Stores hit by groups of thieves in Walnut Creek, SF, San Jose, Hayward; ‘roving caravans’ target pot dispensaries, pharmacies in Oakland
Bay Area law enforcement authorities and retail officials expressed shock and concern Monday after a string of brash public robberies over the weekend saw groups of people — as many as 80 in one case — swarm stores, grab merchandise and flee while the holiday shopping season is in full swing.
In Oakland, roving caravans of armed robbers hit marijuana dispensaries and other retail shops and pharmacies across the city, often forcing their way in by gunfire, according to police Chief LeRonne Armstrong.
Thieves also struck the Nordstrom store in Walnut Creek, a jewelry store at a Hayward mall, retailers in San Francisco’s Union Square, and a high end clothing store and a sunglasses shop in San Jose. Authorities were looking for any possible links between the cases.
A San Jose police spokesman said the targeting Sunday of a Lululemon shop at Santana Row was “organized robbery.”
The spate of crimes began around 8 p.m. Friday evening, when thieves descended on stores in San Francisco’s Union Square, home to many luxury retailers. Videos posted to social media showed robbers fleeing the Louis Vuitton store with arms full of merchandise, heading to waiting cars while police ran in pursuit and detained at least one suspect.
Police said they had arrested several people and were “controlling and limiting” traffic around Union Square on Sunday to discourage further thefts.
Across the Bay, “hundreds” of vehicles targeted marijuana shops across Oakland on Friday, Armstrong said. Officers said more than 175 shots were fired by the robbers, forcing officers to draw back to safe locations.
“We’re not going to tolerate this type of activity within the city of Oakland,” Armstrong said. “We’re going to respond.”
Just after 11 p.m. on Saturday, another round of “roving caravans” hit Oakland, targeting at least two dozen businesses including retail shops, pharmacies and marijuana shops. One person was wounded when a shootout erupted between the robbers and a security guard at one of the dispensaries, police said.
At least seven people have been arrested in connection with the Oakland robberies, said Kim Armstead, a police spokeswoman. She did not have information about their identities or any suspected charges
On Sunday, three businesses in Hayward and San Jose were hit: A group of robbers used hammers to smash open cases at a Sam’s Jewelers store at Southland…
Credit:Source link