OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — In-N-Out Burger has decided to close its first-ever restaurant due to a surge in car break-ins, thefts, property damage, and robberies affecting both customers and employees at its sole location in Oakland, California. The fast-food burger establishment, situated in a bustling area near Oakland International Airport, will cease operations on March 24th as the company’s Chief Operating Officer Denny Warnick stated, “Our Customers and Associates are regularly victimized,” despite the company’s repeated efforts to enhance safety conditions. He further expressed that “We feel the frequency and severity of the crimes being encountered by our customers and associates leave us no alternative.”
Oakland has experienced a rise in property crime and robberies across the city, located across the bay from San Francisco, as mentioned in the San Francisco Chronicle. The In-N-Out that is set to close is situated in a busy business hub attracting airport travelers and baseball enthusiasts attending A’s games at the Coliseum. Since 2019, the police have recorded 1,335 incidents near the restaurant on Oakport Street—more than any other location in Oakland, according to the newspaper.
This tally includes nine robberies, two commercial burglaries, four domestic violence incidents, and 1,174 car break-ins, based on Oakland police data shared with the Chronicle. The Oakland Police Department did not immediately respond to a request for the data and comment from The Associated Press. Sean Crawford, who works near the restaurant, disclosed to the newspaper that he witnessed two individuals robbing people at gunpoint in the In-N-Out drive-thru lane by going from vehicle to vehicle after getting out of a car. In-N-Out Burger is headquartered in Irvine, California.
Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao informed KTVU-TV that additional police officers have been assigned to the area, but emphasized the need for further action. Thao mentioned that she has prioritized this crucial gateway to Oakland as the mayor, and the Oakland police have installed three cameras to monitor the area. The mayor’s office also presented statistics indicating a downtrend in property crime on Hegenberger Road, a primary street near the burger joint connecting the airport to the Coliseum, with a 43% decrease in car break-ins from 308 incidents to 176 incidents and a 49% reduction in thefts at the end of 2023.
