They’ve yelled ‘OPD’ and ‘police’ when breaking into Oakland homes. But they are not cops, police say
OAKLAND — Police on Wednesday issued a public safety advisory that there have been two recent residential robberies and a burglary where the suspects have claimed to be police officers.
The most recent happened just after 12 a.m. June 29 near Selkirk Street and 39th Avenue in the Redwood Heights area.
Several suspects in plain clothes broke into the home and when the resident confronted them they said they were “OPD” and at gunpoint ordered the resident to get on the floor.
They fled with various valuables.
Prior to that, at about 1:50 p.m. June 26 in the area of 83rd Avenue and Birch Street some suspects, again in plain clothes and at least one with a gun, yelled “police” as they forced their way inside an apartment. Nothing was taken from the resident.
Moments before that, also yelling they were the cops, a group broke into what turned out to be an unoccupied apartment in the same complex.
Police have not said if they believe the same suspects were involved in all of the cases. Extra officers have been assigned to the areas.
Police and Crime Stoppers of Oakland are offering up to $5,000 in reward money for information leading to the arrests of the suspects. Anyone with information may call police at 510-238-3326 or Crime Stoppers at 510-777-8572.
In the wake of the robberies, police are offering several safety tips.
They include that Oakland police officers will knock and announce their presence, that Oakland police officers will be in clothing that clearly identifies them as law enforcement officers and that Oakland police plain clothes officers do not force entry into residences.
Victims are also cautioned not to resist, and when in doubt, trust their instincts and call 911.