Cops investigate armed robbery series in Berkeley, Oakland
Authorities say a group of youth entered liquor stores and smoke shops and robbed employees at gunpoint.
Police in Berkeley and Oakland are investigating an armed robbery series in both cities last weekend that reportedly involved a group of youth armed with guns.
Authorities say the youth entered liquor stores and smoke shops and robbed employees at gunpoint.
All of the robberies in Berkeley appear to have taken place within less than an hour Sunday night.
At 6:25 p.m., police said, five juveniles went into Lo-Cost Liquors at 2301 San Pablo Ave. (at Bancroft Way) and robbed the shop at gunpoint. The youth wore masks and "stole money from the cash register and candy."
About 15 minutes later, five youth armed with guns went into The One Wireless & Gift Shop at 1019 University Ave. (near San Pablo Avenue) and "robbed the store of cash from the register," police said.
About 15 minutes after that, five youth armed with guns robbed Adeline Super Shop at 3217 Adeline St. (near Harmon Street) and took cash from the register.
About 20 minutes later, at about 7:15 p.m., five juveniles went into Hi Times Smoke Shop, at 2374 Telegraph Ave. near UC Berkeley. They were armed with guns and robbed the store of cash from the register, police said.
In response to an inquiry from The Berkeley Scanner, The Oakland Police Department said it is investigating an armed robbery series that may involve the same individuals from the Berkeley incidents.
OPD released fewer details about its cases but described "a series of armed robberies that occurred within the City of Oakland between January 21, 2023, and January 22, 2023. In each incident, it appears several individuals entered liquor stores and proceeded to rob the employee at gunpoint."
BPD's robbery detectives can be reached at 510-981-5742 and OPD's Robbery Section is at 510-773-1840.
