This is a partial list of recent crimes in Berkeley based on information from the Berkeley Police Department and the UC 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.
May 13:
Solo Car Collision – DUI Arrest – University Avenue and Walnut Street #2012- 25261
On Sunday, May 13, 2012 at about 2:17 a.m., a BPD officer was on a traffic enforcement stop at Oxford and Addison Streets when he heard a car coming north on Oxford in his direction. The officer watched as a Volkswagen collided into the center median and the front tires exploded due to the impact. The driver of the Volkswagen continued west onto University Avenue and came to rest near Walnut Street. The BPD officer went to check on the driver and saw that there were three occupants in the car. None of them complained of any injuries. The BPD officer immediately noted that the driver showed signs of impairment. BPD officers then did Field Sobriety tests which the driver did not complete successfully. The driver agreed to a PAS test (Preliminary Alcohol Screening Device) which resulted in a Blood Alcohol Content of .125% and .127%. The BPD officer arrested the 24 year old Hercules woman for violations of CVC 23152(a) – Driving under the influence of alcohol and CVC 23152 (b)- Driving under the influence of an alcohol with a B.A.C of .08 or more.
Stolen Auto – Dwight Way and Piedmont Avenue – #2012- 25298
On Sunday, May 13, 2012 at approximately 1206 hours, a BPD officer responded to a report of a stolen vehicle from the area of Dwight Way and Piedmont Avenue. The BPD officer learned from the car owner that he last saw his black 1993 Honda Accord on May 11, 2012 at approximately 8:00 p.m. The 20 year old Berkeley man stated that his vehicle was parked on Piedmont Avenue just south of Dwight Way. When the owner checked on his vehicle, it was missing. The BPD officer documented the crime and entered the vehicle description and license plate into SVS. (Stolen Vehicle System)
May 14:
Possession of Narcotics & Probation Violation Arrest – Dwight Way and Shattuck Avenue #2012- 25395
On Monday, May 14, 2012 at approximately 1:12 a.m., a BPD officer made a traffic enforcement stop of a man on a bicycle on Dwight Way and Shattuck Avenue. As the officer was about to detain the suspect, the suspect rode his bicycle near a dumpster and put both hands inside. The officer found a syringe containing suspected amphetamine inside the dumpster. During a search of the suspect incident to his arrest for the drug possession, the BPD officer found additional syringes in the suspect’s pockets. A records check revealed the suspect was on probation for domestic violence. The officer arrested and booked the 37 year old into the BPD Jail for violations of 11377 H&S – Possession of a controlled substance and 1203.2 PC – Probation Violation.
Commercial Burglary – Bolivar Drive – #2012-25411
On Monday, May 14, 2012 at about 6:15 a.m., a contractor called to report that between May 11 at 2:30 p.m. and that morning, an unknown suspect or suspects cut locks to storage bins and stole many power tools. The suspect made it into the site due to a gap in the fence.
Drunk in Public – 2400 block of Telegraph Avenue #2012-25435
On Monday, May 14, 2012 at 10:04 a.m., a community member called to report that a man was pounding on windows and yelling at people in the 2400 block of Telegraph Avenue. When the BPD officer arrived, he saw the area regular walking down the street with a liquor bottle in his hand. When the officer detained the suspect, the officer saw that the bottle was a 1.75 liter of Citron Vodka that was 2/3 empty. The suspect was belligerent, speech slurred, unsteady and could not care for his own welfare. The BPD officer arrested the 42 year old male for violation of 647(f)PC – Drunk in Public and a Probation Violation.
May 15:
Commercial Burglary – 1100 University Avenue – #2012-25583
On Tuesday, May 15, 2012 at 7:30 a.m., an employee of a fast food sandwich shop called BPD to report that the business had been broken into. The owner of the business said that the business was closed and locked on Monday, May 14 at approximately 10:30 p.m. When the employee arrived to open the business on Tuesday morning, he found the front door wide open and damaged. An unknown suspect or suspects entered the business and stole cash.
Burglary via unlocked window – 3100 block of College Avenue – #2012-25589
On Tuesday, May 15, 2012 at 7:47 a.m., a tenant of an apartment in the 3100 block of College Avenue called BPD to report a burglary. Sometime overnight, an unidentified suspect entered the residence through an unlocked kitchen window and stole a silver Apple I-Pad 2 with a gray case.
Fraud – 2600 block of Etna Street – #2012-25692
On Tuesday, May 15, 2012 at about 5:19 p.m. , a Berkeley woman called BPD to report the fraudulent use of her credit card. The BPD officer learned that the woman victim’s credit card had been used by an unidentified suspect or suspects on May 14th at a Shell gas station, Home Depot and Wal-Mart in unknown cities. The fraudulent charges amounted to approximately $250. The BPD officer documented the crimes and provided crime prevention advice.
May 16:
Fraud – 2500 block of Hillegass Avenue – #2012-25780
On Tuesday, May 16, 2012 at about 6:31 a.m. , a Berkeley man called BPD to report the fraudulent use of his credit card. The BPD officer learned that the male victim’s credit card had been used by an unidentified suspect or suspects seven (7) times totally nearly $700 of purchases. The BPD officer documented the crimes and provided crime prevention advice. The victim told the officer that he believed that the card number may have been stolen on the Internet.
Burglary of Construction Site – 600 block of Creston Road -#2012-25825
On Wednesday, May 16, 2012, a contractor returned to a construction site in the 600 block of Creston Road. He saw that some of his tools that had been stored there had been stolen overnight. He called BPD at about 11:25 a.m. to report the losses. He told the BPD officer that he left the tools in the site on Tuesday, May 15 in the late afternoon. The front door of the home was left closed but unlocked. The unknown suspect or suspects stole a compressor, Makita brand drills and other tools. The value of the left was approximately $2,000.
Purse Snatch/Grand Theft from Person – Prince and California Streets – #2012-25876
On Wednesday, May 16, 2012 at 5:40 p.m., a Berkeley woman in her 20s was walking westbound on Prince Street near California Street when she felt her purse being pulled off her shoulder from behind. After the purse was yanked off her shoulder, the victim told the BPD officers that responded that she saw a Hispanic or white male 5’ 10”, 180 lbs, brown ponytail to his mid back wearing a red hoodie and baggy blue jeans with her purse. BPD officers did extensive area checks but did not locate the suspect. The suspect stole a black and white purse with an iPod, cell phone and other miscellaneous items inside.
Narcotics Arrest x 2 – 2600 block of Shattuck Avenue – 25762
On Wednesday, May 16, 2012 at approximately 1:20 a.m., a BPD patrol officer saw a car pull into the empty parking lot of an abandoned business and turn off its lights. The officer went to investigate and saw that there were several people inside the car. The officer called for cover units and made an investigative traffic stop. When the officer talked to the occupants, he could smell marijuana through the open windows and saw a plate between the two rear occupants that had a razor, straw and white lines consistent with the “cutting up” and “snorting” of cocaine. During a probable cause search for additional narcotics, the BPD officer searched the occupants. The officer found cocaine and hydrocodone in the possession of the rear passenger, a 25 year old Berkeley man. The officer arrested him for violations of possession of controlled substances – H&S 11350, H&S11377 and H&S 11364.1.(possession of drug paraphernalia). The officer further found additional hydrocodone in the possession of the front passenger, a 21 year old Oakland man, a violation HS 11377. The two other occupants were released from the detention.
Snapshots of What Your City of Berkeley Police Officers (BPD) Have Been Doing – May 13 to May 16/17, 2012:
- Between Sunday, May 13, 2012 at 4:36 a.m. and Wednesday, May 16, 2012 at 8:30 p.m., BPD officers were dispatched to 37 audible/silent residential and commercial burglary or panic alarms. In the majority of cases, two BPD officers responded, investigated and provided dispositions for each of these calls. In each of these cases, the alarm was deemed to be humor human error such as hitting a button my mistake, incorrect codes, no codes, housecleaners, nannies, gardeners or home health care workers.
- Between Sunday, May 13, 2012 at 1:27 p.m. and Thursday, May 17, 2012 at 7:31 a.m., BPD officers were dispatched to 20 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 three were arrested for outstanding warrants.
- Between Sunday, May 13, 2012, 2012 at 11:21 a.m. and Wednesday, May 16, 2012 at 10:28 p.m., BPD officers investigated and documented 16 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, May 13, 2012 at 12:15 a.m. and Thursday, May 17, 2012 at 8:32 a.m., BPD patrol officers made 66 traffic enforcement stops throughout the City of Berkeley. This total does not include the BPD traffic/motor officers. During many of these stops, two BPD officers were required for safety. The officers did records checks of the majority of these women and men for license statuses, parole, probation, missing person, restraining orders, wants and warrants statuses. Officer provided dispositions for each stop. Some resulted in not only citations for equipment or moving violations, but arrests for warrants, drugs or DUI – Driving under the influence.
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