(KRON) -- An East Oakland business is fed up with repeated burglaries and takes a tip from thieves on how to protect the storefront. For a few weeks now, in a desperate effort to thwart thieves, employees at high gift & mini market on High Street in East Oakland have changed up the way they lock up each night at the close of business. Iconic SF restaurant to open on Thanksgiving for first-time ever Four times this year, store manager Saleh Fanhos says suspects have used what he believes are stolen cars to ram through the front of the store before burglarizing it. "It seems like it's working," Fanhos said. "You don't get to sleep. You go home and (are) just waiting for the alarm to go off." Fanhos is taking a page from the book of thieves by backing a used van purchased by the store to protect it at night -- all the way to the door lock where it stays parked overnight every night. "They haven't break into since we got the van," Fanhos said. Fanhos hopes it stays that way. He says he has filed reports with Oakland police after each incident, but so far, no arrests have been made "Four times, it's basically -- we're not making it. But hopefully, we'll make it," he said. Gov. Gavin Newsom announced last week that he is extending the surge of California Highway Patrol officers in Oakland. Here’s when the Costco in Pleasanton will open — brace yourselves for large crowds The operation has led to the arrests of nearly 1,200 suspects, the recovery of more than 2-thousand stolen cars, and the seizure of over 100 illegal weapons. "I don't think they will protect the businesses," Fanhos said. "They not equipped to protect businesses -- they equipped to chase cars, you know, and give a speeding ticket or violation ticket." But as far as CHP keeping thieves out of his store, Fanhos is not holding his breath. "We don't have no hope," he said. "The hope is on the van. We're hoping for the van to do what it's supposed to do." So far it has.