Merchants' Alert groups are organized among businesses located in retail districts throughout Oakland.

Merchants' Alert groups may be formally established or quasi–formal groups of businesses joining together to address common concerns.

Groups establish their own boundaries and rules for membership.

The requirements for establishing any group are minimal.

The group must do the following to qualify:

Meet together regularly and include a representative from the Oakland Police Department on their membership list.

Establish a communications network among group members.

Report all crimes and notify the police and neighbor businesses of any suspicious persons.

Members are also encouraged to invite the Commercial Security Unit to conduct a security inspection of their businesses.

After organizing a group of businesses and conducting two meetings, the group area is identified by having Merchants' Alert signs erected on all major street entries to the business district. Businesses which have had a security inspection are issued decals which identify their business as a Merchants' Alert member.

For more information about Merchants' Alert, call the Community Services Section at 777-8573.