There are a lot of anecdotes, occasionally newsworthy, about SFPD watching theft happen and doing nothing about it [2]. SFPD also appears to have refused to assist the DA in arrests related to theft rings for political reasons [3].
It's noteworthy that SFPD chose to pursue such broad surveillance access for a protest of police violence. Their past record on theft and vandalism is an exceptionally flimsy justification.
[1]: https://www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/The-state-of-the-SFPD... [2]: https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/San-Francisco-po... [3]: https://sfist.com/2022/05/23/report-sfpd-refused-to-particip...