OAKLAND, Calif. (KGO) — Car break-ins have long frustrated drivers across the Bay Area. But data reveals a surprising shift: reported vehicle burglaries are down significantly in Oakland – by more than 50% compared to the previous year.
Still, some residents are skeptical.
“I don’t trust the numbers that are reported,” said Oakland driver Brian Bourke. “I think it happens a lot more than people report.”
According to data analyzed by ABC7’s data team, there were nearly 15,000 reported car break-ins in Oakland in 2023—the highest number since 2012. After reaching out to a dozen auto glass repair shops in the city, that number seemed to ring true.
“It became a regular occurrence that year,” said James Serwa, owner of Glass on the Move. “It was a revolving door in here. We’d have cars lined up all day long, appointments one after another, every day for months.”
However, in 2024, the numbers tell a different story. Break-in reports dropped by more than half, marking the second-lowest figure in a decade – trailing only 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic first broke.
“Starting in September, we saw a real drop-off,” Serwa said. “They really dropped off the radar.”
MORE: San Francisco car break-ins at historic 22-year low. But does the data match reality?
According to SFPD data, reported car break-ins in San Francisco have dropped to their lowest levels in more than two decades. ABC7 News takes a look.
While Oakland police declined to comment for this story, San Francisco Police Chief Bill Scott spoke to ABC7 News anchor Dion Lim on Monday and attributed a similar decline in his city to increased technology use, including bait cars, drones, and the passage of Proposition E which expanded law enforcement’s access to crime-fighting technology.
“Better access to video surveillance, period, across the board, has been significant in allowing us to work more effectively,” Chief Scott said.
MORE: Oakland police see rise in smash-and-grab suspects targeting people sitting in their cars
Back in Oakland’s Lakeview District, which has experienced break-ins in the past- residents say they’ve noticed a difference.
“The street is much better than it was,” said Johannes Grohmann. “I think we’re on the right track.”
For business owners like Serwa, the downturn in break-ins may mean fewer customers – but he’s not complaining.
“I hope it’s good for the city,” he said. “It’s not for us… but it’s OK in the long run.”
INTERACTIVE: Take a look at the ABC7 Neighborhood Safety Tracker
Copyright © 2025 KGO-TV. All Rights Reserved.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by PostX News and is published from a syndicated feed.)
