American fast-food restaurant company In-N-Out Burger is set to close its only restaurant in Oakland, California, due to ongoing crime concerns.

The decision to close the facility was made chiefly out of concern for the safety of customers and staff.  

In-N-Out chief operating officer Denny Warnick said in a statement: “[Despite] repeated steps to create safer conditions, our customers and associates are regularly victimised. We feel the frequency and severity of the crimes being encountered by our customers and associates leave us no alternative.”

This will be the first venue closure in the 75 years of the company's existence.    

The Oakland location, which has been serving customers for almost two decades, is set to close its doors on 24 March 2024.

The restaurant, situated near the Oakland International Airport, has been a popular spot for both travellers and local baseball fans.

But the area has experienced a surge in criminal activity, with Oakland police reporting 1,335 incidents since 2019 including nine robberies, two commercial burglaries, four domestic violence incidents and an alarming 1,174 car break-ins.

The San Francisco Chronicle has highlighted the extent of the crime wave affecting the area.

Last July, In-N-Out Burger notified its employees that members wearing a face mask would be required to provide a medical note.

The new policy underlined the importance of customer service by ensuring that its associates smile and communicate with guests with visible facial expressions.

Employees who wore a mask without providing a doctor’s note could face disciplinary action.

The new policy was implemented in all stores and applied to all associates working in Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, Texas and Utah.

The company added that the new policy was subject to the guidelines and regulations of the local health authority.