Oakland Shop Targeted in Recent Spree of Thefts

Aug.08.2022
Oakland Shop Targeted in Recent Spree of Thefts
A series of thefts targeted a group of stores in Oakland, causing damage and loss of merchandise. Store owners call for government action.

A store in Oakland has become the target of a recent spate of thefts. The owner said that he had already anticipated this disaster, but experiencing it firsthand was still terrifying.


In Birkenhead, Vape2Go and five other stores have become victims of looting and theft resulting in damaged storefronts and stolen goods. The owners are urging the government to take action and put an end to the ongoing pressure on their businesses caused by the thefts.


A surveillance video shows two individuals dressed in dark clothing and head coverings breaking into a store. They used a hammer to break open the front door and then proceeded to ransack the cabinets, stealing thousands of dollars worth of goods in a 60-second raid.


Vape2Go Birkenhead's store was destroyed and merchandise stolen in a robbery, according to surveillance footage from Vape 2Go Birkenhead.


Ying Wang, owner of Vape 2Go Birkenhead, has stated that the current condition of his store is far from optimistic. The double-layered glass front door has been heavily damaged and only a small portion remains intact. Additionally, the heavy metal handle has been thrown onto the sidewalk.


We are a franchise store, and many other shops have been affected, so we knew one day these gangs would target us. However, we did not expect the impact to be so severe.


Every store appears to have been robbed. The government needs to aid us in protecting us from the impact of such dreadful situations.


This is the second Vape2Go store to be vandalized within the past week.


We cannot rule out the possibility that our adherence to the new policy of not selling e-cigarettes to minors has resulted in retaliation," said the store manager.


Ritesh Patel, the owner of Superette clothing store located on Kepa Road in Ōrākei, stated that he had installed bollards and iron grilles to protect his store, but it did not deter criminals.


It appears that they attempted to pull out the grill using a belt, tying one end to the grill and the other end to their car, but they were not successful.


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