The following items represent just a sampling of calls, and were selected by the Berkeley Police Department, unless otherwise noted. Berkeleyside also requested information about several recent calls, and these items appear first below. Click to see past narratives from police, and Berkeleyside’s most recent compilation of calls for service.
From Feb. 17-23, there were 12 burglary reports, 27 auto break-in or theft reports, and six stolen vehicle reports to the Berkeley Police Department, according to CrimeMapping.com. Eight robberies and 20 assaults, domestic violence incidents or batteries were reported.
Recent arrests and calls
(Berkeleyside requested the following information from the Berkeley Police Department.)
On Jan. 29, police responded to a report of a robbery at a store in the 2300 block of Shattuck Avenue at about 5:16 p.m. Officer Jennifer Coats, police spokeswoman, said a woman went into the store, hid items in her pocket, then left without paying for them. A security guard tried to stop her, and the woman struggled with the guard, said Coats, “and at one point kicked him.” Detectives investigated and later identified the woman as Christina Webster, 32, of Berkeley. She was arrested on suspicion of robbery on Feb. 13.
Also on Feb. 13, police arrested Tobey Wilson, 34, of San Francisco. A caller that day alerted the Berkeley Police Department that a man was walking in the 1700 block of Alcatraz Avenue possibly with “a large gun concealed in his pants,” according to Coats. The man went into an apartment on Alcatraz. Police made contact with the man, who was identified as Wilson. Police said Wilson was in possession of a shotgun. He was arrested on suspicion of being a felon in possession of a firearm, carrying a concealed weapon, carrying a loaded firearm and possession of ammunition.
Police arrested Daniel Ramirez, 30, in connection with an incident on Addison Street on Feb. 20 in which authorities had set up a perimeter following a report of a barricaded man. Police said they ultimately determined that no one had been barricaded, but that Ramirez was a person of interest in the incident. On Feb. 21, police said Ramirez turned himself into the Berkeley Police Department at about 1 p.m. He was arrested on suspicion of discharging a weapon in a grossly negligent manner and shooting at an unoccupied vehicle.
On Feb. 22, police received a call about a man pointing a rifle or shotgun out of a room at the Capri Motel on University Avenue at about 5:15 p.m. According to Coats, police responded to the area, and spoke with the man. It turned out he had been playing an instrument that, from the window, a caller had believed to be a rifle. (The man was not in possession of a firearm, added Coats.)
Crime narratives from the Berkeley Police
Feb. 17, Sunday: Police said someone vandalized a vehicle near Allston Way and Oxford Street. The vehicle’s owner left it parked on the street on Sunday between 5:30 and 10:30 p.m. When the owner returned, he or she found that someone had scratched the vehicle’s paint.
Feb. 18, Monday: A thief broke into a vehicle in a parking lot in the 400 block of Gilman Street between 7 and 9 p.m. A driver had parked and locked the vehicle, but the thief broke a window and stole the victim’s wallet and cell phone.
Feb. 19, Tuesday: A business owner in the 2900 block of College Avenue said someone tried to break in the prior night. When the owner came in at 8:30 a.m., he found that the front door — which he’d locked at 10:30 p.m. — had been damaged. It did not appear the thief managed to get inside.
Feb. 20, Wednesday: A thief entered a home in the 1600 block of Fairview Street between 4 and 9:45 p.m. and stole a laptop. The burglar may have gotten inside through an unlocked window.
Feb. 21, Thursday: A thief tried to steal a bicycle from a home in the 2300 block of Russell Street at about 7:50 a.m. A resident noticed a stranger in the rear yard trying to remove the bike. The resident yelled at the stranger, who ran away. He was described as a black man, 50-60 years old, 5 feet 10 inches tall and 160 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes, and wearing a black knit cap, black zip-up hooded sweatshirt and dark pants.
Feb. 22, Friday: An employee at a business in the 1700 block of San Pablo Avenue called to report a burglary at 6:20 a.m. A thief had entered the business, pried open an office door and stolen several computers.
Feb. 23, Saturday: Someone broke into a vehicle near Channing Way and Telegraph Avenue between 6 and 10 p.m. The driver had parked and locked the vehicle, but found upon his return that a thief had broken a window and stolen a computer bag with a laptop.
COMMUNITY SAFETY TIP FROM THE BERKELEY POLICE: Bicycle Theft Prevention
- Lock frame to something that cannot be moved
- Use high quality lock, such as a U-lock
- Secure quick release wheels and seats
- Secure your bicycle at home; many are stolen from yards and garages
The Berkeley Police Department includes this disclaimer: “Please note that these are Calls For Police Services (CFS) only and are subject to review and reclassification. These CFS numbers only reflect part one crimes reported to BPD. The numbers reflected in the report are only a snapshot of what occurs in the City of Berkeley. The numbers are considered for informational purposes only and should not be used for data analysis or comparison to other agencies. Cases may be reclassified after further review of the incident, by supervisors, investigating detectives or the District Attorney as appropriate.” Learn more about calls for service near specific locations with CrimeView Community.
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