Oakland residents are trying to oust the mayor over “deplorable” crime after the city’s only In-N-Out Burger joint was forced to close due to rampant theft.
The In-N-Out, located near a main route to and from Oakland International Airport, has announced it will close its doors in March.
“Despite the fact that we have repeatedly taken steps to create safer conditions, our customers and employees are regularly victims of car burglaries, property damage, theft and armed robberies,” COO Denny Warnick said in a statement.
However, some residents blame Mayor Sheng Thao.
A group pushing to recall the mayor released a statement, saying, “After missing the deadline to apply for a multimillion-dollar shoplifting grant to help Oakland fight the crime, she has now once again failed to respond to voters on why they should not be recalled.”
The In-N-Out is located on a square mile of several gas stations that police say are the targets of about a dozen violent crimes every day
Some residents blame Mayor Sheng Thao
In July 2023, months after Thao took office, the Oakland Police Department was forced to issue a public safety advisory citing an increase in home robberies.
“Mayor Thao must realize that there is no defense for the indefensible. “Oakland’s current state is deplorable, and she is directly to blame,” Recall Sheng Thao’s Oakland United spokesperson Seneca Scott said on X.
“Mayor Thao’s evasive behavior regarding her recall is reminiscent of that of a high school student. After missing the deadline to apply for a multimillion-dollar shoplifting grant to help Oakland fight crime, she has now once again failed to respond to voters on why she should not be recalled.”
“Every hour this mayor remains in office, Oakland becomes less safe,” Scott added.
In a statement to The Los Angeles Times, Thao responded by saying, “As mayor, I have prioritized this critical gateway to Oakland, increasing police presence and deploying technology to deter and respond to criminal behavior.”
She asserted that the public safety tools implemented are reducing property crime along the Hegenberger corridor, but conceded that more change is needed.
“I will work with regional and state leaders to protect this tourism gateway to Oakland,” she told the outlet.
A group pushing to recall the mayor released a statement, saying, “After missing the deadline to apply for a multimillion-dollar shoplifting grant to help Oakland fight the crime, she has now once again failed to respond to voters on why she should not be recalled’
Democratic Mayor of Oakland Sheng Thao (pictured), who has served in the role since January 2023, denied that her policies were the sole cause of rising crime rates.
Official crime statistics for Oakland show auto theft has increased nearly 50 percent in the past year
The In-N-Out is located near the Oakland Airport and has become a perfect target for thieves in the area
Cars near the In-N-Out are often the target of robberies
Oakland’s only In-N-Out Burger restaurant will close after 18 years despite still making a healthy profit because customers and staff are “unsafe” due to rising crime rates, the company said.
The 75-year-old company’s Oakland, California, facility will close its doors in March because of the crime that has endangered the lives of customers and staff, the company’s Chief Operations Officer Denny Warnick said.
Data from the Oakland Police Department earlier this month showed that robberies increased by as much as 38 percent between 2022 and 2023, when Thao was in charge.
Warnock wrote in a statement: “Despite repeated steps to create safer conditions, our customers and employees are regularly victims of car burglaries, property damage, theft and armed robberies.”
Employees at the store have the choice of being transferred to another location or accepting severance pay.
Motor vehicle theft in particular saw a large increase, with the police force reporting 44 percent more in 2023 than in 2022.
The number of burglaries has also increased by 23 percent compared to the previous year.
The In-N-Out is located within a square mile of several gas stations that police say are targets for about a dozen violent crimes every day.
Less than a mile away from the Chevron, a Shell gas station on Hegenberger Road has also been plagued by thefts. About five hundred meters from the Shell, another Chevron is another hotspot. And in addition, the In-N-Out Burger parking lot is affected daily.
Police say the criminals, who operate in well-organized groups, follow the same playbook: A spotter keeps watch for targets, usually rental cars going to or from the airport, while they stop at gas stations.
They then alert the accomplices, who pull up in a vehicle when the targets start pumping fuel. They often smash a rear window or pop open the trunk of unlocked vehicles before making off with luggage and valuables. The thefts last only a few seconds.
Motor vehicle theft in particular saw a large increase, with the police force reporting 44% more in 2023 than in 2022
The four stores near Oakland International Airport are a prime target for thieves
The spike has earned Shell the nickname “America’s most dangerous gas station.” The two Chevron sites are also top candidates for the unwanted title.
Online reviews for these gas stations and the In-N-Out are flooded with dozens of complaints from customers affected by the crooks.
A shocking video from the In-N-Out parking lot shows a thief crashing into a black SUV in broad daylight. The crook leans his feet off the ground through the rear window of the vehicle and grabs several items before fleeing in a waiting getaway car as more than a dozen onlookers watch.
Another clip from outside the Shell shows a thief using the exact same method to steal a backpack from the trunk. With his feet off the ground, he leans against a broken rear window to pick up the loot before escaping.