Oakland Lake Merritt: Too Many At-Large Criminals

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cfiles24799 The Oakland Grand Lake Business District, which for the purpose of this blog post I will say covers the triangle formed by Grand Avenue, Mandana, Lakeshore, and finally Lake Park Avenue next to the Grand Lake Theater and the Saturday Farmers Market, has been the scene of one-too-many crimes featuring at-large criminals – in other words, people who have not been caught.

The latest one was the Grand Lake nail salon heist, where three masked people with guns stormed into the Grand Nails at 3667 Grand Ave at 6:10 p.m and about an hour before closing (generally the time I would be at the gym). They took money, iPhones, and other valuables and then took off. Six employees and three customers were impacted. The drove off in a black four-door Nissan, and there’s a $5,000 reward for their arrest.

Then, on Monday, Oakland Police issued news of an armed robbery in broad daylight:

We are asking for merchant and resident assistance in connection with an armed robbery that just occurred. At 12:41pm, Oakland Police Department dispatchers received a call reporting an armed robbery near the intersection of Euclid Ave and Van Buren Ave. Officers arrived on-scene at 12:47pm and began searching for the suspect who reportedly stole a victim’s purse and cell phone at gun point. The suspect is described as a male Black, approximately 20-years-old, 5’11”, 160lbs, wearing a dark blue hooded sweatshirt and dark jeans. The suspect reportedly ran to Bellevue and toward Palm following the offense. Area 2 officers are focused on the prevention and investigation of robberies in this area and others due to recent crime trends. We ask that persons who have access to video surveillance cameras near or in the area report any potential leads or tips to the Oakland Police Department. Anonymous tips may also be submitted. Contact Information: Christopher Bolton Area 2 Command 510-238-2144 cbolton@oaklandnet.com

Just when you get news that some suspect has been arrested in connection with one crime, like the robbery at 301 Perkins on July 24th, and at E. 19th on July 29th, then you get brand new crimes and at-large suspects, yet again.

One set of criminals at-large is one thing, but two or more is a crisis, because, as you’ve seen, we seem to have new crimes on top of the ones that are not solved.

Ok, What To Do?

I think there is one thing we can all do to help curb these activities: keep your head up, and be willing to ask for a person in your neighborhood to walk with you. Do not walk alone. If you see someone that you commonly recognize on your street walking, don’t do what you normally do, which is hold your head down and ignore them – do the opposite: introduce yourself and ask them to walk with you.

Stay tuned.

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