OAKLAND -- The Five After Five program was one of the new safety initiatives Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao introduced during her State of City address earlier in October. The program is aimed at giving business owners and workers downtown as well as those visiting the city's downtown restaurants and shops a safe place to park their vehicles.
The announcement comes as Oakland crime is surging in nearly every category compared to last year, with homicides standing out as the major exception. Crime is up 24% year to date with home break-ins up 71% and 12,405 vehicle thefts in 2023, according to the Oakland Police Department. Car break-ins have surged by about 35%, rising to more than 11,600 so far this year.