of the previous year was also part of the court proceedings. Police responded to a report of auto burglary at the Japantown garage. Officers attempted to apprehend Sonza, but he fled, running over an officer’s foot and hitting a parked car. This incident resulted in nine additional charges, including “Assault Upon a Peace Officer,” “Burglary of a Vehicle,” “Hit and Run,” and “Resisting Arrest.”
San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins stated, “I, too, am disappointed,” regarding Sonza’s release after only 11 months of jail time.
Dan Noyes inquired, “So the bottom line is, you were pushing for more, but you didn’t get it.” Brooke Jenkins confirmed, “That’s correct. We believe, based on his prior criminal history, as well as the conduct in the new case, that this should be stacked time, so that the old case and the time that he was facing for that should be stacked on top of what we agreed to in the new case, and the judge again, having reviewed his criminal history and heard our arguments, disagreed.”
Robert Sonza was ordered to pay restitution: $10,000 to the Oldigeses and $4,000 to his other victim. However, his public defender informed the court that he is indigent, exempting him from court fees, but he remains obligated to repay his victims.
The case highlights San Francisco’s bait car program, a strategy to combat vehicle break-ins. These programs involve deploying vehicles equipped with surveillance technology to catch thieves in the act. The effectiveness and consequences of such programs, especially in cases like Sonza’s, continue to be a topic of public debate and legal scrutiny. The outcome of Sonza’s case raises questions about the balance between punishment, rehabilitation, and victim justice within the city’s criminal justice system, particularly concerning repeat offenders and the impact on public safety and tourist experiences.
Split image of a bait car with glitter bomb backpack and glitter covered car interior
Popular YouTube personality Mark Rober has created videos showcasing bait cars equipped with glitter bombs to deter car break-ins in San Francisco, raising public awareness about the issue. This approach, while not officially part of the SFPD bait car program, reflects the community’s frustration and innovative responses to vehicle theft.
Here is the complete statement from San Francisco Deputy Public Defender Anita Nabha:
Today, Mr. Sonza was sentenced to a two-year county jail sentence as the result of a negotiated agreement with the District Attorney’s Office.
Since his arrest in 2023, Mr. Sonza has served nearly a year of jail time where he has earned other time credits for taking advantage of every programming opportunity at his disposal to get his life back on track. Social workers from the San Francisco Public Defender’s Office have also worked closely with Mr. Sonza to identify further opportunities for him to access upon his release.
Mr. Sonza is a dedicated son, brother, and father who intends to go back to school to earn more certificates needed to make him an appealing candidate for a union job. As a testament to his dedication, Mr. Sonza completed over 300 hours of programming in custody, which included working toward college credits. Before his arrest last year, he was in the process of completing an apprenticeship program to which he hopes to reapply.
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