State Senator Perata Carjacked in Oakland

State senator Perata was carjacked at 1:45 p.m., Dec. 29 while waiting for a green light at 51st Street and Shattuck Avenue in north Oakland.

One of two thugs pointed an automatic weapon at Perata, who surrendered the vehicle and his cell phone.

A stolen gold Camaro used in the crime was recovered Jan. 2, 2008. Police determined that when the carjackers took that vehicle, they fired at least two shots at their victims.

Perata, president of the California Senate and a leading campaign fundraiser, runs a political machine including many Oakland officials who keep the city's police department at half the strength of most major cities. Perata prefers to back so-called violence prevention programs, working with Youth UpRising, an agency that promotes sideshow culture and welcomes gutter rappers as "career counselors" for youth.

Perata was on his way to deliver a Christmas president to Oakland city councilmember Ignacio De La Fuente. (ABC 7, Dec. 30, 2007)

After the incident Perata spokeswoman Alicia Trost seemed to know the thugs' circumstances, saying, "Sometimes the holidays bring out desperate times for people, and he did the safe thing and just gave up the car." (San Francisco Chronicle, Dec. 30, 2007) She did not know that an hour after the carjacking, the two vehicles were seen drag racing in the Fruitvale district. The thugs threatened death to get a vehicle to play with.

Likely far fewer than "hundreds of people" observing (Thanks to Oakland Crime Surge for correction)

Perata's comment was, "Anyone who would do that in broad daylight with hundreds of people around must be pretty desperate." (Oakland Tribune web report, Dec. 29, 2007; not published in Dec. 30 print edition) Apparently, Perata did not consider that Oakland criminals know the odds of being caught and punished are extremely low. Oakland police Lt. Lawrence Green said the city has a carjacking a day on average. (Los Angeles Times, Dec. 30, 2007)

Richmond police found the carjacked Dodge Charger within nine hours. The understaffed Oakland police department is unable even to look for most stolen vehicles. Police will check Perata's car for fingerprints. The Oakland police department has no fingerprint unit, instead contracting out selected evidence to Contra Costa County for examination.