Piedmont Ave. Crime Wave? 5 Days, 8 Robberies

The Piedmont Avenue area has seen a plague of robberies — mostly at gunpoint — over the past week, according to Oakland Police Department statistics posted at CrimeMapping.com.

The website shows a total of eight robberies between Nov. 21 and Nov. 25 on Piedmont Avenue and in residential neighbohoods on both sides of the avenue.

Oakland police arrested two men in connection with one of robberies, which occurred about 8:15 p.m. on Nov. 25 in the 150 block of John Street, just off Piedmont Avenue. (You can read more about that incident here.)

CrimeMapping.com lists the following recent Piedmont Avenue area robberies:

—Nov. 21, 6:25 p.m., 4300 block of Piedmont Avenue. Armed robbery (firearm).

—Nov. 21, 8:30 p.m., 200 block of Monte Vista Avenue. Armed robbery (firearm).

—Nov. 23, 7:55 p.m., 41st St. Way (between Broadway and Howe Street). Armed robbery (firearm).

—Nov. 23, 8:30 p.m., Glen Avenue (near intersection with Panama Court). Armed robbery (knife/cutting implement).

—Nov. 24, 3:45 a.m. Monte Cresta Avenue (near intersection with Linda Avenue). Strongarm robbery.

—Nov. 25, 1:20 a.m., Linda Avenue (between Glen and Echo avenues). Armed robbery (firearm).

—Nov. 25, 8:15 p.m., 150 block of John Street (near intersection with Piedmont Avenue). Armed robbery (firearm). Two suspects arrested.

—Nov. 25, 12:20 p.m., Gilbert Street (near intersection with Mather Avenue). Armed robbery (firearm).

CrimeMapping.com also reported four armed robberies in nearby areas of Lakeshore Avenue, Rockridge and Temescal during the same time period.

In Piedmont, police reported a purse snatching in the 200 block of Hillside Avenue about 7:45 a.m. on Nov. 21. The robber drove off in a white sedan, according to police.

According to recent bulletins from the Oakland Police Department, many robbers have targeted pedestrians talking on smartphones, carrying electronic devices in plain sight or wearing white earbuds. Police suggest installing tracking software on smartphones and iPads.

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