Police in Oakland have documented more than 10,000 auto thefts in the Bay Area city in 2023.
The exact number is 10,547 from Jan. 1 to Sept. 17, taking into account cars stolen only through nonviolent methods.
That comes out to an average of 40 cars stolen each day.
The most recent crime data provided by police show auto thefts are up 51% year over year.
“While the number is pretty staggering, I wish I could say that I was truly surprised or am truly surprised for that matter because of the lack of leadership in Oakland city government and the lack of accountability,” Oakland resident Eugene Kopman told local CBS affiliate KPIX-TV. “My car was parked at the Coliseum BART. I took my son to a baseball game last Sunday and I came back — the car was gone.”
Oakland also is dealing with a surge in carjackings, up 20% this year for a total of 504.
The city plans to install 300 additional surveillance cameras around town so license plate readers can detect stolen vehicles.
Car thefts have been a long-standing issue in the East Bay.
FBI crime data from 2019 showed that Oakland had the highest rate of cars stolen in the nation at 1,161.4 thefts per 100,000 people.
That year, the city recorded 5,041 auto thefts.
• Matt Delaney can be reached at mdelaney@washingtontimes.com.
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