- In-N-Out, located near a major route to and from Oakland International Airport, announced it will close its doors in March
- Some residents blame Mayor Sheng Thao
- A group advocating for the mayor's recall released a statement saying, “She has now once again failed to answer voters why she should not be recalled.”
Oakland residents want to oust the mayor over “deplorable” crime rates after the city's only In-N-Out Burger shop was forced to close due to rampant theft.
In-N-Out, located near a major route to and from Oakland International Airport, announced it will close its doors in March.
“Although we repeatedly take steps to create safer conditions, our customers and employees regularly fall victim to car break-ins, property damage, thefts and armed robberies,” COO Denny Warnick said in a statement.
However, some residents blame Mayor Sheng Thao.
A group advocating for the mayor's recall released a statement saying, “After missing the deadline to apply for a million-dollar retail theft grant to help Oakland fight crime, she now has it.” “Once again failed to respond to voters as to why she did this, she should not be recalled.”
The In-N-Out sits on a square mile with several gas stations that police say are the target of about a dozen violent crimes each day. Some residents blame Mayor Sheng Thao. In July 2023, months after Thao took office, the Oakland Police Department was forced to issue a public safety alert citing a rise in home burglaries.
“Mayor Thao must realize that there is no defense for the indefensible.” “The current state of Oakland is deplorable and she is directly to blame,” Seneca Scott, Oakland United spokesperson at Recall Sheng Thao, said on X.
“Mayor Thao's evasive behavior toward her recall is reminiscent of that of a middle school student.” After missing the deadline to apply for a million-dollar retail theft grant to help Oakland fight crime, she has now again failed to respond to voters, why she shouldn’t be recalled.”
“Every hour that this mayor remains in office, Oakland becomes less safe,” Scott added.
In a statement to the Los Angeles Times, Thao responded: “As mayor, I have prioritized this important gateway to Oakland, increasing police presence and using technology to deter and respond to criminal behavior.”
She asserted that the public safety resources implemented will reduce property crimes along the Hegenberger Corridor, but acknowledged that further changes are needed.
“I will work with regional and state leaders to protect this tourism gateway to Oakland,” she told the outlet.
A group advocating for the mayor's recall released a statement saying, “After missing the deadline to apply for a million-dollar retail theft grant to help Oakland fight crime, she now has it.” Oakland's Democratic Mayor Sheng Thao (pictured), who has held the office since January 2023, denied that her policies were the sole cause the increasing crime rates. Official crime statistics for Oakland show that car thefts have increased nearly 50 percent over the past year. Located near Oakland Airport, In-N-Out is a perfect target for thieves in the area. Cars near In-N-Out are often the target of robberies
How In-N-Out's COO blames rising crime for Oakland store's closure
In-N-Out Chief Operating Officer Denny Warnick said:
“We have made the decision to close our In-N-Out Burger location in Oakland, California due to ongoing crime issues. Although we repeatedly take steps to create safer conditions, our customers and employees regularly fall victim to car break-ins, property damage, thefts and armed robberies. Our last day of business in Oakland is Sunday, March 24, 2024.
“We are grateful to the local community that has supported us for over 18 years, and we recognize that this closure will negatively impact our employees and their families.”
“In addition, this site continues to be a busy and profitable location for the company, but our top priority must be the safety and well-being of our customers and employees – we cannot ask them to visit or work in an unsafe environment.”
“All affected employees will have the option to transfer to a nearby In-N-Out location or, alternatively, receive severance pay.” In-N-Out Burger has been supporting the Oakland community through charitable donations since before we opened our location there purposes supported. Although we will no longer be doing business there, we will continue to support local Oakland charities through our In-N-Out Burger Foundation and the Slave 2 Nothing Foundation.”
Oakland's only In-N-Out Burger restaurant is set to close after 18 years despite still turning a healthy profit because customers and employees are “unsafe” due to rising crime rates, the company said.
The 75-year-old company's Oakland, California, branch will close its doors in March because of the crime, which endangered the lives of customers and employees, said Denny Warnick, the company's chief operations officer.
Oakland police data earlier this month showed that robberies increased by a massive 38 percent from 2022 to 2023, the period when Thao was in charge.
Warnock wrote in a statement: “Although we repeatedly take steps to create safer conditions, our customers and employees regularly fall victim to car break-ins, property damage, thefts and armed robberies.”
Branch employees have the choice of being transferred to another location or accepting severance pay.
Motor vehicle thefts in particular recorded a significant increase: in 2023, the police reported 44 percent more than in 2022.
Burglaries also increased by 23 percent compared to the previous year.
The In-N-Out sits on a one-square-mile area with several gas stations that police say are the target of about a dozen violent crimes each day.
Less than a mile from the Chevron, a Shell gas station on Hegenberger Road has also been plagued by thefts. About five hundred meters from the Shell, another chevron is another hotspot. And next to it, the In-N-Out Burger parking lot is visited every day.
Police say the criminals, who operate in well-organized groups, follow the same pattern: A spotter looks for targets, usually rental vehicles, driving to or from the airport while stopping at gas stations.
They then alert accomplices who drive up in a vehicle when the targets start pumping fuel. They often break a rear window or blow up the trunk of unlocked vehicles before setting off with luggage and valuables. The thefts only last seconds.
Motor vehicle thefts in particular saw a sharp increase, with police reporting a 44% increase in 2023 compared to 2022. The four stores near Oakland International Airport are key targets for thieves
The spike has earned Shell the nickname “America’s most dangerous gas station.” The two Chevron locations are also top contenders for the unwanted title.
Online reviews for these gas stations and In-N-Out are flooded with dozens of complaints from customers who were targeted by the crooks.
Shocking video from the In-N-Out parking lot shows a thief breaking into a black SUV in broad daylight. The crook leans through the rear window of the vehicle with his feet off the ground and grabs several items before fleeing into a waiting getaway car as more than a dozen onlookers look on.
Another clip from outside the Shell shows a thief using the exact same method to steal a backpack from the trunk. Just a few meters above the ground, he leans against a broken rear window to collect prey before fleeing.