OAKLAND, CA – Violent criminals in Oakland these days might looker a bit younger and that’s because they are. According to the Oakland Police Department, a disturbing trend citywide is seeing younger and more violent criminals take to the streets, engaging in violent behavior against the citizens of the city.
“An Alarming Trend of Juveniles Committing Violent Crimes in Oakland,” the department said. “The Oakland Police Department is seeing an uptick of juveniles committing armed robberies and carjackings. Over the last few weeks, underage suspects as young as 11 years old, have held victims at gunpoint to take their vehicles. OPD has made multiple arrests and is still looking for additional suspects connected to these violent crimes.”
The juveniles, ranging in age between 11-16 are known to use the stolen vehicles to commit additional robberies throughout Oakland. The Department is very concerned about these dangerous crimes committed by these children and teenagers.
“It is my hope that everyone is alarmed by the fact that it appears these violent acts are being committed by middle-school-age youth, barely more than children, armed with weapons. This not only poses a great risk to our community but also to the offenders and their young peers. OPD is working with our city and county partners to interrupt this troubling criminal behavior while reaching these adolescents at such a critical stage in their lives,” says Interim Police Chief Susan E. Manheimer.
OPD is collaborating with the Department of Violence Prevention and the Alameda County Probation Department. The group is working on ways to prevent these crimes from reoccurring and getting the juveniles much-needed resources.
This an active investigation and anyone with information are asked to contact the Robbery Section at (510) 238-3326.