Thieves and robbers like to have their cake and eat it too.
But that’s getting to be harder and harder for them to attain in one crime-infested left coast city.
That’s because criminals in Oakland, California have chased this major restaurant chain out of town.
Oakland, California is a gritty and rough community and, unfortunately for those who live there, things aren’t on the upswing.
Burglaries and robberies up double digits in Oakland
According to CNN, burglaries in the city have increased by 41 percent this year and robberies are up by more than 20 percent.
Last summer, a 75-year-old woman was home alone when two alleged armed intruders entered her home.
In a complete shock to the intruders, the woman fired one shot of a .357 Magnum revolver.
Local TV station KTVU reported that the alleged intruders then fired multiple shots then fled the scene.
Luckily, the elderly woman wasn’t hurt but the incident sets the tone for the kind of problems plaguing the city.
The crime has gotten so far out of control that the police are actually urging residents to use air horns to literally sound an alarm when criminals strike.
One resident took the advice seriously and bought three air horns.
Toni Bird said, “The types of crime that we’re seeing feel much more violent and the consequences feel much more severe. And it feels like the people that are being targeted are people who are vulnerable.”
Of course, this state of affairs is no better for business than it is for residents’ safety.
Denny’s follows In-N-Out…out for the very same reason
A Denny’s restaurant that had served the community for 54 years shut its doors this week and high crime was the culprit.
A sign taped to the door read, “The Denny’s restaurant in Oakland is now closed. Denny’s has been honored to serve the Oakland community over the last 54 years. Closing a restaurant location is never an easy decision or one taken lightly. However, the safety and well-being of Denny’s team members and valued guests is our top priority. Weighing those factors, the decision has been made to close this location.”
Citing crime concerns, @DennysDiner on Hegenberger shut down for good today, the latest restaurant to close in @oakland. 5:30,6:30 p.m. @KTVU pic.twitter.com/oacftUflZa
— Henry K. Lee (@henrykleeKTVU) January 31, 2024
The restaurant experienced, break-ins, robberies and violent crime, according to KTVU.
But Denny’s is just the latest business to close in the area.
Criminal activity had already led to the closure of the city’s only In-N-Out Burger location.
Here too, crime was cited as the culprit for the store closing.
In-N-Out Burger Chief Operating Officer Denny Warnick said in a statement, “Despite taking repeated steps to create safer conditions, our Customers and Associates are regularly victimized by car break-ins, property damage, theft, and armed robberies. Our last day of business in Oakland will be March 24, 2024. We are grateful for the local community, which has supported us for over 18 years, and we recognize that this closure negatively impacts our Associates and their families. Additionally, this location remains a busy and profitable one for the company, but our top priority must be the safety and well being of our Customers and Associates – we cannot ask them to visit or work in an unsafe environment.”
In the end, the problem here is the same that is occurring in countless other Democrat-run cities in that city officials aren’t adequately prosecuting criminals.
In order to make the city a safe and vibrant community, that needs to change or conditions will only get worse.
Stay tuned to Blue State Blues for any updates to this ongoing story.
