OPD NEWS:
The Oakland Police Department is investigating an attempted theft that occurred on July 13, 2021, just after 2:00 AM, in the 3300 block of Alameda Avenue. Officers were responding to a call for service. After arriving on the scene, the officer observed a female standing next to a car. The woman appeared to be surprised and yelled a warning to others in the area.
The officer then noticed a pickup truck parked behind the car where the woman was standing, and a loud noise was coming from underneath the car. As the officer responded to investigate, he saw a male underneath the truck using a power tool to cut off the catalytic converter. The male dropped the power tool as he and the female began to run away. The officer then saw a second male hiding behind another car as he attempted to catch up with the two fleeing individuals. A third male and the other two men appeared to hide inside an unsheltered encampment in the 3600 block of Alameda Avenue.
The officer returned to the original scene in the 3300 block of Alameda Avenue and recovered a loaded firearm sticking out from underneath a blanket. The officer discovered the car was reported stolen from out of town. During the inventory search of the car, the officer found two more loaded firearms inside.
The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information is asked to contact our Criminal Investigation Division at (510) 238-3728.