Oakland pizzeria workers fight back, fend off robbery attempt
Oakland pizzeria workers fight back, fend off robbery attempt
Workers at the Oakland Dimond District Cybelles Pizza fought back against an attempted robbery on Friday night. Video from the encounter shows a cashier using a hammer for protection. Another worker hurls a compost bin at the intruder. This is the fourth time robbers have targeted the pizzeria since January.
OAKLAND, Calif. - Workers at a pizza shop in Oakland used a hammer - and recycling bin - to fend off a robber.
"It's just unbelievable. They have the courage to do this. They have to fight against them," said Elizabeth Sanchez, owner of Cybelle's Pizza in the Dimond District.
The incident unfolded shortly before 10:30 p.m. Friday at the corner of Fruitvale Avenue and MacArthur Boulevard.
After initially leaping over the counter, a masked robber is pushed back by a worker, who then reaches underneath the counter to grab a hammer. That seems to scare the intruder away.
But within moments, the guy returns. As the worker calls 911 and brandishes the hammer, the man reaches for the cash register.
The two struggle over the register - and that's when a cook hurls a green recycling bin in the robber's direction.
"They were using whatever they have on hand. We're trying to help the cashier, because like we don't want to leave him alone," Sanchez said.
Sanchez says the two held the robber at bay, and the intruder gave up without taking anything.
This is now the fourth time robbers have targeted the pizzeria since January.
In each of the earlier cases, robbers took off with cash register or the safe. And after each incident, workers have had to deal with the damage and the trauma of being robbed.
Sanchez said she and her staff work seven days a week, with no days off. She's frustrated and worries that she might have to close.
"As an immigrant, as a Mexican, this is my American dream. But where is it going? I believe it's going to the trash now," she said.
Oakland City Councilmember Janani Ramachandran represents the Dimond District. She says she's trying to get community safety ambassadors and more foot patrols in the area.
"I completely understand the sentiment, deeply, of wanting to take things into your own hands," Ramachandran said. "We need more hours, more coverage if we're really going to make this a priority and the city's not, you know, just going to say we care but actually putting money and resources to make sure that we're supporting these businesses."
Henry Lee is a KTVU crime reporter. E-mail Henry at Henry.Lee@fox.com and follow him on Twitter @henrykleeKTVU and www.facebook.com/henrykleefan