CNN Reporter Learns Hard Lesson About Deep-Blue Cities

CNN Senior National Correspondent Kyung Lah traveled to San Francisco for a story on voter discontent about rampant street crime.

Lah joined Jason Kravarik, Senior Producer at CNN’s LA Bureau, for the report.

While Lah and Kravarik were at San Francisco City Hall, they were robbed “again.”

“Got robbed. Again. @jasonkCNN & I were at city hall in San Francisco to do an interview for @CNN. We had security to watch our rental car + crew car. Thieves did this in under 4 seconds. Security stopped the jerks from stealing other bags. But seriously- this is ridiculous,” Lah tweeted with a picture of the damaged vehicle.

“Our hired security guard tried to grab the crooks (I’m glad he didn’t get hurt!) but he got this picture of the getaway car. To the jerks who stole our stuff— I hope someone on this site sees your plate and you get caught,” she added.

Our hired security guard tried to grab the crooks (I’m glad he didn’t get hurt!) but he got this picture of the getaway car.
To the jerks who stole our stuff— I hope someone on this site sees your plate and you get caught pic.twitter.com/k7VL0J9JHJ

— Kyung Lah (@KyungLahCNN) March 17, 2023

“San Francisco is a beautiful city. This is our 3rd day here and I’ve loved my time here. But if you do visit this city, know that even with hired security watching your car, it is not enough,” Lah tweeted with a video of the damage.

San Francisco is a beautiful city. This is our 3rd day here and I’ve loved my time here. But if you do visit this city, know that even with hired security watching your car, it is not enough. pic.twitter.com/Hi7UPSG5g5

— Kyung Lah (@KyungLahCNN) March 17, 2023

Lah said she faced the task of getting a flight back to Los Angeles without an ID or passport since they were both stolen.

“BTW; @jasonkCNN and I are in San Francisco doing a story about voter discontent bc of rampant street crime #irony,” Lah added.

BTW; @jasonkCNN and I are in San Francisco doing a story about voter discontent bc of rampant street crime #irony

— Kyung Lah (@KyungLahCNN) March 17, 2023

“Also, if you fly out of Oakland, know the gas stations are being hit around the airport. Teams here in Oakland say passengers show up crying bc their bags are all stolen, all in seconds,” she added.

.@TSA officer Boongaling at Oakland is really helping me out today. Thank you to her!
Also, if you fly out of Oakland, know the gas stations are being hit around the airport. Teams here in Oakland say passengers show up crying bc their bags are all stolen, all in seconds pic.twitter.com/BQIwqtW53y

— Kyung Lah (@KyungLahCNN) March 17, 2023

Fox News reported:

She later provided an update that her bag was recovered while Kravarik’s was “still missing.”

It is unclear whether the second robbery incident Lah referred to in her Twitter thread also took place in San Francisco. Neither she nor CNN immediately responded to Fox News’ requests for comment.

While there’s been an uptick in crime in cities across the country in recent years, San Francisco has been a hot spot for robberies and assaults.

Walgreens was forced to close several of its locations in the Golden Gate City due to out-of-control shoplifting.

The rise in San Francisco crime led to the 2022 ousting of the city’s progressive district attorney Chesa Boudin, who over 55% of residents voted him out in a historic recall election.