Posted on November 6, 2020

Surveillance Video Shows Dozens of Looters Trashing Oakland Pharmacy for Hours; Where Were Police?

Laura Anthony, ABC 7, November 5, 2020

Police in Oakland and other East Bay cities have been dealing with a rash of brazen robberies and other incidents since Tuesday night.

Among those businesses hit, was Oakland’s longtime High Street Pharmacy.

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For five hours, until after 3:30 in the morning, dozens of people run into the pharmacy, smashing computers, wrecking displays, stealing drugs and other merchandise and ransacking a business that has served Oakland’s Laurel District since 1947.

“We feel like we deserve a little bit better,” said owner Gareen Avakian, who told us she’s heard from neighbors who called 911 almost as soon as the brazen break-in began. An alarm company also apparently tried to call, but Oakland police didn’t respond for five hours.

“It’s just disturbing to think that there’s nobody here looking out for us in this community,” said Avakian. {snip}

The looting and destruction were all captured in vivid color by the store’s many surveillance cameras. The images are so clear, investigators could potentially identify suspects, but so far the police have yet to even ask for it.

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