A Burglar Used a Waymo to Steal Yoga Clothes in San Francisco — and Got Away

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In a bizarre incident that has left police baffled, a burglar used a Waymo robotaxi to steal yoga clothes from a studio in San Francisco this past January, and despite an investigation, the suspect remains at large. The curious case, reported by the San Francisco Chronicle, raises questions about the limitations of surveillance technology. While Waymo vehicles are equipped with cameras that capture and store ride footage, it's unclear how long that data is retained.

According to the report, the footage was deleted by the time a search warrant was filed in April, rendering it useless to investigators. Further complicating the investigation was the fact that exterior camera footage of the burglar was blurred for privacy reasons, making it impossible for police to identify the suspect. The business' own security footage did capture the incident, showing the burglar entering Hot 8 Yoga, taking the clothes, and getting back into the robotaxi.

Waymo did provide account data to police as part of the search warrant, but it did not lead to the suspect's identification. The burglar had used the Waymo ride to travel to the yoga studio, highlighting the challenges of tracking and tracing individuals who use robotaxis for illicit purposes. The incident highlights the ongoing debate about the role of surveillance technology in law enforcement, and the need for clearer guidelines on data retention and access.

For now, the burglar remains at large, and the case serves as a reminder of the complexities of policing in the age of autonomous vehicles. The San Francisco Chronicle first reported the story on Thursday, shedding new light on the capabilities and limitations of Waymo's technology.