BART takeover robbery: 40 to 60 teens swarm train, rob weekend riders
April 24, 2017 Updated: April 24, 2017 12:48pm
A recent string of robberies on BART trains took a frightening turn when dozens
of juveniles swarmed an Oakland station over the weekend and commandeered
a train car, forcing passengers to hand over bags and cell phones and leaving at
least two with head injuries, witnesses told the transit agency.
of juveniles swarmed an Oakland station over the weekend and commandeered
a train car, forcing passengers to hand over bags and cell phones and leaving at
least two with head injuries, witnesses told the transit agency.
The incident — the first of its kind in recent memory — occurred around 9:30
p.m. Saturday at Coliseum Station.
p.m. Saturday at Coliseum Station.
According to a police officials, witnesses said 40 to 60 juveniles flooded the station, jumped the fare gates and rushed to the second-story train platform. Some of the robbers apparently held open the doors of a Dublin-bound train car while others streamed inside, confronting and robbing and in some cases beating riders.
The juveniles “committed multiple strong-arm robberies of bags and cell phones,” said a police summary prepared after the incident. “At least two victims suffered head/facial injuries requiring medical attention.”
Alicia Trost, a BART spokeswoman, said Monday that seven robberies had occurred — with victims losing a purse, a duffel bag and five phones. Six people were robbed inside the train car, with a seventh confronted on the platform, she said.
The attack was quick, police reported, and the teenagers were able to retreat from the station and vanish into the surrounding East Oakland neighborhood before BART officers could respond. The train that was hit was held for about 15 minutes as authorities investigated the crime and tended to the injured.
“We are in the process of pulling all surveillance video and we will share with
Oakland police, Oakland Unified School District and Oakland Housing Authority
to see if they can help identify the minors,” Trost said. “We have had success
with sharing images of juveniles with this group and identifying and making
arrests in the past.”
Oakland police, Oakland Unified School District and Oakland Housing Authority
to see if they can help identify the minors,” Trost said. “We have had success
with sharing images of juveniles with this group and identifying and making
arrests in the past.”
BART announced that it has hired a new police chief who worked previously in Southern California.
Candice Nguyen reports.
Media: KTVUCandice Nguyen reports.
The images cannot be shared publicly, she said, because the suspects appear to
be minors.
be minors.
BART is also checking with Oakland police to see if any other incidents Saturday
night — such as a big house party being broken up — might shed light on the
identity of the suspects.
night — such as a big house party being broken up — might shed light on the
identity of the suspects.
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A series of robberies on BART trains in recent weeks has prompted the agency
to increase patrols — though this was apparently the first takeover-style heist.
to increase patrols — though this was apparently the first takeover-style heist.
The incident is likely to present a challenge for BART, which hired a new police
chief last week. The agency has struggled to contain fare evaders, and is in the
midst of installing surveillance cameras in train cars after The Chronicle
reported that most of the existing cameras were decoys.
chief last week. The agency has struggled to contain fare evaders, and is in the
midst of installing surveillance cameras in train cars after The Chronicle
reported that most of the existing cameras were decoys.
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