Merchants install more surveillance cameras to protect Oakland Chinatown

OAKLAND — Two banks in Oakland Chinatown were broken into by a U-Haul truck almost at the same time lately that has shocked the local Asian community on the crime situation in Oakland. The Oakland Chinatown Chamber of Commerce demanded stronger police presence and announced more surveillance cameras to be installed to protect the community.

Two break-ins occurred at Cathay Bank as well as Sterling Bank and Trust at around 4:15 am on August 20. Both banks are located on the 700 block Webster Street in Oakland Chinatown and only about half block apart across from the street.

The Oakland Police Department (OPD) said officers responded to two banks in the area to investigate burglary in the morning of August 20. When officers arrived, they found broken glass, indicating a break-in. The suspects appeared to have used a vehicle to access the businesses before leaving the scene. It remains unclear whether anything was taken from the businesses.

A witness told officers they observed multiple suspects leaving the scene in another vehicle. The OPD urged anyone with information to contact the Burglary Section in the OPD at (510) 238-3951 and send videos or photos that could assist with the investigation to cidvideos@oaklandca.gov.

On August 21, the next day after the bank break-ins, the Oakland Chinatown Chamber of Commerce and local business owners held a press conference at Pacific Renaissance Plaza to address the alarming rise in smash-and-grab robberies in Oakland Chinatown.

"Thieves used a truck to ram into both bank storefronts, shattering glass, causing severe property damage, and stealing an ATM. This violent act has left visible scars on our community and further erodes the sense of safety for businesses, residents, and visitors," the Oakland Chinatown Chamber of Commerce said.

“This is not just property crime,” Stephanie Tran, President of the Oakland Chinatown Chamber of Commerce, said in the press conference. “It is an attack on the stability and vitality of Chinatown."

"Brazen crimes like this damage public trust and drive customers away. We need immediate and increased investment in public safety, stronger coordination with law enforcement, and greater resources to support impacted businesses. The people of Chinatown and Oakland deserve to feel safe in their own neighborhood," Tran said.

“We demand stronger police presence and urge the city to address the police staffing shortage to ensure our community is not left vulnerable to repeat attacks," said Carl Chan, President of the Oakland Chinatown Chamber Foundation.

Chan said the community has not seen as many police presence at Oakland Chinatown as often as before. “It is always about preventing crime. The city should listen to the people, work with the community. Each community is different. Make sure all the tax dollars are used wisely to keep our community safe."

Shirley Luo, who has owned a supermarket in Oakland Chinatown for decades, pleaded for a safer community both for shoppers and merchants. "Safety is most important. We need a safe Oakland Chinatown. If the crime situation like this continues, shoppers would stop coming," said Luo.

The Oakland Chinatown Chamber of Commerce has raised funds and accepted donations for the installation of 50 surveillance cameras around Oakland Chinatown for the past decade. Tran said the Chamber of Commerce has planned to install 20 additional advanced cameras which include features of licence plate readers in the nearest future to provide better protection for Oakland Chinatown.

The Oakland Chinatown Recovery and Resiliency Fund was established by the Chamber in 2020 in response to the economic challenges that Oakland Chinatown merchants have faced since the pandemic. Due to the latest violent break-ins at two banks, a gofundme account was launched online for the fund on August 21.

The fund provides direct financial support to local businesses to help with repairing broken glass and gates, street cleaning, removing boarded storefronts, graffiti removal, and recovery from crime-related damages. The contributions to the fund are processed through the Oakland Chinatown Chamber Foundation.

After the press conference held by the Oakland Chinatown Chamber of Commerce on the same day, a group of individuals rallied in front of the Sterling Bank and Trust which was damaged by the burglars who used a U-Haul truck to ram into it the day prior. Individuals in the group held signs and chanted "Save our streets!" 

"We are demanding that they declare a state of emergency and call in the California National Guard," Edward Escobar of Citizens Unite said in the rally.

Huy Nguyen, President of the Oakland Police Officers’ Association, issued a statement in response to the crime situation in Oakland.

“Oakland continues to see significant crime. That is why the U.S. News and World Report ranked Oakland as the '2nd most dangerous city' in the nation this month. Our hearts go out to the people who are impacted by these bank break-ins. The police department and its dedicated offices will do everything in our power to catch the perpetrators and seek justice for the victims.”

Mayor Barbara Lee attended a press event on the same day related to the bank break-in incidents and issued a statement to Wind Newspaper.

"We don't sweep our challenges under the rug here in Oakland - we deal with them head-on. The trauma, fear, and anger about what has taken place is completely warranted,” Lee said in the statement.

“People don't feel safe, regardless of what the crime statistics show. Our small businesses deserve not just to survive, but to thrive. You have the full support of your entire city government to ensure that Chinatown, Little Saigon, and all our communities and small businesses don't merely survive - they flourish. And we are committed to making this happen,” said Lee.