Spree of Break-ins Plague Oakland’s Montclair Village, Leaving Local Businesses in Distress
Oakland’s Montclair Village experienced a disturbing wave of break-ins, which left local business owners reeling from financial losses amounting to several thousands of dollars on Friday morning.
Eric Kim, the owner of EM Deli & Catering, inadvertently became a witness to the burglary as it unfolded on his security cameras around 5 a.m. on Friday. Kim promptly alerted the police but by the time he reached his store, the thieves had already vanished into thin air.
According to Kim, the three perpetrators not only managed to steal $5,000 in cash but also caused significant damage amounting to thousands of dollars to his door, cash register, and Point of Sale system. Meanwhile, Reza Aryan, the owner of Jewel Box located across the street, reported an estimated $15,000 worth of stolen jewelry. In addition, Kim suspected that two other restaurants on the same street were also targeted by the criminals.
Oakland Police Department data reveals a disconcerting trend, with 1,334 reports of commercial burglary reported last year alone. This marked a staggering 76% increase from 2021 and a significant 56% rise from the five-year average. Despite the alarming statistics, representatives from the Police Department remained silent regarding the matter even after requests for comment were made.
Adding to an already dire situation, Oakland recently missed an opportunity to secure potentially millions in grant funding that could have been used to combat retail theft. Other cities such as San Francisco received a substantial sum of $17.3 million from the statewide program, intending to allocate the funds towards enhanced policing and prosecution efforts as the number of businesses falling victim to break-ins continues to rise.
Upon examining the surveillance footage, Kim noted that the burglars were seen loitering in the vicinity for approximately thirty minutes prior to the crime, exhibiting a brazen lack of fear of being caught by the police.
Expressing his frustration, Kim lamented the deteriorating state of affairs in Oakland, stating, “It’s frustrating. It really made me tired. It’s getting worse everywhere in Oakland right now.”
As the community grapples with the aftermath of these break-ins, local business owners and residents are left seeking answers and solutions to curb the surge in criminal activity that has plagued Montclair Village.
For further information, please contact Megan Fan Munce via email at [email protected] or on Twitter at @meganfanmunce.