Oakland business owners are scared, frustrated and fed up as repeated crime continues to make simply going to work feel dangerous.
The latest incident came Saturday afternoon, when a crowd of roughly 20 teens allegedly stormed an Oakland 7-Eleven, stealing merchandise and damaging the store before some later returned and tried to force their way back inside.
The workers say the attack was the latest in a string of violent incidents at the business, which has also been robbed before.
Video showed a group of black teens rushing into the 7-Eleven on International Boulevard around 4 p.m. on Saturday.
Two employees said the group appeared to be between 14 and 20 years old.
They said the crowd flooded the store, stole several items and then ran outside.
Workers locked the doors and called 911.
But the looters were not finished.
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Several people returned shortly afterward and tried to get back inside, according to the employees.
One worker said a person ripped the store’s metal door handle off and threw it through a glass door, striking store manager Sagar Sagar in the face.
Sagar said members of the crowd were aggressive and cursed at him.
The employees said Saturday’s incident was the sixth violent incident at the store so far this year.
For Sagar, the fear is compounded by what he has already witnessed at the business.
In September 2023, a man was found dead in the store’s parking lot.
Sagar said he discovered the body only hours after the store had been robbed.
Now he says he feels powerless when thieves target the business.
“I cannot do something. If I do something, police arrest me,” Sagar told KTVU.
Employee Jasshan Singh said he was stocking shelves when the crowd suddenly rushed into the store.
“I feel scared. We can’t do anything,” Singh told KTVU. “We can’t even run.”
Oakland City Councilmember Charlene Wang, who represents the area and chairs the Council’s Public Safety Committee, said safety in the area is a priority.
“We’re working on securing International Boulevard,” Wang told KTVU. “This is a priority of mine.”
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