Trader Joe’s shoppers are warned of new crime trend as cops tell customers to ‘stay vigilant’ after soaring Bay Area crime rates saw Denny’s and In-N-Out become the latest chains to close in Oakland

Trader Joe’s shoppers are being warned to ‘stay vigilant’ as authorities in the San Francisco Bay Area struggle to contain rising crime.

Thieves are grabbing wallets from unattended shopping carts and opening wallets while customers shop, Livermore police warned on Facebook.

Police have advised shoppers to “stay alert,” “minimize distractions” and “avoid leaving items unattended” as high crime continues to hit stores in neighboring California cities.

Officers issued the warning just one day after restaurant chain Denny’s and popular burger joint In-N-Out closed stores in nearby Oakland due to rising crime. Thefts in the city are up 37 percent year-on-year, burglaries are up 24 percent and motor vehicle thefts are up 45 percent, hitting a record.

Other local companies have reportedly taken extra measures to protect employees, including encouraging them to dine in the office building and hiring “safety escorts” to escort staff to public transportation, parking garages and restaurants.

Livermore police warned Thursday of a new “crime trend” that has apparently hit Trader Joe’s stores in the Tri-Valley.

“In these crimes, wallets were taken from unattended shopping carts or open wallets while the victims were shopping in the store,” the department said.

In an effort to keep the shopping experience ‘safe’, police advised that customers should follow five simple steps:

1. Stay vigilant. Shoppers should pay attention to their surroundings and be aware of who is around, “especially in busy areas or during peak hours,” the department said.
2. Secure your belongings. Police say shoppers should keep their wallets in a “safe place,” such as a front pocket or a zippered bag kept close to your body.
3. Minimize distractions. Customers should avoid checking their phones or getting lost in store aisles. Officers encouraged customers to instead stay ‘focused’ on their shopping to avoid becoming an ‘easy target’ for thieves.
4. Do not leave objects unattended. Livermore police said shoppers should “never leave your wallet or valuables unattended” in the cart or on a counter, even if “just for a moment.”
5. Trust your instincts. Customers should immediately notify store staff or security if they notice suspicious behavior or if “something doesn’t feel right.”

“Remember that staying alert and taking proactive measures can go a long way in protecting your belongings and ensuring a worry-free shopping experience,” the force added. ‘Let’s work together to ensure that all stores are a safe haven for shoppers!’

Nearby Danville Police also warned about the trend on their Facebook page. telling locals, “Don’t assume your belongings are safely in a shopping cart without taking precautions.

‘Always take your surroundings into account.’

The warning from Livermore police came just one day after a 54-year-old Denny’s branch permanently closed its doors in Oakland on Wednesday due to threats to “the safety and well-being” of staff and customers.

Employees were not notified of the closure until Tuesday and some were seen in tears on the last day. FOX 2 reported.

The restaurant, like many other businesses in the area, had experienced its fair share of burglaries, robberies and violent crimes.

Denny’s officials declined to speak to FOX 2 on camera, but a sign on the restaurant’s front door reiterated that “the safety and well-being of Denny’s team members and valued guests is our top priority.”

Locals called the closure of the beloved spot ‘overwhelming’ and ‘terrible’, but it was also seen as a sign of the area’s malaise.

According to Fox Businessother local businesses have increased safety measures in an effort to protect their employees.

Health insurer Blue Shield and cleaning company Clorox said they have hired security to escort staff from the building to “BART, parking garages and restaurants.”

Similarly, Kaiser Permanente, a health care company headquartered in Oakland, is said to have ordered employees to eat indoors as crime continues to target businesses in the area.

The closure of Denny’s follows those of Subway, Starbucks and In-N-Out Burger, all of which have become magnets for car burglars.

A spokesperson for In-N-Out said this earlier SFGAAT that customers and employees were regularly confronted with car burglaries, property damage and armed robberies.

A Shell gas station about a mile from the Denny’s had also become a hot spot for car burglaries.

Oakland police previously said that 271 car burglaries, 15 robberies and five cases of car theft occurred at the Shell station in 2023.

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.

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.

The victim said he was parked for less than two minutes. “Stay away from this place at all costs,” the review said. “The thieves were bold enough to use my credit cards at this gas station later that day.”

A police officer patrolling outside the Shell last Thursday told DailyMail.com: ‘This has always been the case, but not to the extent it is now.’

The officer’s assessment is backed by official crime statistics for Oakland, which show that auto theft has increased nearly 50 percent in the past year.

In 2022, there were 8,675 cases of car theft in the city, compared to 12,956 last year. The officer said they often see repeat offenders.

“We see someone and they get arrested, and a week later they come out again,” the officer said.