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.

Drunk in Public & Probation Violation Arrest – Gilman and HWY I-80 #2011-70305

A caller requested a welfare check of a man beneath the I80 overpass at Gilman on Sunday, December 18, 2011 at about 2:09 p.m. The beat officer contacted the 45 year old man who she was familiar with from her patrol. She noted that he was in an area that he was not supposed to be as he has a “Stay Away Order “ as a condition of his probation. When the officer engaged him asking him if he was ok etc, the officer noted that the suspect displayed objective symptoms of alcoholic beverage intoxication (slurred/thick speech, bloodshot eyes, unsteady gait) and was unable to care for himself. The suspect became increasingly hostile, combative, tried to kick the officer and was spitting at her. Based of his severe level of intoxication, the officer requested BFD paramedics to respond and they transported the suspect to a local ER for assessment. Later, after cleared for incarceration, officers booked him into the jail at the BPD Jail for PC1203.2 – Probation Violation and PC647(f) – Drunk in Public.

Residential Burglary via Door Glass Smash – 1700 block of Vine Street – #2011-70330

A resident called BPD on Sunday, December 18, 2011 at about 4:30 p.m. to report that an unknown suspect or suspects smashed the glass on the front door and burglarized her home. She told the BPD officers that she left at about 4:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. When she returned, she found her front door open and the inside of the home was a mess. The suspects stole amongst other items, a white MacBook Pro, computer bag, jewelry and an expensive camera. The BPD case officer did a neighborhood canvass and did not locate any neighbors who heard or saw anything. (of those that were home when he knocked.)

Indecent Exposure and Probation Violation Arrest 2100 Block of Shattuck Avenue #2011-70267
On Sunday, December 18, 2011 a few minutes before 3;00 a.m., three women friends in their 20s were in the 2100 block of Shattuck Avenue waiting for a ride home. A male suspect walked close to them, had his pants down and was masturbating while looking at the women. After calling BPD, officers were doing an area check and the suspect was detained a short distance away from the crime scene. Separately and individually, each woman positively identified the 56 year old Berkeley man as the suspect. The case officer took custody of the suspect after the women signed private person’s arrest form (aka Citizen’s Arrest) Another BPD officer booked the suspect into the BPD jail for PC 314PC – Indecent Exposure and 1203.2 PC – Probation Violation.

December 19 Attempted Burglary and Probation Violation Juvenile Arrest – 1400 block of Carleton Street #2011-70456

A resident called BPD on Monday, December 19, 2011 at about noon to report that a male teen suspect wearing a pea coat had reached through the pet door of the upstairs rear door of her residence. Her home is in the 1400 block of Carleton Street. She watched as he tried to unlock the door. BPD Officers conducted an area check and stopped a subject that matched the description wearing a pea coat three blocks from the victim home. The victim positively identified the young man as the suspect who had reached into her residence and tried to unlock the door. The BPD Officer arrested him for 666/459 PC – attempted burglary and a probation violation.

Identity Theft – 2100 block of Blake Street – #2011-70519
On Monday, December 19, 2011, a community member called at about 5:00 p.m. to report a case of identity theft. She told the BPD officer who was documenting the crime that she received a call from a bank in Delaware that she does not have an account with. The representative told her that an unknown suspect or suspects had attempted two purchases of computer products on line. The victim notified the bank that she had never opened an account with them nor had she attempted to purchase an Apple computers. The suspects had gained access to her date of birth and social security number. The BPD provided guidance on how to proceed with identity theft and some crime prevention advice.

December 20

Stolen Auto with Purse Inside – 1900 block of Vine Street – #2011- 70612

On Tuesday, December 20, 2011 at about 8:00 a.m., a community member called to report her car stolen. She told the BPD officer that she parked her 2012 Acura Integra in her garage of her home in the 1900 block of Vine Street at 9:15 p.m., the night before. When she went to retrieve her purse from the car in the morning, the car and the Coach purse and contents were gone. The BPD officer entered the car into SVS – Stolen Vehicle System computer database.

Commercial Burglary via door kick Arrest 2000 Block of University Avenue – #2011-70608

On Tuesday morning December 20, 2011 at approximately 7:30 a.m., an alarm monitoring company called to report an activation at a business in the 2000 block of University Avenue. When the first BPD officer arrived within a few minutes, he saw a suspect on the sidewalk carrying a display case full of Zippo lighters. The officer also saw other items of merchandise on the sidewalk and the front door of the business kicked in. The officer and his cover officer detained the male suspect. BPD arrested the 22 year old Modesto man for 459 PC – Commercial and 594PC – Vandalism. A individual found three vaporizers, two large water pies and one small water pipe nearby. When the owner arrived, he said cartons of cigarettes and cash were also stolen, but had not been located.

Frances Dinkelspiel, Berkeleyside and CItyside co-founder, is a journalist and author. Her first book, Towers of Gold: How One Jewish Immigrant Named Isaias Hellman Created California, published in November...