This is a partial list of recent crimes in Berkeley based on information from the Berkeley Police Department and the UC Berkeley Police Department. For other sources of information on crime in Berkeley see Community CrimeView and Crimemapping.com.
Robbery, Shattuck Avenue and Center Street
On Saturday, December 3, at approximately midnight a robbery occurred at the corner of Shattuck and Center. The victim, a 21-year old male, was standing at a bus stop when a male came up behind him. The victim turned around and the suspect demanded his wallet. Fearing for his safety, the victim gave the suspect the cash from his wallet. The suspect fled on foot southbound on Shattuck. BPD officers detained a male matching the description of the suspect on Shattuck and Haste. The suspect was positively identified by the victim and taken into custody. The victim was not physically injured during the encounter.
The suspect arrested is described as John Hee Lee, an Asian male, 29 years of age. The UCPD site has a photo of the suspect.
Residential burglary via unlocked garage door, 2300 block of Piedmont Avenue
On Monday, December 5, a UC Berkeley student called BPD at about 12:15 p.m. to report that his bike had been stolen over the weekend. He told the BPD officer that on December 2, 2011 he parked and cable locked his bicycle to a bike rack in the garage of his fraternity in the 2300 block of Piedmont Avenue. When he returned, he found it missing. The garage door is often left open he said. Stolen was a Cannondale 21-speed orange road bike worth approximately $6,000.
Auto burglary via window smash, Ensenada and Tacoma Avenues
On Monday, December 5, a community member reported a burglary. He shared with the BPD officer that his wife had parked their Audi A3 near their home at about 1:00 p.m. She went into the home for a bit and when she went out at 1:20 p.m. or so, she saw that the front passenger window of the car was smashed out and her purse and contents as well as her Apple iPhone were gone.
Armed robbery, 2600 block of Telegraph Avenue
On Monday, December 5, at about 8:00 p.m., a sandwich shop was robbed via gun in the 2600 block of Telegraph Avenue. A 20-year old employee was working alone in the business when a customer/suspect walked in. The suspect pointed a handgun at the employee and demanded the cash from the register. The suspect then left the store on foot in an unknown direction. The employee alerted the BPD and called the manager of the business.
The victim described the suspect as “a light-skinned black male adult, goatee facial hair, early 20’s in age, 5’7″ – 5’9″ tall, medium build, wearing a black knit cap, black hoodie armed with a handgun.
Armed robbery, Blake Street and Chilton Way
On Monday, December 5, at around 11:30 p.m., a female flagged down a UCPD Officer to report that she had been the victim of robbery via a possible knife. The victim had been walking in the area of Blake and Chilton when an unknown male grabbed her from behind and pressed a sharp knife-like object in her side. The suspect demanded the victim’s wallet and personal property. The victim complied and the suspect let the victim go and fled the scene. BPD and UCPD searched the area but were unable to locate the suspect. The victim suffered a slight laceration to her side.
There is no suspect description at this time.
Auto burglary via convertible top slash, 1500 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Way
A community member parked his Mazda Miata near his home in the 1500 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Way on Tuesday, December 6, at about midnight. When he returned to the car at about 9:00 a.m., he discovered that the convertible top of his car had been slashed. An unknown suspect or suspects stole approximately $5 of coins and a pair of sunglasses.
Auto burglary via window smash, Berkeley Marina
A Berkeley woman told a BPD officer that responded to her auto burglary report that she had parked her car on a street near Cesar Chavez Park. It was Tuesday, December 6, at about noon when she parked and locked the car. When she returned at about 1:00 p.m., she discovered the rear passenger window smashed out and her brown purse with cash and contents stolen.
Residential burglary via possible unlocked garage door, 2800 block of Kelsey Street
When a community member returned to her home in the 2800 block of Kelsey Street on Wednesday, December 7, at about 6:20 p.m., she discovered that her bike had been stolen. She told the BPD officer who documented the crime that she had been gone for a few days and the bike was stolen from her garage. The officer investigated and indicated that the unknown suspect or suspects may have accessed the garage’s back door, which can be accessed via the gated, but unlocked backyard. Stolen was a women’s Cannondale road bike, Synapse, white with blue trim worth approximately $1,500.
Identity theft/fraud, 2100 block of West Street
On Wednesday, December 7, a community member called BPD at about 1:05 p.m. to report that a statement from her bank related to her business credit card revealed unauthorized charges totaling $813.82. The woman told the BPD officer that she had not lost her credit card and had possession of it. She also told the officer that she had cancelled the card/closed the account. The officer documented the fraud and provided guidance as to next steps.
Possession of marijuana for sales and probation arrest, San Pablo Park
On Wednesday, December 7, at about 3:56 p.m., Drug Task Force (DTF) members were patrolling San Pablo Park, 2802 Park Street. One of the officers smelled a strong odor of marijuana on a male subject. The officer detained the 24-year old Richmond man. A records check revealed that the detained subject was on probation and subject to search. Officers found nearly an ounce of marijuana, cash and pay/owe sheets in his possession. The DTF arrested him and during a further search prior to booking him into the BPD jail, the officer found two Vicodin pills in the suspect’s pocket for which the arrestee had no prescription. The officer booked him into the jail for violations of H&S 11359 – Possession of Marijuana for Sale, H&S 11350 (a) – Possession of a controlled substance (Vicodin) and 1203.2 PC – Probation Violation – Misdemeanor. The case investigation to be forwarded to the DA for her review and charging consideration.
Quick facts
BPD officers managed six Domestic Violence cases on December 5 and 6.
BPD officers responded and documented 13 misdemeanor theft cases (item value under $950) from December 5-7.
