Employees at an Oakland pizza shop threatened with closure after being robbed four times this year reportedly took matters into their own hands last week, fighting off a recent break-in by scammers.
Security footage shows a Cibel Pizza employee trying to fight off the robber with a hammer around 10:30 Friday night. KGO reported.
After appearing to scare the thief away, he quickly returned, reached over the cashier’s counter, and took the paperclip. Get it on Fox LA. A desperate cook suddenly throws his recycling bin at him before fleeing.
“They tried to steal the register…My employees were very, very brave…I told them not to do that…but they had to protect themselves. It didn’t happen,” owner Elizabeth Sanchez told the outlet.
The robber was quickly arrested.
Friday’s robbery was the fourth in just over a month.
Sanchez said he is having trouble hiring employees because of the spike in crime in the area, which he said is also leading to customer turnover.
She and her husband, who both work seven days a week, are considering closing their Oakland restaurant. They will maintain another location in San Francisco, she said.
“Sales are down because no one wants to go out and they’re afraid for their safety,” Sanchez told KGO. “Sales are down and it’s even worse than it was during the pandemic.”
Sheng Tao’s mayor’s office said it was working with local businesses to beef up security.
“With Shen Tao [Deputy Chief Angelica Mendoza] “We are working to ensure that the Diamond District and Laurel District have funding to provide increased security 24/7,” Sanchez said.
She said her restaurant is one of several small businesses in the area that have been hit by the spike in crime.
“All business owners need help. Denny’s, those are the big chains. But what about us small businesses? Where is this? For me as an immigrant, this was the American dream. But now, where is this?” Sanchez asked.
The mayor’s office said two small businesses were recently awarded $20,000 in renovation grants as part of the Facade and Tenant Improvement Program and will work with Sibel on similar efforts.
California Governor Gavin Newsom Announced on Tuesday The state announced it would send 120 California Highway Patrol officers to Oakland to help fight crime.
