Video shows 70 flash mob looters ransack Oakland gas station, took police 9 hours to respond: 'Things have to be fixed somehow'



A flash mob of roughly 70 looters ransacked a California gas station convenience store, which cost approximately $100,000 in losses. The owner said it took Oakland police about nine hours to respond to the looting.

Around 4:30 a.m. on Friday, a flash mob looted the 76 Gas Station & Mini Market near the San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport.

The owner, Sam Mardaie, said there were two employees working at the time and the looting lasted around 40 minutes. The business was only offering window service at the time of the pillaging. However, the looters broke into the market through the front door.

“Shelves were ripped apart, all the grocery items were torn or stepped on or vandalized,” Mardaie told KTVU.

The owner released video of the flash mob ransacking his gas station convenience store. Surveillance video shows the looters going behind the counter and stealing food and products.

None of the employees were harmed in the flash mob looting.

The looters snatched approximately $25,000 in cash from the store’s register and ATM. The owner said the criminals were not able to steal the safe.

Mardaie and his family took over the business in August 2023.

“This is the hardest thing you could ever go through…especially if you’ve been put in sweat and tears day in and day out,” Mardaie said. “Building yourself for the last ten months and then you’re back to square one.”

"Things have to be fixed somehow," Mardaie said. "The citizens of Oakland have to have some sort of security."

The owner said he knew the area was known for crime, but added: "I did not know it is this terrible."

The 76 gas station is located in the same area of Oakland where an In-N-Out fast food restaurant closed in March because of out-of-control crime. The location was the Southern California-based burger chain's only restaurant in Oakland.

The Oakland Police Department told KTVU that officers were responding to a sideshow near the airport that had more than 100 vehicles at the scene. The department said officers responded to the gas station robbery about 90 minutes after receiving a call. However, there were no suspects at the 76 gas station. Police marked the crime as a Priority 2, which means that the incident can be reported online. However, police upgraded the robbery to a Priority 1 crime after seeing the surveillance video.

No arrests were made in relation to the flash mob looting.

District 7 City Councilmember Treva Reid, who represents the area where the crime occurred, said she continues to "advocate and work to secure increased public safety resources and response." Reid urged Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao to prioritize her district's demands.

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Stop signs replace traffic lights at 'busy' Oakland intersection, reportedly on account of area homeless



The City of Oakland, California, has replaced traffic lights with stop signs at one intersection, and some area residents believe criminal behavior on the part of local homeless persons led to the potentially dangerous change, KPIX reported.

Earlier this month, the intersection of E. 12th Street and 16th Avenue, about two miles east of Downtown Oakland, went from a traffic light to a four-way stop. A Fox News report described the intersection as "busy," and KPIX-TV video shows the intersection teeming with businesses and vehicles.

Ok, I'm going to cover Oakland. The city is now replacing traffic lights with stop signs because the homeless are allegedly stealing wiring from the electrical boxes. pic.twitter.com/04qQqhn4xg
— Jonathan Choe (@choeshow) May 19, 2024

According to the sources who spoke with KPIX, the city made the change to stop signs because people living in a nearby homeless encampment have been stealing copper wire from electrical boxes connected to the traffic lights at the intersection. As a result, the lights malfunctioned for months, often blinking red or blacking out entirely, KPIX reported.

Mason Young described the change to a four-way stop as putting a "band-aid" on the problem, but noted a band-aid was better than "bleeding out." His metaphor is graphic, but it may also be apt as the malfunctioning traffic light caused a truck to slam into an auto repair shop located on one corner of the intersection, he claimed. KPIX did not mention whether any injuries resulted from the crash.

The owner of the repair shop, Tam Le, claimed the move to a four-way stop is a sign "that the city is giving up on us." Le has owned the shop for more than 25 years, but he said the homeless encampment, which now extends nearly three blocks along E. 12th Street, may soon force him out.

"Many businesses already closed down on E. 12th St. And I don't know how long we're going to be here. Because once they move to our side of the sidewalk, we will be gone," Le said.

The homeless not only create blight along the street and perhaps steal copper wiring, some also steal electricity from underground city sources. A spokesperson for the city told KPIX that the city placed heavy cement blocks atop the access points for the electrical boxes but that determined thieves pull the blocks off and steal the electricity anyway.

In its report, KPIX shared a Google Earth photo of the intersection taken on an unknown date. Not only does the photo show a traffic light that was once in working repair, but it also reveals just how much the homeless encampment has begun to encroach on area businesses along the street.

Composite screenshot of KPIX-TV report via @choeshow X video

Young also admitted that crime and violence in the area is a problem. "All my family and relatives that don't live in the area ... they're like, 'You're going to get shot.' And I can't say, 'No, I'm not. There's no gunshots,' because there are," he said.

Despite the danger, Young said he still wants to stay.

"I want to live here, and I love this neighborhood. I love how diverse it is."

A city spokesperson claimed that the stop signs at the intersection are just a temporary measure but did not provide KPIX a timeline for when new traffic lights would be installed.

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Soros-backed DA's staff training claims 'racial disparities' in justice system, slavery 'never fully abolished': Report



George Soros-backed Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price mandated staff training that teaches about "racial disparities" in the criminal justice system and claims that "slavery was never fully abolished in the US," according to a Thursday report from the Daily Caller News Foundation.

Documents obtained by the DCNF revealed that the leftist California DA's office provided employees with training materials arguing that the criminal justice system in the United States is rooted in racism.

A 40-slide presentation, titled "A New Paradigm for Public Safety Restorative Justice Racial Justice Act Training," claimed that the U.S. "never fully abolished" slavery, citing the 13th Amendment, which states, "Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction."

The presentation, which quoted the Constitution, bolded and underlined the phrase "except as a punishment for crime." According to the training, "Modern policing grew directly out of slave patrols," and "the carceral state grew out of chattel slavery."

A slide titled "The Myth of Black Male Criminality" read, "Americans can tolerate mass incarceration because it happens to 'others' and is justified by this narrative." It noted that black men account for just 6.5% of the population and 40.2% of the prison population. The training declared that one in 17 white men versus one in three black men have a "lifetime likelihood of imprisonment."

"Black people are treated more harshly than white people at every stage of the criminal legal process," the presentation stated. "As a result, people of color — and Black people in particular — are incarcerated at strikingly higher rates than white people in jails and prisons across the country."

The DCNF reported that Price's office uses the presentation to train victim-witness advocates, who, according to the DA's website, "serve as the liaison between the victims, prosecutor, law enforcement and other criminal justice agencies."

A spokesperson from the DA's office told the news outlet that the training materials are currently in use.

Earlier this month, a committee submitted 123,000 signatures to the Alameda County Registrar's Office in hopes of ousting Price by securing a recall vote on the November ballot. Oakland residents are fed up with the progressive DA's soft-on-crime policies, which have led to an uptick in crime and driven out veteran prosecutors and businesses. The campaign only needs 73,000 of the signatures to be verified to launch a special election.

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Skyrocketing crime forces multiple Taco Bell locations in Oakland to close dining rooms: 'What is Oakland coming to?'



Oakland residents are upset after a franchise owner of Taco Bell fast food restaurants said they were forced to shut down their dining rooms over skyrocketing crime.

One location was robbed four times in as many months.

That location on 35th Ave. and and MacArthur was last robbed when robbers used a truck and a cable to steal the safe from the store through a broken window. Two of the four robberies occurred while the store was closed.

There is only one Taco Bell store that has an open dining room, but that location on Telegraph Ave. has gone cashless in an attempt to deter crime.

Kimberly Garibay works at a store near the 35th Ave. Taco Bell and told KPIX-TV that robbers also targeted the patrons.

"They just pull up out of nowhere and it's not like they only rob the store. They rob everybody in there as well," said Garibay. "So, it's not as safe as it used to be. There's a lot of crime now."

A spokesperson for Taco Bell responded to KPIX with a brief comment.

"Providing a safe environment for team members and customers is the priority at Taco Bell restaurants," read the statement. "The franchise owner and operator has informed us that they are consistently evaluating and working to ensure a safe environment by implementing procedures, such as closing dining rooms, and hiring security guards, and they have taken extra measures to meet with local law enforcement."

Residents expressed disappointment with the shutdowns.

"I don't think it's cool. It's annoying, yeah," said Miss Jo, who doesn't have a car and can't use the drive-thru without assistance from a friend. "I just feel bad for the patrons, you know what I'm saying?"

"It breaks my heart," responded resident Charles James. "Because I want somebody to protect the citizens."

Other business owners are so angry at crime driving away customers that they are looking into a boycott on paying their taxes until city officials improve safety around the city.

Oakland resident Aliyah Musa told KPIX that crime in Oakland keeps getting worse.

"You can't, you know, enjoy your meal in the comfort of the place you bought your meal. So, it's like, them closing it down due to all the crime rates and everything," she said.

"It's just, what is Oakland coming to?" Musa concluded. "Everything is getting worse. Things are closing down. You know, it's just terrible."

Here's a news report about the decision:

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In-N-Out shocks Oakland residents by closing city's only location despite turning a profit — and high crime is to blame



In-N-Out Burger is planning to shutter its only Oakland, California, location.

The burger joint's lone restaurant in the Bay Area-city has been operating for nearly two decades, and, importantly, it is profitable. But the company announced over the weekend that high crime in the Democrat-controlled city has made it impossible to operate safely.

"Despite taking repeated steps to create safer conditions, our Customers and Associates are regularly victimized by car break-ins, property damage, theft, and armed robberies," In-N-Out chief operating officer Denny Warnick said in a statement. "[T]his location remains a busy and profitable one for the company, but our top priority must be the safety and wellbeing of our Customers and Associates — we cannot ask them to visit or work in an unsafe environment."

Patrons who frequent the restaurant said they are sad about the closure. Unfortunately, they understand why In-N-Out made the decision.

"I'm definitely frustrated," Oakland resident Jenny Goeppner told KPIX-TV. "Because if it's not In-N-Out, it's something else tomorrow."

Resident Darryl Brown added, "These are people's jobs, and it's essential to have jobs so we can spend money in the community."

Oakland, like most other Democrat-controlled cities, is experiencing significant problems with crime. Specifically, crimes like motor vehicle thefts, burglaries, and robberies have skyrocketed in the city.

The In-N-Out in Oakland, which sits just two miles away from Oakland International Airport, has been hit particularly hard by the crime wave.

In fact, security guards who work in the area recently told the San Francisco Standard that they take more calls from the In-N-Out than any other patrol location in the city, with multiple vehicle break-ins happening daily.

"On a regular day, I'd say five," one security guard told the news outlet. "On a bad day, I can't even get a report in because it's back-to-back."

In-N-Out said that impacted employees can transfer to other In-N-Out locations in the Bay Area or they may choose to receive a severance package. The restaurant will officially close on March 24.

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Alarming dashcam video shows California woman barely escaping Oakland carjacking: 'You've got to have a plan'



Frightening dashcam video shows the moment a California woman barely escaped a carjacking attempt in Oakland.

Around 8:30 a.m. on July 21, a woman was driving on Skyline Boulevard behind a white Dodge Charger. Suddenly, the driver of the Charger quickly turned the wheel and angled the car to block the road.

The driver – dressed completely in black – exited the vehicle and pointed a gun at the woman. The passenger – also dressed head to toe in black – dashed out of the car and advanced to the woman's vehicle to try to open the passenger door.

The woman – who wished to remain anonymous – told KTVU, "I punched it, I went around their car, and I drove away as fast as I could trying to get someplace safe."

The alarming dashcam footage shows the suspects running back to their car and pursuing the woman.

"I had the horn going, and I was driving fast and hard, and I wouldn't let them get up next to me," the victim said, adding that the car chase was "scary."

The woman was able to evade the Charger, and the suspects stopped chasing her SUV.

On Thursday, the Oakland Police Department announced that two men and one juvenile were arrested in connection with the attempted carjacking caught on a dash camera. They are also suspects in several carjackings throughout the city.

The trio tried to flee from police during the arrest, but were eventually caught by authorities.

Police did not identify the suspects.

Two days after the attempted carjacking, there was another harrowing encounter on the same road. Around 9 p.m., a car rammed another vehicle on Skyline Boulevard – forcing the driver to stop the car. Four people exited the aggressive vehicle and dragged the driver out of the car. The thieves stole the car and the belongings inside, according to KNTV.

KPIX-TV reported earlier this week that Oakland has had 369 carjackings so far this year, up 24% from two years ago, according to the Oakland Police.

In April, the Oakland Police Department issued an advisory about the increase in armed robberies and dangerous carjackings.

The crimes are happening across Oakland at various hours. In some recent cases, armed individuals intentionally collide their vehicles with the vehicles of unexpected victims in hopes of getting the victim to stop. In other incidents, the armed individuals block the victim's vehicle to prevent them from leaving. The armed individuals then rob the victims of their personal property. In some cases, the victims have also been carjacked.

The Oakland Police Department recommends motorists:

  • Always keep your vehicle's doors locked and windows rolled up when driving, especially in high-risk areas.
  • If you are involved in a vehicle collision and believe you are in danger, call the police immediately.
  • If you are being followed or believe you are in danger, drive to the police station, or a well-lit and populated area, and call the police.
  • Do not be distracted by electronic devices.
  • Be discreet with your property; this includes purses, phones, jewelry, and other valuables.

The woman advised other drivers, "You've got to have a plan. You've got to be aware. You know, you can't just 'la la la' down the road any more."

She said, "Very fortunate. Very fortunate no guns were fired. No cars were crashed. No people were in the streets. I feel very fortunate."

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CAUGHT ON CAMERA: Woman escapes carjacking attempt in Oakland LiveNOW from FOX www.youtube.com

Video: Multiple burglars tried to rob a retired Oakland police captain, but he had a gun and wasn't afraid to use it



A well-known retired Oakland police captain was the subject of an attempted robbery in the Bay Area this week, but the former law enforcement officer was able to fend off the criminals using his firearm.

What happened?

On Thursday, according to KTVU-TV, Ersie Joyner — a 28-year police veteran known for implementing a successful anti-violence program in the city — became the target of the violent crime he fought for decades to end.

Graphic surveillance video circulating online shows three burglars approaching Joyner at gunpoint at a Chevron gas station in west Oakland Thursday afternoon. The criminals appeared to surround the retired captain and appearing to demand he hand over the keys to his vehicle.

Then, as one of the burglars opened the back door of the vehicle, Joyner can be seen discreetly pulling out his gun and opening fire, striking and killing one of the suspects before running around the pump to take aim at the others.

The suspects returned fire, however, reportedly hitting Joyner multiple times. The video shows the two criminals still standing attempting to pull their accomplice into their car before giving up and fleeing the scene.

Content warning: graphic content

Gas station shootout during botched Oakland robbery leaves 1 dead, retired police captain injured www.youtube.com

KTVU reported that at least four criminals, in total, were involved in the attempted robbery, including a getaway driver.

What else?

Police were reportedly alerted to the shooting by the city's ShotSpotter system, which uses acoustic sensors to detect gunshots and alert law enforcement in real-time.

When police arrived, they found Joyner and the downed suspect suffering from gunshot wounds. The suspect, who has so far remained unidentified, was pronounced dead at the scene while Joyner was transported to a local hospital.

Joyner underwent surgery Thursday afternoon and is listed in critical but stable condition.

The former police captain retired after nearly three decades in law enforcement and has since started his own cannabis business.

Anything else?

Oakland Police Chief LeRonne Armstrong confirmed the news of the shooting in a news conference Thursday evening, adding that an investigation is underway. He said that Joyner was legally permitted to carry a firearm.

Armstrong decried the incident as yet another example of the violent crime overtaking the Bay Area this year. The city has been rocked by significant increases in shootings, carjackings, and homicides in 2021.

"This highlights the violence that we've seen in this city this entire year. We have seen so many tragic situations. We have seen so many people lose their lives as a result of violence," Armstrong said. "This again shows us how brazen individuals involved in this activity can be."

Terrifying video shows moment Good Samaritan is pistol-whipped trying to stop robbers from battering elderly Asian man



An alarming video shows a brazen robbery being committed in the middle of the day in Oakland. The terrifying video shows cowardly thugs targeted an elderly Asian man who needed the assistance of a cane to walk down the street. When a good Samaritan attempted to stop the robbers from beating the old man, he, too, was bludgeoned in broad daylight.

At approximately 3:15 pm on Thursday, two robbers attacked an elderly Asian man on 9th Street in Oakland's Chinatown. The thieves, one of which was armed, shoved the old man to the ground and robbed him at gunpoint. The armed man pistol-whipped the elderly man, according to a statement released by the Oakland Police Department. The elderly man can be heard bellowing in pain. The old man's cane can be seen on the ground in the video that was taken by a witness in a nearby building.

Another individual, who appears to be wearing a bicycle helmet, attempted to thwart the robbery, but he too is beaten to the ground. The gunman pistol-whipped the good Samaritan in the face with a handgun equipped with an extended magazine. The man fell to the sidewalk, and the blow appeared to be so devastating that part of the helmet flew apart.

The robbers fled from the crime scene in a getaway vehicle that was driven by a third suspect.

The Oakland Police Department described the attackers as "two individuals as black males in their 20's." Police did not have a description of the getaway driver.

Authorities said an investigation is ongoing, and asked the public to give any information related to the attack to investigators at (510) 238-3326.

Shocking video out of Oakland shows a black male pistol whipping someone who tried to intervene during an armed rob… https://t.co/rWXNtOVDpj

— Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) 1626477667.0


2 Pistol-Whipped in Brazen Daytime Robbery in Oakland www.youtube.com

This is the second horrifying robbery from the Oakland area that garnered national headlines this week. In nearby Emeryville, cell phone footage from a witness showed two women attacked in a California parking garage in broad daylight. The women were seen being robbed as they screamed for help. The attackers stole the belongings of the women and the rental car they were traveling in.

Oakland's City Council voted to reallocate $18 million of police funding to community violence prevention programs last month. Ironically, only days after the announcement that the Oakland Police Department would be defunded, a TV crew were robbed of their equipment while interviewing Oakland's violence prevention director on the steps of City Hall.

At a press conference on June 28, Oakland Police Chief LeRonne Armstrong said the murder rate in the California city is 90% higher than it was this time last year. Armstrong also noted that shootings at up more than 70% and carjackings have spiked by 87% this year, plus there have been 1,300 robberies recorded this year so far.