Man robs Smart & Final Extra! grocery store at gunpoint in east Oakland

Photo by Christian Wiediger on Unsplash

On Sunday, April 4, at around 9 pm, an armed man robbed a Smart & Final Extra! Grocery store on 42 Ave and International Blvd.

The man then fled eastbound on a bicycle. We do not know further details about the bicycle.

Police were on the scene about 13 minutes later and confirmed the robbery had taken place.

According to reports, the robber stole groceries from the store.

In the Richmond just last month, an attempted carjacking took place at another grocery store. Rcently, a 16-year-old San Leandro girl was taken into custody and charged with felony carjacking, robbery, aggravated assault, elder abuse and conspiracy.

Police are looking for the man, who appears to still be at large. How many groceries he could fit on his bicycle is unknown.

While some believe this robbery is a sign of desperation, a beacon of our wider societal issues that have been exacerbated by racism and the pandemic, it is also possible this individual was mentally ill or in an altered state.

There are many services for individuals in need in the Bay Area.

Here are some services for individuals who may need extra help:

Oakland Free Food and Food Pantries

· Alameda County Community Food Bank

· The Alameda County Community Food Bank

· Children's Food Basket

· California Association of Food Banks

· Covenant House for the Youth - Bay Area Location

· Feed My Sheep

· West Oakland Food Pantry - Prescott-Joseph Center

· Mercy Brown Bag Program