Oakland news outlet bemoans loss of 'downturn' in glass repair business amid decline of car break-ins

Fewer smashed car windows across Oakland are being reported this year, and while residents are seeing less vehicle crime, some auto glass repair shops say the slowdown is cutting directly into their business.

Police data from the Oakland Police Department shows vehicle burglaries have fallen 37 percent year-to-date when comparing May 2025 to May 2026. The drop has been widely viewed locally as a public safety improvement, though it’s also shifting demand for repair services tied to break-ins.

At Low Price Auto Glass on San Leandro Street in East Oakland, owner Raj Singh said the decline is noticeable in day-to-day operations. He said one segment of his work tied to vandalism has fallen off significantly. "There is the door glass repair if there is any break-ins or vandalism — that segment of my business has been down about 30 percent," Singh said to KTVU.

Singh’s shop, which previously saw a steady stream of vehicles brought in after smash-and-grab incidents, is now seeing more of its service bays filled with windshield replacements caused by road debris rather than crime. A customer who came in for service described a routine repair visit unrelated to theft or vandalism.

"The windshield got cracked and (I've) just been needing to get it replaced for a while," Sisneros said. Other businesses report similar declines across the city. James Serwa, who owns Glass on the Move Inc., said the drop in break-in-related work has been steep enough to affect staffing levels and revenue.

"About 35 percent — 35 to 40. It’s a lot. We’ve taken quite a hit," Serwa said.

Serwa said the company has reduced its workforce from seven installers to four, reflecting lower demand tied to fewer break-ins. He added that the shift began around the same time catalytic converter thefts also began declining.

"We noticed this trend about a year ago, about the same time the catalytic converters started to die out, so did the calls for break-ins," Serwa said.

Business owners also pointed to wider pressures affecting the industry, including inflation, supply chain issues, and increased competition among repair shops.

Despite the downturn in vandalism-related work, some shop owners said the broader trend is still positive for the city overall. Singh said the change has been unexpected but not unwelcome from a community standpoint.

"It’s a surprise, but I would say from a community point of view, it’s a good surprise," Singh said.