Eye on the Hills: Concerns heard at Oakland Coffee with a Cop' event

"It should make you angry, Smith replied. But I want to remind you of something that happened right here in Montclair. There was a gentleman sitting in Starbucks on his laptop . He was referencing a case that still haunts Montclarions today the December 2019 death of a man who tried to retrieve his stolen computer and was run over by a speeding getaway car."

"It was the most devastating thing, said Smith. But that's why. That's why it's important not to stop thieves like this. Even in a store, we know from the investigations we've done, that people who do this kind of thing are often armed. Then he made the senior vow not to confront a criminal again. I never want you to be a victim, because CVS can replace it. Promise me that you won't do that again."

End of Daylight Saving Time brings earlier darkness and a correlated rise in robberies and burglaries. Oakland Police Captain Aaron Smith met with Montclair Village neighbors at a Coffee with a Cop event at Peet's Coffee & Tea to address community safety concerns. Smith warned that people who steal in stores are often armed and urged residents not to confront suspects, citing a December 2019 case in which a man retrieving a stolen computer was run over by a getaway car. Neighbors raised issues from car thefts to sideshow activity. Smith offered practical responses constrained by a severe officer shortage.

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