East Oakland Flower Vendor Robbed at Gunpoint

Thieves stole $300 in cash and five bouquets before fleeing the scene.

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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A 53-year-old woman selling flowers on the street in East Oakland was robbed near 54th Avenue and International Boulevard. Thieves took about $300 in cash along with five bouquets before taking off. Police later arrested a 21-year-old man and recovered some of the stolen bouquets, but a female suspect remains at large.

Why it matters

The robbery has stirred fresh anxiety among street vendors and residents along International Boulevard, a stretch that has long struggled with thefts and robberies. Recent local coverage has highlighted a rise in daytime robberies that has many sellers wary and calling for more visible policing and community safety measures.

The details

According to police, the 53-year-old woman was selling flowers on the street when she was robbed near 54th Avenue and International Boulevard in East Oakland. The thieves took about $300 in cash and five bouquets before fleeing the scene. Officers later traced a vehicle allegedly involved in the crime to the 2000 block of 57th Avenue and arrested a 21-year-old man, who was booked into Santa Rita Jail and is being held in lieu of $100,000 bail. Authorities said they recovered some of the stolen bouquets, but a female suspect remains at large.

  • The incident occurred on February 14, 2026.

The players

53-year-old woman

A flower vendor who was robbed while selling flowers on the street in East Oakland.

21-year-old man

A suspect who was arrested by police and booked into Santa Rita Jail in connection with the robbery.

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What they’re saying

“The robbery has stirred fresh anxiety among street vendors and residents along International Boulevard, a stretch that has long struggled with thefts and robberies.”

— Unidentified (The Mercury News)

What’s next

The case remains under investigation, and authorities have not released additional identifying details about the suspects.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the ongoing challenges faced by street vendors in Oakland, who are vulnerable to robberies and thefts. It underscores the need for increased community safety measures and visible policing to protect small businesses and vendors operating on the streets.