Chinatown residents and business owners are calling for a stronger response from city leaders following a series of smash-and-grab robberies that have left storefronts shattered and the community shaken. In the span of just a few days, culprits used a U-Haul truck to ram two banks and a truck to barrel through the storefront of Kim Tin Jewelry, causing significant injuries to the store owner and damaging the vibrant area's sense of security.
At a news conference reported by KTVU, Stephanie Tran, president of the Oakland Chinatown Chamber of Commerce, said, "This is not just property crime, this is an attack on the vitality of Oakland Chinatown." Simultaneously, another group gathered outside Sterling Bank, protesting to "Save our streets!" Pushing for immediate action, they demanded an increased police presence and even called for the California National Guard's aid to stabilize the situation.
In one of these incidents, the owner of Kim Tin Jewelry found himself pinned against the back wall as robbers crashed into his store. His son, Jason Dao, told the San Francisco Chronicle, "This could have potentially been a fatal attack." Dao continues to raise funds to support his parents after the violent robbery left the shop closed and with losses in the tens of thousands in merchandise.
Despite the call for bolstered law enforcement, Oakland Police Chief Floyd Mitchell has clarified that resources are thin. With the department collapsing units to boost street patrols, Mitchell said via the San Francisco Chronicle, "No, I cannot put an officer on every corner of the street. We do not have the resources for that … but what I can tell you is that each and every night we are doing our level best to ensure that each and every beat is covered," as he discussed strategies in a community meeting with Mayor Barbara Lee and other city leaders to confront the string of crimes.
Although the recent high-profile crimes have stirred up worry, police data actually shows a decrease in both reported violent crime and property crime, more than 25% combined, during the first half of the year. Stewart Chen, president of the Oakland Chinatown Improvement Council, acknowledged the downtrend in crime, reassuring the community that the recent incidents, while serious, do not reflect the overall safety in Chinatown. Mayor Lee echoed the sentiment at a news conference, affirming that steps are being taken to protect storefronts and improve public safety infrastructure while sympathizing with the constituents' fears.
