Police in San Francisco are still hunting a thief who commandeered a Waymo robotaxi to loot a local yoga studio in January. Security video shows the suspect entering the studio, stealing a stash of yoga apparel, and escaping in the autonomous vehicle. Waymo supplied the rider’s account data to investigators, but it yielded no leads.

Investigators later filed a search warrant for the car’s interior footage, only to discover the files had already been erased. Waymo’s vehicles continuously record but retain data for a limited window, a policy that hampered the probe. Exterior camera feeds were blurred for privacy, preventing police from identifying the driver during the investigation.

The case follows an earlier incident where a grocery‑store robber used a Waymo for a quick getaway and was apprehended shortly after. While the tech’s surveillance capabilities raise privacy questions, the disappearance of crucial footage shows current data‑retention limits can impede law‑enforcement. The incident highlights how autonomous fleets may become unwitting tools for crime.

Waymo has not commented on its data‑deletion schedule, and privacy advocates are pressing for clearer guidelines. The theft underscores that while autonomous taxis offer convenience, they also present new vectors for illicit activity. Police continue to search vehicle logs and surveillance footage for any clue that could lead to an arrest in the city soon.