An Oakland business owner is speaking out after his store was broken into over the weekend.
Ali Albasiery is dealing with the aftermath of when someone rammed a car into the rolled up gate of 4M Foods.
“So they come in and they push the car up to the rolling door in front of the business,” he said. “They tear down the facade, they go inside and they take away things that aren’t even worth the damage they caused.”
He said the damages would amount to more than $35,000, more than the suspects took from the establishment.
“They took cigarettes, they took the cash register, they took candy bars, they took all kinds of things, drugs,” Albasiery said.
Police attended the scene, took a report and are currently investigating, according to authorities.
Albasiery, president of the Small Bay Area Merchant Chamber of Commerce, said other stores he runs have also been affected.
The Oakland City Council is considering cutting its budget, and Albasiery said he is concerned about the impact on police and firefighters.
“We pay the taxes. We pay all the taxes that the city asks of us, as well as the state and the federal government, but we don’t get the service,” he said. “I saw two businesses, one on High Street and International, the other on Foothill Blvd. Someone hit their cars, stole their merchandise, broke down their doors,”
Councilor Noel Gallo saw the impact of two other burglaries this weekend and said not enough was being done to address them.
“Public safety is the number one priority we need to invest in,” Gallo said.