Crime
Major Fast Food Restaurant Closes Dining Rooms Amid Crime Surge
Clear Facts
- Several Taco Bell locations in Oakland have been forced to close their dining rooms due to a surge in crime, causing distress among local residents.
- One Taco Bell location was robbed four times in as many months, with the last incident involving a truck and a cable to steal the store’s safe through a broken window.
- Local businesses are considering a tax boycott until city officials improve safety measures, as crime continues to escalate and impact their operations.
Oakland residents are expressing their dismay as a franchise owner of Taco Bell fast food restaurants has been compelled to close their dining rooms due to a drastic increase in crime. A particular location was targeted by criminals four times within a four-month span.
The Taco Bell on 35th Ave. and MacArthur was the victim of a daring robbery where the culprits used a truck and a cable to extract the safe from the store through a shattered window. Interestingly, two of the four robberies transpired while the store was closed.
“They just pull up out of nowhere and it’s not like they only rob the store. They rob everybody in there as well,” Kimberly Garibay, an employee at a nearby store, said. “So, it’s not as safe as it used to be. There’s a lot of crime now.”
In response to the escalating crime, only one Taco Bell store has kept its dining room open. However, this location on Telegraph Ave. has transitioned to a cashless system in an effort to discourage criminal activity.
A spokesperson for Taco Bell issued a brief statement. “Providing a safe environment for team members and customers is the priority at Taco Bell restaurants,” the statement read. “The franchise owner and operator has informed us that they are consistently evaluating and working to ensure a safe environment by implementing procedures, such as closing dining rooms, and hiring security guards, and they have taken extra measures to meet with local law enforcement.”
The situation has left many residents frustrated and concerned. Miss Jo, a local who doesn’t own a car, expressed her annoyance. “I don’t think it’s cool. It’s annoying, yeah,” she said. “I just feel bad for the patrons, you know what I’m saying?”
Charles James, another resident, echoed similar sentiments. “It breaks my heart,” he said. “Because I want somebody to protect the citizens.”
The escalating crime rate is not only affecting Taco Bell but also other businesses in the area. Some owners are so exasperated with the situation that they are contemplating a tax boycott until city officials take substantial steps to enhance safety in the city.
Aliyah Musa, an Oakland resident, said that the crime situation in Oakland keeps deteriorating. “You can’t, you know, enjoy your meal in the comfort of the place you bought your meal. So, it’s like, them closing it down due to all the crime rates and everything,” she said. “It’s just, what is Oakland coming to?” Musa concluded. “Everything is getting worse. Things are closing down. You know, it’s just terrible.”
Let us know what you think, please share your thoughts in the comments below.
CandygramForMongo
March 18, 2024 at 6:39 am
Sounds like the Scourge of Commiefornia live in strOAKLAND. N!@@ERS BE N!@@EN!!!
Tamituna
March 18, 2024 at 6:40 am
California is a Blue State. They deserve what they get because they voted for it.
Richard
March 18, 2024 at 2:39 pm
Completely true. We cannot get a complete collapse fast enough, so we can get a restart. However on second thought, the voters who created this mess may not be able to add 2 + 2 and make the connection.
Vetmike
March 18, 2024 at 8:41 am
Oakland has been on the very edge of becoming America’s Somalia for some time. But, I’ve no sympathy for them. The community has had plenty of time and has had plenty of money thrown at them that there shouldn’t be these kinds of issues. The Black community has told us that this is a ‘Black Problem’ and ‘you honkies just can’t understand’. So, we threw trillions of dollars, decades of waiting and special laws and opportunities and it is still FUBAR.
bubbagyro
March 18, 2024 at 9:23 am
It is the police who are responsible for the crime wave because they are oppressive! Defund the police! There shouldn’t be ANY in Oakland!
(Haha!)
-bub
NavVet
March 18, 2024 at 2:48 pm
Bubba you are a fool.It is the citizens of not only Oakland but all of California. They vote these fake people into office on their lies and expect them to do what is right for the state and the people. The best thing these fast food places should do is pull up stakes and leave to state. If enough places do that all that will be left are the morons who think the leaders in the state are good. As the old saying goes ” you can’t fix stupid”.
Spanabama
March 18, 2024 at 3:13 pm
I’m shocked that the citizens and business owners are complaining about this. They voted for democrats and they knew that democrats stood for lawlessness, freedom for criminals, increasing the dollar value of thefts so criminals aren’t charged with felonies, in general democrats have increased the rights of the criminals and are decreasing the rights of victims and law biding citizens. Stop complaining, this is what Californians voted for. And Please, all you democrat voters STAY In Your Own State of California.
Camille Gilliam
March 24, 2024 at 10:29 pm
How many people out there know who Newsome is related to? Paul Pelosi is his uncle, they taught him to go along with anything the Demonrats want him to do.
JR
April 26, 2024 at 12:18 pm
I’m thankful I don’t live in California. California voters are sadists – sadists who not only enjoy hurting others, but enjoy hurting themselves as well.