Early Friday morning, a shocking incident occurred at a gas station mini-mart near the San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport in Oakland, California. Dozens of individuals engaged in a flash mob, causing extensive damage to the store and leaving it in ruins.
Surveillance video captured the suspects tearing apart the store, rummaging through the refrigerated section and shelves, smashing items, and filling shopping baskets with stolen goods. The owner of the 76 Gas Station & Mini Market on Hegenberger Road, Sam Mardaie, estimated that the perpetrators caused around $100,000 in damages and even threatened two employees present during the incident.
Mardaie expressed his dismay at the situation, highlighting the emotional toll of witnessing his store being destroyed after putting in countless hours of hard work. He also mentioned the delayed response from law enforcement, stating that it took approximately nine hours for police to arrive after the crime was initially classified as a priority two case due to the absence of suspects on-site.
While Oakland Police reported responding within 90 minutes of the burglary after reviewing the surveillance footage, Mardaie emphasized the impact of the 40-minute rampage by the perpetrators. He lamented the fact that so much destruction could occur in such a short span of time, reflecting on the lasting pain caused by the incident.
The incident serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerability of businesses to such criminal activities and the importance of timely intervention to prevent further damage. Authorities are actively investigating the case to identify and apprehend those responsible for the destructive act.
