Be safe on BART this holiday season -- and off of it, too.
Once a day of shopping is done, Oakland Police Department security patrols will escort holiday shoppers back to their vehicles with their hauls, the department announced.
The aim is to make sure BART passengers and holiday gift purchases make it back home safely.
“We’re here to provide as much help as we can,” OPD’s Ana Martinez said.
Full-time Oakland cops, as well as cadets and police from San Leandro, will join BART police in escorting shoppers to their cars at West Oakland, Fruitvale and San Leandro stations.
“I’m definitely more conscious with my packages and my purse and stuff like that, because the train gets really crowded and I’m scared of people taking my stuff,” BART passenger Carlotta Gomez said.
All passengers need to do to get an escort is ask: Find the escorts in their yellow vests, and at West Oakland, shoppers can even get a ride.
The rides are good between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. only, so make sure you don't delay. Otherwise you are on your own -- at which point, police advise you to stay in "well lit and populated areas."
