A family from Florida fell victim to a robbery in California when thieves broke into their rental car while they were dropping off their son at college, stealing all their belongings, including $3,000 and their passports. The incident has left the mom determined to bring her son back to Florida.
Rhomel Crossman and his family had recently arrived in the Bay area from Coconut Creek, Fla. to register for classes at Lincoln University in Oakland, as reported by KTVU.
Crossman, a recent graduate of Coconut Creek High School, had committed to playing football as a defensive tackle at Lincoln University, according to a post from February on X.
Upon arrival in California, the family rented a white Nissan Rogue from Thrifty and drove to Oakland.
They parked the car near the university and went to a nearby restaurant to pick up food, leaving their suitcases inside the vehicle. When they returned, they found the car’s windows smashed and all their belongings gone.
“In Oakland, California, you just gotta be careful,” said Crossman’s mother, Nerissa Murray Watson. “Everything is totally gone.”
A witness reported seeing masked men driving around without license plates, a common occurrence in the Bay Area.
“I didn’t know that these things happen in America, so it’s really strange to me,” added Murray Watson.
The stolen items included $3,000, three passports, social security cards, and important documents like her son’s high school diploma and birth certificate.
Additionally, a sleep apnea machine was taken from the car.
“Now, I start feeling my heart like it’s pounding in the morning instead of feeling rested,” said Coren Leslie-Green, Crossman’s aunt.
The family tried calling 911 multiple times after the break-in but were instructed to go to a police station to file a report.
“To me, it’s lawless because we even called the police three times and they said they can’t come,” said Murray Watson.
After the unfortunate incident, the family has decided to withdraw Crossman from Lincoln University, citing safety concerns.
“I have to bring back my son to Florida because it’s not safe here,” she said.
The city of Oakland reports a decrease in overall crime compared to the previous year, including a 60% reduction in car break-ins. However, some organizations argue that the numbers may be skewed.
“We should compare our numbers to a lengthy amount of time. Not just the difference between this year and last year,” said Sergeant Huy Nguyen, President of the Oakland Police Officers’ Association, as reported by KGO. “We have to bring our numbers down to a level where our community feels a sense of safety.”
Crime rates over the past 12 months are down by 15.8% compared to all of 2023, with fluctuations in robbery rates depending on the timeframe.
“Every time we roll into the beginning of summer, we will see an increase in violent crimes across the city. The increase of sideshows. That is just the norm for us,” said Sgt. Nguyen.
To ensure student safety, UC Berkeley advises against leaving belongings in cars and educates incoming students on safety practices during orientation, according to KTVU.
