Berkeleyside is currently planning new coverage which we hope will deliver the most useful, and best presented Berkeley crime data around. While we are working on that, we have asked the Berkeley Police Department to share weekly summary reports with us of crime around the city.
Due to the fact this is a manually compiled list, and not all information can be collated or is available, please note this is not a comprehensive report — rather a sampling of some of the key crimes this week. (The BPD averages 375 calls for police services every day.)
This Police Blotter relates to the five days beginning June 13.
Robbery Via Knife – Telegraph and Ashby Avenue
On Monday, June 13, 2011, at about 5:10 p.m., a 13 year old Berkeley community member was walking home from school, eating a cookie in the area of Telegraph and Ashby Avenues. Two older male teen suspects approached him and asked him if he had any money. The teen said, “No” then one of the suspects pulled out a knife and pointed it at him. The 13 year old “got scared” and gave the suspects $8. The suspect walked away northbound on Telegraph Avenue. The teen walked home then told his mom who called BPD to document the crime. The young man was not physically injured.
Grand Theft From a Person – 1900 block of Woolsey Street
On Monday, June 13, 2011, at about 5:45 p.m., a 29 year old San Francisco woman was walking in the 1900 block of Woolsey Street talking on her cell phone. A male in his late 20s walked up to her and asked for the time. She lowered the iPhone with green case from her ear to check the time on it when suddenly the suspect grabbed the phone from her hand and dashed to a waiting green Chrysler van. The van fled south on Tremont Street and out of sight. BPD officers did area checks for the van but did not find it. The woman was not injured.
Car Stolen – 1100 block of EastShore
On Tuesday, June 14, 2011 at about 10:31 a.m., an employee of Golden Gate Fields called BPD to report that his car had been stolen. The 52 year old Berkeley man had parked his 1985 white Mercury Cougar with a brown hood in the 1100 block at about 9:00 p.m. the previous night and when he went to get in it, he discovered that it was gone. A BPD officer took his report, did an area check then entered the car into the Stolen Vehicle service (SVS) national computer database.
Car Stolen – 5th & Delaware Streets
On Tuesday, June 14, 2011 between 3:15 and 4:00 p.m., a Berkeley man’s car had been parked at 5th and Delaware Streets. When he returned to the car after an errand, he could not find it. He called BPD and reported his 1986 silver 2 door Toyota Corolla stolen. A BPD officer took his report, did an area check then entered the car into the Stolen Vehicle service (SVS) national computer database.
*Car Stolen – Suspect Arrested – 1300 block of Ada Street
On Wednesday, June 15, 2011 at approximately 2:00 a.m., Albany Police Department (APD) called a Berkeley man and asked him if he owned a 2000 silver Honda Civic and if he had given anyone permission to drive it. The man had parked it at about 5:30 pm. On Tuesday evening, June 14th, across from his home in the 1300 block of Ada Street. The car is registered to his wife. He checked outside and the car was missing. BPD supported the investigation and took the stolen vehicle report and drove the man to the 1400 block of Francis in the City of Albany where an APD officer had made a traffic stop of the Honda. The Berkeley man positively identified the car as his. The 24 year old woman driver was arrested by APD for possession of a stolen car. *This is a common scenario in which one agency will make an enforcement stop of a car and through investigation the officer(s) suspect it may be stolen and has yet to be reported.
Residential Burglary – 2300 block of Parker Street
On Wednesday, June 15, 2011 between 5:45 p.m. and 7:15 p.m., an unknown suspect or suspects burglarized a Berkeley man’s home. The man who lives in the 2300 block of Parker Street had left his home to “get a bite to eat with a friend.” When he returned, he discovered that his kitchen window was broken. He looked around the home and noted that his Samsung cell phone and Sony Vaio laptop were missing from his desktop on the first floor and that the suspect(s) also went into his bedroom on the second floor and removed an Omega watch from his watch box and a bunch of coins from a dish.
“Hot Prowl” Residential Burglary/Attempted Assault with Deadly Weapon – a brick – 1700 block of Parker Street
On Wednesday, June 15, 2011 at approximately 3:52 a.m, a Berkeley man called 911 and reported that an unknown male suspect broke into his home by smashing the glass window portion of his front door with a brick. The resident confronted the suspect and the suspect threw the brick at him. The resident was able to move out of the way before it hit him. The suspect then stole two of his girlfriend’s purses that were on top of a table next to the front door, before fleeing on foot. Heard stated that the suspect fled on foot northbound towards Parker St. The purses contained miscellaneous credit cards and ID, cash, wallet, cell phone and other items and had a value over $900. Other BPD officers did extensive area checks but did not find the suspect. * A “Hot Prowl” burglary is a term used when community members are home when a suspect enters the home to steal property.
