Car burglaries, commonly referred to as bipping in the Bay Area, seem to be taking a different turn, especially in Oakland. The trend of bipping in the Bay Area has escalated since 2021. However, initial reports from Oakland’s police department indicate a decrease in these incidents for October.

While the annual statistics for car burglaries show a 35% increase from 2022, there’s been a noticeable decline in recent months.

Before the pandemic hit in October 2019, Oakland recorded over 1,400 car burglaries. This number plummeted to approximately 300 in June 2020, during the lockdown. However, the incidents surged again, exceeding 1,500.

Yet, there’s been a consistent decrease since then. Early figures for October suggest that Oakland had about 650 reported car burglaries. The decline is attributed to Oakland police’s new initiative, which collaborates with the California Highway Patrol to combat car burglaries.

The Oakland Police Department intends to maintain this initiative for the foreseeable future. However, some individuals who have previously been victims of these burglaries express the hope that underlying issues will also be tackled.

Bipping is a term used to describe a specific type of auto burglary that occurs in some cities, particularly in San Francisco and Oakland. It refers to the use of small pieces of porcelain taken from spark plugs to shatter car windows without making much noise. This allows thieves to break into cars quickly and quietly, often without being detected.