A gas station convenience store in Oakland became the target of looters who caused extensive damage after attending a nearby car sideshow, while frustration mounted over the delayed police response.
The incident occurred at the 76 Station near Oakland International Airport around 4:30 a.m. on Friday, as reported by ABC 7 News Bay Area. According to owner Sam Mardaie, approximately 80 to 100 individuals broke into the store, tearing shelves apart and vandalizing groceries.
Surveillance footage captured the chaos as looters raided fridges for drinks, grabbed food items from shelves, and even looted items from underneath the store’s counter. Mardaie estimated losses of around $25,000 from the cash register and ATM, though they were unable to access the safe.
During the 40-minute rampage, two employees were threatened amidst the chaos. Mardaie expressed deep frustration, stating, “This is the hardest thing you could ever go through… especially if you’ve been putting in sweat and tears day in and day out.”
The store had called Oakland police immediately, but were initially informed that their incident was considered a Priority 2 due to the lack of suspects on site. It was only after sharing surveillance footage that the incident was escalated to a Priority 1, prompting a response nine hours after the looting began. Police cited prior engagements with a sideshow and another burglary for the delayed response.
Customers and the community expressed concern and dismay over the incident, highlighting ongoing fears about crime in the area. Ebony Bolton, a customer, shared her unease: “It’s very disheartening, I’m scared to go out after dark and I don’t know, it’s just alarming.”
The incident has sparked broader discussions about public safety and police response times in Oakland, amidst ongoing efforts to address crime and support affected businesses in the community.
