March was a rough month for the normally calm and quiet 925. Several high-profile crimes struck businesses in the area.
March got off to a rocky start when criminals in Orinda, California, barged into a consignment store, pepper-sprayed customers, used a sledgehammer to smash a display case, and made off with thousands of dollars in jewelry.
Later in the month, attackers drove a car into the front of the CVS pharmacy in Lafayette, California. Thankfully, a delivery driver called the police, who arrived immediately.
The attackers were allegedly looking to steal the ATM that’s just inside the door, but the police chased them as far as the Caldecott Tunnel. Although they weren’t caught, they didn’t manage to steal the ATM they were after.
Here at The Bay Area Telegraph, we were the first ones on the scene the morning after the robbery. The whole front of the CVS was full of broken glass.
Things took a potentially even more violent turn when armed men robbed patrons outside a popular restaurant in Walnut Creek. The patrons were reportedly stepping out for a smoke around 10:30 at night when masked men pulled up with 9mm pistols and took their wallets and watches.
Over in Pleasant Hill, criminals tried to steal cigarettes from the back of a delivery truck at the 7-Eleven. When police were tipped off and arrived, it resulted in a multi-department police chase involving a helicopter. The alleged criminals ultimately crashed into a fence outside a middle school, and in this case, the police were able to nab them.
You might think that this is a lot of hullabaloo for some stolen cigarettes. But The Bay Area Telegraph learned that the cigarettes stolen in this instance totaled almost $70,000.
Finally, the month ended with another terrifying hammer robbery, this time in Lafayette. The M.O. was the same as in Orinda—thieves ran into a consignment store on Oak Grove Road, pepper-sprayed the staff members and customers, smashed the case, and grabbed $20,000 worth of jewelry.
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This wave of crime—including the armed robbery—has many in the 925 fed up. People are frustrated that this kind of high-profile crime is happening in our quiet suburban towns.
We’ve noticed an increase in police presence around the area, which should hopefully help prevent more of these kinds of crimes.
Not everyone is concerned. We’ve also heard from readers who feel that this crime wave is only significant because we happen to live in a very safe area. Some have pointed out that these kinds of crimes would be commonplace “West of the tunnel.”
Many in the area have expressed support for local police departments, who’ve been working together to try to stem the flow of criminal activity.
Even though some of the robbery crews have gotten away, police have often been on scene quickly and either caught some of the criminals or prevented the worst of the property theft.
Again, a quick police response seems to have foiled the ATM robbery in Lafayette and directly caught the criminals responsible for the Pleasant Hill robbery. Thankfully, no one has been seriously injured.
When criminals fail in their goals—or risk arrest—over time this should discourage them from continuing to come to the 925. We’re grateful to our local law enforcement and will continue to follow this developing story.
Let us know in the comments what you think of the 925 crime wave. And make sure to join our free 925 News newsletter so we can keep you posted on any other local developing crime stories.
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