This is a partial list of recent crimes in Berkeley based on information from the Berkeley Police Department and the UC Berkeley Police Department.
See also BPD’s weekly calls for service and the San Francisco Chronicle’s regularly published list of arrests in Berkeley. For other sources of information on crime in Berkeley see Community CrimeView and Crimemapping.com.
February 6th:
Residential Burglary via Unlocked window– 1600 block of Tyler Street – #2012-6789
On Monday, February 6, 2012 at about 6:24 p.m., a Berkeley woman called to report that her home had been burglarized. She had left the house at approximately 10:00 a.m., and an unknown suspect or suspects entered her home through an unlocked kitchen window. She discovered that a LCD flat screen TV, an iPod and other items were stolen. The BPD case officer called one of the Crime Scene Investigators (CSI) to process the house for an thing of evidentiary value.
Residential Burglary via Unlocked Door – 2300 Block of Channing Way – #2012-6715
On Monday, February 6, 2012 at 11:28 a.m., a community member returned home to discover that his home had been burglarized, most likely through an unlocked door. The man had left on Friday, February 3, 2012 at about 3:00 p.m. and during the time he was gone and unknown suspect or suspects entered his place and stole a camera, iPad and laptop. The BPD officer documented the crime and provided some advice.
Robbery via Gun – 1700 Block of Fairview Street – #2012-6819
On Monday, February 6, 2012 at about 9:20 p.m., a 20 year old man was walking home and was westbound on Fairview Street approaching Ellis Street. A male suspect was walking northbound on Ellis Street. The suspect approached the victim and pointed a handgun at him. The victim raised his hands and the suspect forcefully removed the victim’s backpack and cell phone. The suspect then fled on foot, southbound on Ellis Street. The victim went home and called BPD. The victim told the BPD officer that he was not physically injured. The suspect made off with the backpack that contained his wallet, cash, ID, credit cards and his LG phone. BPD officers did extensive area checks but did not locate the suspect.
The victim described the suspect as “ a Black Male, late teens to early 20s, short black hair, clean shaven, 6’02”-6’05”,thin build, square diamond in right ear wearing dark denim jeans and a two tone sweatshirt – possibly green/blue.”
Theft From Person – Allston Way & Grant Street – #2012-6820
On Monday, January 6, 2012, a Berkeley woman called BPD at 9:53 p.m. to report that a her iPhone 4 cell phone had just been stolen. She told the BPD officer who arrived that at about 3 minutes ago, an unknown suspect asked to use her phone. When the woman handed her phone to the suspect, the suspect fled the area on foot with her phone in hand. BPD officers did area checks but did not find the suspect. The victim was not physically injured during the crime.
The victim described the suspect as “a Hispanic Male Adult, approximately 18-20 years old, about 5’5” tall, dark skin and unknown facial hair. He was wearing a black beanie hat and dark clothing.”
February 7th:
Burglary to Garage via Lock Pry – 1900 block of Oregon Street – #2012-6833
On Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at about 2:50 a.m., a Berkeley man said he was watching TV when he decided to look out outside into the backyard. He noticed that his garage door was open and thought he saw a person’s leg running down his driveway. The man said he went to his front door and looked outside and saw that his gate was partially open. He explored further and went to his garage and noticed that the lock was pried and some tools were missing. He called BPD at 2:59 a.m., and when the officers arrived he told the case officer that he thought that the suspect had a car because the stolen tools, a Dewalt brand multi-cutter cold saw and a DeWalt brand circular saw were heavy. He did not hear or see a car leave the area, however. BPD officers conducted area checks but did not find any suspicious cars or subjects in the neighborhoods.
Drunk in Public Arrest – 2600 Block of Milvia Street #2012-6830
On Tuesday, February 7, 2012, a community member called at 2:09 a.m. regarding a person she did not know “passed out” on her porch. BPD officers arrived and the handling officer immediately noted that the man displayed objective signs and symptoms of alcohol intoxication and didn’t know where he was, or where he came from. The man was indeed “passed out” and had no jacket, no wallet and was wet from the rain. When the officer roused him and asked him where he lived, she could not understand his reply because it was so slurred. When the officer asked how much he had to drink, he replied, “Enough”. Due to his high level of intoxication, the BPD officer determined that he was unable to care for his own safety and arrested him for violation of PC647(f) – Drunk in Public.
February 8th:
Grand Theft of Diesel Motor From Truck – 800 block of Harrison Street – #2012-7099
On Wednesday, February 8, 2012, a BPD officer was flagged down in the 800 block of Harrison Street by a man regarding a theft. The officer learned that the man parked his Isuzu large work truck sometime on February 4, 2012. When he went to move it to avoid getting a parking ticket on February 8th at about 2:15 p.m., the truck would not start. He explored further and discovered that the entire diesel engine of his truck was stolen. The truck owner told the officer for the theft report that when he had replaced the engine approximately three years ago, he had paid $6000.
Stolen Auto – 1600 block of McGee Street – #2012-7182
On Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 9:23 pm., a Berkeley man called to report that someone stole his 1995 van [Ed: formerly typed as “tan”] He told the responding BPD officer that he had parked it in the 1600 block of McGee and last saw it at 9:00 a.m. The BPD officer entered the license plate and description into SVS. (Stolen Vehicle System)
Trespasser Turned Drunk in Public Arrest- 1200 block of Carrison Street – #2012-7205
On Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at about 11:21 p.m., a community member called from the 1200 Carrison Street to report an individual lying in the stairway of his apartment building who did not live in the building. The BPD officer found the 36 year old Pittsburg man lying down. When the officer spoke to the man, the officer observed the objective signs and symptoms of being under the influence of alcohol. He had red and bloodshot eyes, slurred speech, droopy eyelids, was extremely belligerent, and refused to answer any questions about himself. The man was also extremely antagonistic throughout the entire encounter. The BPD officer determined that the man was able to care for himself and placed him under arrest for public intoxication PC647(f) – Drunk in Public. A records check revealed he was on probation for possession of narcotics, thus the officer added the PC1203.2 – Violation of Probation to his booking offenses at the BPD Jail.
Car Stop Yields Drug Arrest – California and 62nd Streets – #2012-7148
On Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at about 6:04 p.m., a BPD officer made a traffic enforcement stop of a car for violation of driving without it headlights on at dusk (VC 24250) at the intersection of California and 62nd Streets. The car had two occupants in it, one who was on probation with a 4 way search clause. While doing a probation search of the passenger, the officer could smell a strong odor of marijuana. During the further probation and the probable cause search for suspected marijuana, the officer found 21 individually packaged dime sized press lock baggies containing suspected marijuana on the rear seat in a coat. The driver waived his Miranda Rights and stated that the suspected marijuana was his, not the passenger’s. The driver was in possession of $130 and a cell phone with text messages in it relating to narcotics transactions. The BPD officer arrested the driver, a 20 year old Oakland man for violation of H&S11359 – Possession For Sales of Marijuana.
