Oakland Police to increase patrols in and near Lakeside Park: Community help needed to reduce robberies in area
Lakeside Park is best known for Lake Merritt which is one of the most celebrated and accessible parks in Oakland with hundreds of visitors enjoying the park and its unique amenities daily; however, the park has also been the scene of multiple robberies and robbery attempts during late night and early morning hours when the park is closed to the public. This trend appears to have peaked during this last month of June.
We believe criminals may be targeting the location at these times due to the park's remote areas and distance from main thoroughfares, and we are hopeful that crime may be reduced by bringing this crime trend to your attention, and by reminding the general public of park hours. Coupled with the active investigation of these incidents, Oakland police officers will be increasing patrol presence within the park during nighttime hours and advising or citing persons who are within the park outside of posted hours.
Lakeside park is open from 6am through 10pm. Oakland Municipal Code Section 12.64.110 states, "No person, other than a city employee in the performance of his or her duty, shall enter or remain in any park during the time when it is not open for public use."
On a separate and related note, we have received valuable tips from you and your neighbors regarding recent robberies in the area. In one such case, a past victim alerted us to the unlawful use of a debit card following an armed robbery on Perkins. Follow-up has resulted in videotape of possible suspects using the card to purchase fuel at a North Oakland gas station.
Please pass this information to friends, family, and coworkers in the area who may not receive neighborhood specific Nixle alerts.
Address/Location
Oakland Police Department CA
OAKLAND POLICE ADMINISTRATION BUILDING
Oakland, CA 94607
Contact
Emergency: 9-1-1
Non-emergencies: 510-777-3333
Lt. Christopher Bolton
Police Area 2
[email protected]
510-238-2144