Remember that profitable In-N-Out Burger that closed in Oakland due to crime?
Well, at 4:30 am this morning, 70 people looted and ransacked a gas station across the street from it!
Video below:
Mob of 80 to 100 looters broke into and robbed an Oakland gas station market of an estimated $100K in merchandise on Friday morning.
It took police 9 hours to arrive on the scene.
Disgraceful!
Owner Sam Mardaie described the scene as around 80 to 100 people broke through the store’s front door, grabbing everything in sight. “Shelves were ripped apart, all the grocery items were torn or stepped on or vandalized,” Mardaie recounted. The mob, reportedly angered by the store’s overnight window service policy, left no corner of the store untouched.
Massive Losses
In addition to the extensive property damage, approximately $25,000 in cash was stolen from the store’s register and ATM. However, the looters were unable to access the store’s safe. Despite the severity of the situation, police took nine hours to respond, highlighting a troubling delay in addressing such crimes.
The aftermath of the 76 robbery in Oakland is truly devastating.
What is @MayorShengThao doing to ensure this kind of abhorrent crime never happens again?
What is Mayor Thao doing to help the owner be made whole and get justice?
Thao said crime is down, doesn’t look like it. pic.twitter.com/qATE1HqQmr
— Paul A. Szypula 🇺🇸 (@Bubblebathgirl) July 7, 2024
Rising Crime Rates
The incident is part of a broader pattern of escalating crime in Oakland. Since the new mayor took office, crime rates have soared, prompting calls for her recall from frustrated residents who see her as too progressive, even for Oakland. The city’s crime statistics paint a grim picture:
Murders increased from 78 in 2019 to 126 last year.
Overall crime has risen by 18 percent in 2023.
Property crime is up by 17 percent.
Violent crime has surged by 21 percent.
Residential robberies have skyrocketed by 118 percent in the first four months of 2024 compared to the same period last year.
In 2023, one car per every 30 residents was stolen.
Community Impact
The looting incident and the broader crime wave are taking a significant toll on Oakland’s residents and business owners. Many feel abandoned and vulnerable, with little confidence in the city’s ability to protect them. The slow police response to the looting has only exacerbated these fears, reinforcing the perception of an ineffective and overwhelmed law enforcement system.
