This is a partial list of recent crimes in Berkeley based on information from the Berkeley Police Department, followed by a snapshot of BPD activity this week. The calls for service spreadsheet is available on Google Docs. See also 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.
Sunday, April 22
Violation of Park Hours Leads to Narcotics Arrest – Seawall Drive/Berkeley Marina
On Sunday at about 2:20 a.m., BPD officers were doing a security check of the Berkeley Marina area. One of the officers spotted an Oldsmobile occupied and parked along Seawall Drive in the Berkeley Marina. The individuals were in violation of Berkeley Municipal Codes — Posted Park Hours and No Parking. The officer talked to both the man and woman inside the parked car. Another officer acted as a cover officer. A records check revealed that the Oakland man was on Felony Probation for selling cocaine base aka “crack” and was subject to search. The officer searched the inside of the car and found powder cocaine inside a dollar bill. The officer arrested the male suspect for violations of 11350(a)PC – Possession of a Controlled Substance and a Felony Probation Violation – 1203.2 PC. The woman was free to go and left the scene in the car.
Vandalism to Cars — 1900 block of 8th Street
On Sunday a Berkeley man called BPD a little before 8:00 a.m. to report vandalism to his two cars that were parked in the 1900 block of 8th Street. Overnight, an unknown suspect or suspects sprayed satanic symbols on the cars. On both the man’s pick-up truck and minivan, there were drawings sprayed including pentagrams within a circle, along with what appeared to be a ram’s head in the middle of the pentagrams written both in white and black. A BPD crime scene technician took photographs of the vandalism.
Monday, April 23
Stolen Car – 600 Block of Colusa Avenue
A 31-year old Berkeley woman called on Monday to report that her 2003 silver Volkswagen Jetta had been stolen. She told the BPD officer that she had parked and locked her vehicle in front of her house in the 600 block of Colusa Avenue at about 8:00 p.m. the previous night. When she left her home at 8:00 a.m. to use her vehicle, it was gone. The woman had both sets of car keys and she did not give anyone permission to take her vehicle. The BPD officer entered the vehicle description and license plate into the Stolen Vehicle System (SVS).
Auto Burglary – Shattuck Avenue and Lincoln Street
On Monday at about 6:30 p.m., two Berkeley men parked a Honda Civic at Lincoln Street just west of Shattuck Avenue. The two went nearby to have dinner. When the two returned to the parked car at 8:00 p.m., they discovered that the rear passenger side window was smashed and there was a piece of concrete on the ground below the window. Two backpacks containing $8,000 worth of laptops and an iPad had been stolen from the backseat of the Honda.
Harassing Diners – Drunk in Public & Warrant Arrest – 3100 Block of Telegraph Avenue
A BPD Patrol officer was dispatched to a man disturbing customers on Monday at 6:09 p.m. The caller told the dispatcher that a drunk man was touching people’s food at a restaurant in the 3100 block of Telegraph Avenue. The officer arrived and detained the described 54-year old Oakland resident. The officer had to assist him in walking as he was stumbling and swaying and had a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on his breath. When the officer did a records check, the officer learned that the suspect had an active warrant. The officer arrested the suspect for the warrant and for violation of 647(f)PC – Drunk in Public.
Tuesday, April 24
Robbery Via Knife – Channing Way and Milvia Street
An 18-year old came to the Public Safety Building at a bit before 11:00 p.m. on Tuesday to report a robbery. He told the officer that at approximately 10:00 p.m. he was walking alone in the area of Channing Way and Milvia Street. An unidentified man and women, both 20-years old or so, engaged the victim in conversation. The male suspect brandished a butcher knife and took the victim’s cell phone and wallet. The woman suspect stood holding a knife behind her back and watching. The suspects then fled southbound on Martin Luther King Jr. Way on foot. The victim lost a men’s wallet with credit cards and ID as well as his iPhone 4.
Warrant Arrest – Chestnut and Francisco Streets
On Tuesday at approximately 1:17 a.m., a BPD officer who was doing an area check for a robbery suspect detained a group of individuals at the corner of Chestnut and Francisco Streets. The officer did a records check of each and an 18-year old woman subject had two active warrants for her arrest for violations of 242PC — Battery, 243(b) PC — Battery on a Peace Officer, 647 (f) Drunk in Public out of BPD and a failure to appear on a UCPD case. The BPD officer arrested her and booked her into the BPD Jail.
Driving While Intoxicated Arrest – University Avenue and Sacramento Street
On Tuesday at approximately 2:18 a.m., a BPD officer made a traffic enforcement stop of a car at University Avenue and Sacramento Street. A 41-year old Berkeley man was driving and did not successfully complete Field Sobriety tests. The BPD officer arrested and booked him for violation of CVC 23152(a) — Driving while Intoxicated.
Wednesday, April 25
Pass Altered Check Arrest – 2300 Block of Shattuck Avenue
On Wednesday at approximately 10:40 a.m. a male suspect went into a bank on Shattuck Avenue and attempted to pass an altered personal check. The check had been legitimately issued to him in the amount of $59.73, but the alteration fraudulently increased the value to $1,500.73. The crude and obvious changes were noticed by bank staff, who confirmed with the check issuer the check had been altered, and then called the police. BPD officers detained a 29-year old Oakland man and arrested him inside the bank without incident. Officers booked the suspect for violation of PC470 (d) – a felony as well as two outstanding warrants.
Theft of Mountain Bike — 1200 Block of Carrison Street
A 32-year old Berkeley man called BPD on Wednesday at 11:15 a.m. to report his bike had been stolen. The man told the BPD officer that he last saw his bike at about 15 minutes before midnight. He left it unlocked and unattended in his carport in the 1200 block of Carrison Street. An unidentified suspect stole the Trek brand yellow mountain bike. The BPD officer documented the crime.
Snapshots of what your BPD officers have been doing: April 22-25
Between Sunday at 5:21 p.m. and Wednesday at 10:58 a.m., BPD officers were dispatched to 19 calls for service regarding individuals trespassing on private property. In the majority of cases, two officers responded, investigated, detained individuals and provided dispositions for each of these calls. The officers did records checks of the majority of these women and men for parole, probation, missing person, restraining orders, wants and warrants statuses. Several were active to probation or parole while two were arrested for outstanding for warrants.
Between Sunday at 10:38 a.m. and Wednesday at 2:41 p.m., BPD officers investigated and documented 19 auto burglaries throughout the city. In most cases, the drivers and/or passengers left valuables in the vehicle such as laptops, iPods, iPhones, luggage and purses. Based on a body of law enforcement experience, these crimes are accomplished very quickly and suspects return to the same areas, neighborhood, parking lots and businesses over and over.
Between Sunday at 10:59 a.m. and Wednesday at 7:23 a.m., BPD officers made 27 pedestrian stops of individuals through the city. These detentions were a result of calls for service from community members regarding suspicious individuals, possible suspects described and associated with a recent crime or incident and officers’ proactive work. The officers did records checks of the majority of these women and men for parole, probation, missing person, restraining orders, wants and warrants statuses. Several were active to probation or parole while one was arrested for warrants.
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