Oakland Mini-Mart Ransacked by Dozens of Suspects, Causes $100,000 in Damages

Early on Friday morning, around 72 individuals ransacked a gas station mini-mart near the San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport in Oakland, California, leaving the store completely destroyed. The owner of the 76 Gas Station & Mini Market on Hegenberger Road, Sam Mardaie, estimated that the thieves caused approximately $100,000 in damage and even threatened two employees who were working at the time.

Flash Mob Chaos

Shocking surveillance video captured the chaos as the suspects conducted a flash mob-style robbery, tearing through the refrigerated section and shelves, smashing items, and filling shopping baskets with stolen goods. Mardaie stated that the suspects were at the store for about 40 minutes, during which they wreaked havoc and caused significant destruction.

Delayed Police Response

Mardaie expressed frustration at the delayed police response, mentioning that it took approximately nine hours for the authorities to arrive after the crime was initially classified as a priority two incident. Despite the estimated 40-minute duration of the robbery, the delayed police response added to the distress and impact of the incident.

Suspects Linked to Illegal Gathering

Mardaie estimated that the approximately 70 suspects were linked to a nearby illegal sideshow gathering and took advantage of the mini-mart's window-only business setup to carry out the robbery. The incident has left the owner devastated, as he expressed the emotional toll of witnessing the destruction of his store.

Police Response and Investigation

Following the burglary, Oakland Police responded within 90 minutes of the incident after reviewing the surveillance footage. The authorities continue to investigate the situation, and further details regarding the suspects and any developments in the case are pending.