A Taco Bell franchisee has shut the dining rooms of at least 3 restaurants in Oakland over crime fears
- A Taco Bell franchisee has shut the dining rooms of some restaurants in Oakland over crime fears, CNN reported.
- On Taco Bell's website, three of the five Oakland restaurants are only open for drive-thru.
A Taco Bell franchisee has shut the dining rooms of at least three restaurants in Oakland over fears about crime.
The dining rooms of restaurants on Bancroft Avenue, 35th Avenue, and Telegraph Avenue are all listed as closed on Taco Bell's website, though the drive-thrus remain open.
Taco Bell told CNN that the dining rooms were closed by the franchisee operating the restaurants, Diversified Restaurant Group.
"The franchise owner and operator has informed us that they are consistently evaluating and working to ensure a safe environment by implementing procedures, such as closing dining rooms, and hiring security guards, and they have taken extra measures to meet with local law enforcement," Taco Bell told the outlet.Local station KPIX-TV reported that the restaurant on 35th Avenue had been robbed four times since November, two of which happened while the restaurant was open.Crime records for the last 90 days, viewed by Business Insider, indicate there was a burglary with forcible entry and a car burglary reported at the Telegraph Avenue restaurant address earlier this year. The incidents were just days apart.
There was also a reported burglary with forcible entry listed at the 35th Avenue restaurant address in February and two reports of battery and one of a shooting at the Bancroft Avenue restaurant address in the last 90 days.
The Oakland Police Department noted that the exact address of each reported crime is substituted with the block address, so it is not immediately clear whether these incidents occurred in these restaurants.
Taco Bell's website lists five restaurants in Oakland. A restaurant on Hegenberger Road appears to be the only Taco Bell in the city that is still operating its dining room, though it only has limited opening hours – until just 5 p.m., per information on Taco Bell's website.
And the Telegraph Road restaurant appears to currently be out of operation.
BI has contacted Taco Bell and Diversified Restaurant Group for comment.
Target, In-N-Out, and Denny's have all closed Oakland locations
The news of Taco Bell's dining room closures comes amid reports of rising crime in the Californian city.
Target said in September that it was closing a store in Oakland over concerns about theft and retail crime.
In January, cult West Coast burger chain In-N-Out Burger said that it was closing its Oakland restaurant, which its COO attributed to the "frequency and severity" of crimes experienced by its customers and staff including car break-ins, property damage, theft, and armed robberies. It still has a restaurant in nearby Alameda.Around a week later, Denny's said that it was closing its 24-hour diner, located close to Oakland International Airport and Oakland Arena, to prioritize staff and customer safety after 54 years of operation.Do you work in fast food? Got a story? Email this reporter at gdean@insider.com.