Oakland Chinatown leaders demand stronger protection after violent robberies

A series of violent smash and grab robberies in Oakland’s Chinatown last week, including a jewelry store heist and two bank ram raids, has left business owners shaken and demanding urgent safety measures. Mayor Barbara Lee and Police Chief Floyd Mitchell met with community leaders Thursday to address the growing fears.

On Aug. 18, more than eight armed robbers crashed a large truck at full speed through Kim Tin Jewelry in Little Saigon, ramming through the entire store and trapping the owner inside. He suffered several injuries, including severe bruising to his leg, after being knocked against cabinets and broken glass. His son, Jason Dao, said the thieves held his father at gunpoint and took tens of thousands of dollars in merchandise.

The shop remains closed as a GoFundMe campaign raises funds for medical care, repairs and lost income.

Two days later, around 4:20 a.m. on Aug. 20, thieves used a U-Haul truck to smash into Sterling Bank and Cathay Bank on Webster Street. The suspects stole an ATM and fled, leaving both banks with extensive structural damage. The entrances have since been boarded up and private security has been stationed on site while repairs are underway.

At the community meeting, Oakland Chinatown Chamber of Commerce president Stephanie Tran said the crimes were “not just property crime but an attack on the vitality of Oakland Chinatown.” Carl Chan of the Chinatown Chamber Foundation added, “We don’t need politicians telling us how sorry they are. No. Just take action.”

Mayor Lee pledged to strengthen security through upgraded cameras and the installation of barriers to prevent vehicle attacks, while Chief Mitchell confirmed investigators are pursuing leads but emphasized that limited staffing prevents officers from being stationed on every corner.