Alleged Oakland Robbers Found Wedged Between Buildings

Posted: 7:40 am PST January 14, 2010

Updated: 8:44 am PST January 14, 2010

KTVU

OAKLAND, Calif. -- An intense manhunt for a gang of alleged home invasion robbers came to an abrupt end early Thursday when four of the fleeing suspects became wedged in a narrow space between two buildings, authorities said.

Police said they received a 911 call at about 2:30 a.m. of a break-in at a live-work loft on Chapman Street in an industrial area of Oakland that is home to many artists.

Arriving officers were told that six men had broken into a home on search of drugs, but when they found none decided to take computer equipment. The alleged robbers had fled the home and scrambled across rooftops and through backyard gardens in an attempt to escape.

Police quickly began a search of the neighborhood with search lights and tracking dogs.

“I heard someone come through my gate and run pass and they came to this cubby way (a foot wide space between buildings),” local resident Dave Moore told KTVU. “It turns into a funnel at the end so they tried to come back through and got stuck. “

The four suspects were found by officers wedged in a six-by-12 inch space between buildings and taken into custody.

Two other suspects were also taken into custody elsewhere in the neighborhood. The search was still underway for the guns alleged used in the robbery.

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