Criminals use cars to ram into, burglarize multiple Oakland businesses

OAKLAND, Calif. - Multiple Oakland businesses were burglarized over the weekend. In many instances, criminals used cars to ram into buildings in order to steal things like ATMs. 

One of the places that was hit early Saturday morning was Mr. Krispy Professional Barbershop on High Street. Surveillance cameras captured the moment a van backed up right into the front of the shop. 

You can see the criminals go straight for the ATM, push it outside and load it into the trunk of a second car before taking off. It all happened in less than two minutes. 

"They rammed in and came right in. Neither vehicle had license plates. They had masks and were covered up," said the owner, Donald Smith, known as Mr. Krispy. 

Despite the damage to the window, equipment and a hole that looks right into the nail shop next door, Smith is most disappointed in the police response. 

"It’s very disappointing being a business owner here in Oakland," he said. "People got families to feed, so it’s just very depressing that they could’ve at least showed up and sent somebody." 

Smith attempted to stop an officer that was driving by, but they kept driving. He said eventually a client was able to wave down an officer who just happened to be stopped at the intersection outside, but that was more than eight hours after Smith originally called 911.  

Smith got emotional talking about waiting for officers to show up. 

"This was just super ridiculous that they just left all of us here stranded all these hours. Just to talk about it, it hurts for that reason. Like what about us? We’re paying taxes, providing services for the community," said Smith. 

Smith said the officer told him the department was busy because nine other businesses were also hit that morning, all using the same vehicles seen by their cameras. 

Oakland police confirmed to KTVU that a car also rammed into a Chevron gas station on Foothill Boulevard a few minutes after Mr. Krispy was burglarized. 

Then a car was used to break into East Bay Restaurant Supply on Fourth Street. And at a 76 gas station on Edes Avenue, a car was used to break in, but an employee fired shots and scared off the suspects. 

Smith believes these criminals are coming from outside the city and targeting Oakland because they know police won't chase them. 

"As soon as they see you break a law or something, and you get in the car and run, they act like they don’t see you and go the other way," said Smith. 

According to the city of Oakland's website, police will only pursue if they have reasonable suspicion that the criminal committed a "violent forcible crime and/or a crime involving the use of a firearm, or probable cause that the individual is in possession of a firearm."

Smith hopes the city and the police department can make some changes, so other business owners don't have to go through what he is. 

"I don’t look forward to going anywhere, I love my city. But we just need the people to get rid of the criminals," he said. 

Community members have been coming to Mr. Krispy to show their support. Smith said people were quick to grab brooms and help clean up the shop.

If you'd like to help the small business, they have a cash app account for donations: $MrKrisp. 

Smith said as far as the ATM, they won't be getting another one.