Let’s begin by acknowledging that overall, the 925 is a very safe place to live. Comparatively speaking, there’s very little crime here.
That makes it even more shocking, though, when something truly crazy happens. And sadly, we had plenty such happenings in 2025.
The first one that stands out to me was when I drove by the CVS in Lafayette in early 2025, and found the front completely smashed in. Employees were still surveying the damage, it was so fresh.
Turns out that criminals had driven a car through the front of the store in an attempt to grab the ATM inside.
Unfortunately, these kinds of crimes turned out to be a staple of the year. The CVS in Orinda was also hit in a similar manner.
But San Ramon takes the cake for the craziest ATM heist. There, bombers used improvised explosives to detonate an ATM in a Target store–thankfully, not during operating hours.
That prompted a response from the FBI, and ultimately arrests. But it was especially shocking to hear of bombs going off in perhaps the quietest burb in the East Bay.
San Ramon had several other examples of major crimes. A heist at Heller Jewelers resulted in robbers allegedly shooting their way out of the store. And a driver allegedly traveling 120 mph in a Tesla caused a fatal DUI crash in the town this month.
Those crimes were plenty shocking, but they were largely one-offs. One of the most concerning local crimes this year was actually a wave, not a single crime.
Burglars smashed their way into multiple local businesses throughout the 925, often stealing safes full of cash and vandalizing equipment.
Panache Cafe in Lafayette was initially hit, and the spree continued with The Great Wall, Zoonie’s, multiple stores in Walnut Creek, and most recently (as I write this) Lottie’s in Danville.
These crimes cost business owners thousands in damage and lost business. And the fact that they keep happening in a very similar manner suggests a coordinated effort–which is also concerning.
Thankfully, our local law enforcement has been very much on top of these trends, and have made several high-profile arrests already. Here’s to a (hopefully) quieter year ahead!
