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A group of thieves used an SUV with a chain to ram into and force open the doors of Fruitvale Village Market before dawn on July 12, 2023, making off with a cash register and $4,000 worth of cigarettes, according to Henry Lee's tweet. The market owner and @TheUnityCouncil have both spoken out about this brazen crime that has left the community shaken.
Thieves use SUV w/chain to ram and force open doors of Fruitvale Village market before dawn, taking off w/cash register & $4K in cigarettes. Market owner & @TheUnityCouncil speak out. Noon,5,6,7 p.m. @KTVU pic.twitter.com/MQfw3LoKX5
— Henry K. Lee (@henrykleeKTVU) July 12, 2023
As KTVU reported, surveillance video from inside and outside the store captured at least five men wearing hoods and masks breaking into the store, rummaging through it, and then leaving in two cars - a Chevy SUV and a white Lexus. The owner stated that the thieves managed to steal around 40 cartons of cigarettes and the cash register, but additional attempts to steal money from the store's ATM machine proved unsuccessful.
Businesses and residents in Fruitvale Village have unfortunately experienced multiple instances of criminal activity in recent times, with May seeing a person shot in the same block, and April witnessing a double shooting outside the same market. In response to the escalating crime, about 100 residents attended a community meeting in April, with most of the participants calling for increased police patrols. The Unity Council has even resorted to spending private money on armed security guards, which is costing them $55,000 per month.
This latest incident serves as a stark reminder of the challenges faced by both businesses and the community at large in combatting crime in the area. Oakland police spokeswoman Candace Keas confirmed that the break-in was reported shortly after 4 a.m. on July 12 at the 3300 block of E. 12th Street. However, by the time officers arrived at the scene, the suspects had already fled.
Anyone with information about the Fruitvale Village incident is urged to contact Oakland police at 510-238-3951.
