This partial list of recent crimes in Berkeley based on information from the Berkeley Police Department and the UC Berkeley Police Department is shorter than usual due to limited information received from the police. For other sources of information on crime in Berkeley see Community CrimeView and Crimemapping.com.
Sexual Assault, Eucalyptus Grove, #11-05070
On Saturday, December 10, 2011 at 5:23 p.m. UCPD received a report of a sexual assault which had occurred early that morning in the Eucalypus Grove which is located south of University Drive and east of the West Crescent. The female victim told UCPD that at approximatley 3:30 a.m. she was walking alone in the Eucalyptus Grove when an unknown male approached her, brandished a knife and sexually assaulted her. The victim was treated at a local hospital for her injuries. UCPD is investigating. The suspect is described as: black male, 5’8” to 5’10” in height, 175 lbs. with a skinny build, short dirty hair, brown eyes and smelled as if he hadn’t bathed in a few days.
Pedestrians hit by a car
On Tuesday evening, December 13, 2011 at about 7:21 p.m., a couple – husband and wife were walking crossing the intersection of Shattuck Avenue and Oregon Street. A Berkeley mandriving his silver Honda Civic southbound on Shattuck Avenue struck the couple. The driver told City of Berkeley Police Department (BPD) officers that he was traveling the speed limit (25 mph). His windshield was fogged and he did not see the pedestrians in the crosswalk and only stopped after he realized that someone was lying on the hood of his car. Paramedics transported both pedestrians to a local trauma center where they were treated for moderate to serious injuries, including dislocated shoulder and abrasions.
Robbery via Strong Arm – Stuart Street and Benvenue Avenue – #2011-69623 A 76 year old Berkeley man was walking in the area of Stuart Street and Benvenue Avenue on Wednesday, December 14, 2011 at about 10:50 p.m. He heard a couple of people talking behind him and he thought that they may have been following him. He stated that he crossed from the north side of the street and while he was in the westbound lane he was pushed from behind by two males of unknown race, approximately 6’ tall, 180 lbs, one wearing a gray hoody and one wearing a dark hoody. The victim fell to the ground and the suspects began punching him in the left side of his face. They then stole his wallet. The victim was bleeding from his face when BPD officers arrived and City of Berkeley Fire Department paramedics transported him to a local ER for treatment and assessment. Officers looked for the suspects but did not locate any.
Robbery via gun and Attempted Robbery via gun/knife – 1800 block of Euclid Avenue 2011-69632
A 20-year-old Berkeley man was walking in the 1800 block of Euclid Avenue at about 11:20 p.m. on Wednesday, December 14, 2011. Three to four male suspects jumped out of a 90s vintage dark colored car, pointed a gun at him and took luggage and a amplifier in a blue box. Another man was walking nearby and the suspect tried to rob him as well by pointing a gun and knife at him, but he ran away. Neither victim was physically injured during the robbery or attempted robbery. Officers did area checks for any similar cars, but did not find any.
Community crime alert: Thieves use ruses to steal from community
BPD is warning the community that periodic trends occur in which thieves use ruses to commit theft, burglary, fraud and other crimes.
On December 8, 2011 in the afternoon, two suspects came to a home in the 1000 block of Addison Street claiming to be from “Comcast” and told a resident that they were there to do work. The resident called the cable company and confirmed there was no scheduled appointment for the address. The same men returned on December 9, 2011 and when asked for their Comcast identification, they had none. The resident described both suspects as Hispanic or Latino males, 40s, one wearing a faded old Comcast polo shirt and jeans. The suspects fled in an older white Ford F150 or similar type truck with two ladders on the rack with a partial plate of “6J4699”.
There have been two other crimes involving ruses with suspect(s) posing as water or plumbing repairmen. This type of ruse has been used in past years and often preyed on the eldery.
November 28 – 11:50 a.m. -12:50 a.m. – 1400 block of Ninth Street
Three suspects — East Indian or Pakistani men in their 20s — told an older couple that their water smelled bad. The suspects lured them to the back yard to engage them about it. Items of jewelry were stolen from their home.
November 30, 2011- 2:00 p.m. – 2100 block of Stuart Street
A suspect told a man in his 90s that there was a problem with the water pipes of his house. The suspect, a stocky Hispanic male, 45-50, 5’5”, led the resident to the back yard. The suspect went into the home and stole jewelry.
BPD is reminding community members of the following crime prevention:
- Be very alert/aware of activity around your home & neighborhood.
- DO NOT allow anyone in your home that you do not know, have not hired or screened, regardless of what company or inspection entity they claim to be from. Call BPD.
- Call BPD to report any suspicious people or activity, in particular if you spot the truck mentioned above.
- If you have an older neighbor or neighbors, get to know them and please give attention to any unusual activity in or around their home(s).
For more resources, visit the BPD website. www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/police If you note suspicious individual(s) or activity, please call BPD’s non- emergency line at (510) 981-5900. For crimes in progress, dial 911 or (510) 981-5911 from your cell phone.
