Over the last 5 years, rent costs in the city of Oakland have doubled. At $2,807 per month it more expensive to live in Oakland now than it was in SanFrancisco in 2012, so one would expect the city to have 'cleaned up', and 'be safer'? However, as SFGate reports, the city laid off 80 officers today to help eliminate a $30.5 million budget deficit, prompting the department to announce that officers would no longer be dispatched to take reports for most nonviolent crimes. "With current levels of staffing, we are unable to respond to many lower-priority calls," said Officer Jeff Thomason, a police spokesman.
Instead, Oakland residents now have to file certain crime reports online or visit a police station. Those without a computer can ask that a blank form be mailed to them or pick one up at a library.
Over the past two years, residents have been able to go to oaklandpolice.com and report lost property, theft, vandalism, vehicle burglary and vehicle tampering. In the past, however, people could ask for an officer to come take a report. That will no longer be the case.
By Aug. 2, Oakland police intend to expand the online system - called Coplogic - so residents can report seven other types of crimes, including residential burglaries in which the suspects aren't known.
"There will be no follow-up investigation and the primary purpose for filing the report is for insurance purposes," according to the department.
So don't bother calling the cops for the following crimes...Oakland police now ask residents to report online:
- Lost property
- Theft
- Vandalism
- Vehicle burglary
- Vehicle tampering
Other crimes that will be reported online starting Aug. 2:
- Residential burglary
- Identity theft
- Annoying or harassing phone calls
- Barking dogs
- Restraining order violations
- Court order violations
- Runaways
* * *
For $2,800 per month (double what it was 5 years ago) perhaps one should expect just a little more law and a lot more order...