California man dies trying to stop thieves from stealing laptop at Starbucks, police say

A California man died Tuesday afternoon after he chased thieves who stole his laptop at a Starbucks in Oakland, authorities said.

The man was critically injured shortly after 11 a.m. when he chased the thieves and grabbed the door of their SUV, KPIX reported. Witnesses said the SUV accelerated and the man lost his grip, slamming his head into a parked car, the television station reported.

The man was taken to an area hospital, where he died of severe head injuries shortly before 5 p.m., KGO reported.

“The suspect or suspects got into that vehicle with that laptop. The victim continued to try to get the laptop back. And at that time, in the 6100 block of Antioch, the victim was critically injured,” Johnna Watson, spokeswoman for the Oakland Police Department, told reporters.

Maria Chan, who works at a florist shop across the street from the Starbucks, told KPIX the victim was dragged down the block by the getaway car.

“That young man just chased after him and got the car and hang on the door of the car," Chan told the television station. “And suddenly the car just drove fast. And the young man’s body swing, towards the car parked on the side of the street.”

No arrests have been made.

“We want to remind our community property can be replaced, but you cannot,” Watson told reporters.

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