Trader Joe's shoppers are being urged to “stay vigilant” as authorities in the San Francisco Bay Area struggle to curb rising crime.
Thieves are stealing wallets from unattended shopping carts and opening wallets while customers shop, Livermore police warned on Facebook.
Police have advised shoppers to “remain vigilant,” “keep distractions to a minimum” and “not leave items unattended” as high crime continues to hit stores in neighboring California cities.
Officials issued the warning just a day after restaurant chain Denny's and popular burger joint In-N-Out closed stores in nearby Oakland amid rising crime. Robberies in the city are up 37 percent year-on-year, burglaries are up 24 percent and motor vehicle thefts are up 45 percent, setting a new record.
Other local businesses have reportedly taken additional measures to protect their employees. This includes encouraging dining in the office building and hiring “security escorts” to take employees to public transportation, parking garages and restaurants.
Trader Joe's shoppers are being urged to “stay vigilant” as authorities in the San Francisco Bay Area struggle to curb rising crime
This Denny's – the only one in Oakland, California – closed its doors Wednesday after 54 years
The closure of Denny's follows the closures of Subway, Starbucks and In-N-Out Burger, all of which have become magnets for car thieves
Livermore police warned Thursday of a new “crime trend” that appears to have hit Trader Joe's stores in the Tri-Valley.
“These crimes involved the theft of wallets from unattended shopping carts or open handbags while the victims were shopping in the store,” police said.
To make the shopping experience “safe,” police recommended customers follow five simple steps:
“Remember to remain vigilant and take proactive measures to protect your property and ensure a worry-free shopping experience,” police added. “Let’s work together to keep all stores a safe haven for shoppers!”
The nearby Danville Police Department also warned about the trend on its Facebook page. Tell locals: “Don’t assume your belongings are safe in a shopping cart without taking precautions.”
“Always be aware of your surroundings.”
The warning from Livermore police came just a day after a 54-year-old Denny's location permanently closed its doors in Oakland on Wednesday due to threats to the “safety and well-being” of employees and customers.
Employees were not told of the closure until Tuesday and several were seen crying over the last day, FOX 2 reported.
The restaurant, like many other businesses in the area, had experienced a string of burglaries, robberies and violent crimes.
Denny's officials declined to speak to FOX 2 on camera, but a sign on the establishment's front door reiterated that “the safety and well-being of Denny's team members and valued guests is our top priority.” “.
Locals said the closure of the popular spot was “overwhelming” and “terrible” but was also seen as a sign of the malaise in the area.
According to Fox Business, other local companies have increased their safety measures to ensure the safety of their workers.
Health insurer Blue Shield and cleaning company Clorox reported that security guards were hired to escort staff from the building to “BART, parking garages and restaurants.”
Similarly, Kaiser Permanente – a healthcare company headquartered in Oakland – is said to have advised its employees to eat indoors as crime continues to target businesses in the area.
Signs outside Denny's warned against theft while robberies increased
The closure of Denny's follows the closures of Subway, Starbucks and In-N-Out Burger, all of which have become magnets for car thieves.
An In-N-Out spokesperson previously told SFGATE that customers and employees regularly experience car break-ins, property damage and armed robberies.
A Shell gas station about a mile from Denny's had also become a hotspot for vehicle break-ins.
According to Oakland police, there were 271 car break-ins, 15 robberies and five vehicle thefts at the Shell gas station in 2023.
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.
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.
The victim said he was parked for less than two minutes. “Stay away from this place at all costs,” the review reads. “The thieves were brave enough to use my credit cards at that very gas station later that day.”
A police cruiser is stationed at the Shell gas station on Hegenberger Road in Oakland, California, to deter thieves who are behind a rise in vehicle thefts
Police have also increased patrols at a nearby Chevron workshop, which is also a notorious hotspot. Police say they are powerless to prosecute the criminals because thefts are not considered “violent crimes.”
A police officer patrolling outside the Shell last Thursday told : “This has always gone on, but not to the extent that it is now.”
The official's assessment is supported by official crime statistics for Oakland, which show car thefts have increased nearly 50 percent in the past year.
There were 8,675 cases of car theft in the city in 2022, compared to 12,956 the previous year. The officer said they often see repeat offenders.
“We see someone and they get arrested and a week later they’re out,” the officer said.