This is a partial list of recent crimes in Berkeley, compiled by Berkeleyside, and based on reports to the Berkeley Police Department unless otherwise noted. See past crime blotters here. (Note to readers: We always appreciate tips, about breaking news or neighborhood safety issues, via email at tips@berkeleyside.com.)
The following items represent just a sampling of calls, and times may be approximate. From April 11-17, there were 17 burglary reports, 30 auto break-in or theft from a vehicle reports, and nine stolen vehicle reports to the Berkeley Police Department, according to CrimeMapping.com. Five robberies and 19 assaults, domestic violence incidents or batteries were reported. These numbers are subject to change. Click the previous links for the most current information.
April 11, Thursday
There were three thefts or burglaries from vehicles: at 11 a.m. in the 700 block of Dwight Way; at 4 p.m. in the 2500 block of Sacramento Street; and at 6:30 p.m. at Josephine and Vine streets.
There were two home burglary reports, at 11:23 a.m. in the 2300 block of Prince Street, and at 2:30 p.m. in the 2800 block of Grant Street.
A felony theft (over $950) was reported at 11:45 a.m. in the 2400 block of Telegraph Avenue.
Two vehicles were reported stolen, at 3:20 p.m. at Dwight Way and Ellsworth Street, and at 6 p.m. in the 100 block of Seawall Drive.
April 12, Friday
UCPD released a sketch of a man they said punched another person on April 1 on Sproul Plaza. At 2:24 p.m., the victim had been tabling on Sproul when the suspect approached him and asked him a question. The two disagreed, and the suspect punched the victim with a closed right fist, knocking him to the ground. The suspect fled north then turned east on campus, his right knuckles bleeding. He was last seen at Bancroft near the south side of Hearst Gym. The suspect is believed to be a Cal student and possibly a junior college transfer. At the time of the incident, the suspect was wearing a blue windbreaker jacket with a front zipper and collar, and denim pants. He was carrying a dark colored backpack. Police ask for tips via email (Cal@tipnow.com) or by phone, 510-642-6760. Those with additional questions can call Detective Quincy Ruffin of the UCPD Criminal Investigations Bureau at 510-642-1606, or write him at quincy@berkeley.edu.
Two felony thefts were reported, at 2:30 a.m. in the 2600 block of Piedmont Avenue, and at 8 p.m. in the 2700 block of Bancroft Way.
Five thefts or burglaries from vehicles were reported, at 11:40 a.m. in the 2900 block of College Avenue; at 11:49 a.m. in the 100 block of Seawall Drive; at 12:30 p.m. in the 1700 of Allston Way; at 1:50 p.m. in the 1300 block of Allston; and at 6:05 p.m. in the 1300 block of 10th Street.
Three robberies were reported: at 4:14 p.m. at Stuart Street and Shattuck Avenue; at 5:10 p.m. at Bowditch and Haste streets; and at 6:49 p.m. at San Pablo and University avenues. According to the University of California Police Department, a female was walking at 5:10 p.m. near Bowditch and Haste when she was approached by a man with a gun. He demanded her cell phone, and she handed it to him. He left westbound on Haste in a dark colored Honda Pilot SUV. The victim got the driver’s license plate, and police tracked and arrested the alleged thief using the information.
At 8:39 p.m., UCPD officers were sent to the Life Sciences Addition for a report of an assault with a deadly weapon. A 60-year-old man had been walking eastbound on a path near Dwinelle Hall when he was hit by a small object in his back and felt a stinging sensation. UCPD said, in a prepared statement: “When he turned around he saw two males who looked at him as if they had just done something.” UCPD officers detained four people matching the description of the assault suspects. One of the them, a 17-year-old, admitted to shooting the victim with a BB gun and was arrested. The victim sustained minor injuries during the encounter.
Two home burglaries were reported, both at 11 p.m., in the 900 block of Oxford Street and in the 2300 block of Prospect Street.
April 13, Saturday
A felony theft was reported at 1:30 a.m. in the 2300 block of Haste Street.
Seven burglaries or thefts from vehicles were reported: at 8 a.m. at Berkeley Way and Milvia Street; at 11:15 a.m. at Marina Boulevard and University Avenue; at 3 p.m. in the 1500 block of Hopkins Street; at 4 p.m. at an unlisted location; at 9 p.m. in the 2600 block of Parker Street; at 10:15 p.m. in the 1800 block of San Juan Avenue; and at 11 p.m. at Kittredge Street and Shattuck Avenue.
A commercial burglary was reported at 12:05 p.m. in the 1900 block of Cedar Street.
Four home burglaries were reported: at 4 p.m. in the 2200 block of Blake Street; at 9 p.m. in the 600 block of Santa Rosa Avenue; at 10 p.m. at an unlisted location; and at 11:58 p.m. in the 2300 block of Piedmont Avenue.
April 14, Sunday
At 1:41 a.m., a strong-arm robbery occurred near the West Crescent and University Drive on a
pathway near the south side of the Li Ka Shing building, according to the University of California Police Department. A 19-year-old female student was walking on the pathway talking on her cell phone when she was approached from behind by two girls, ages 14 and 17. The suspects grabbed the victim and forced her to the ground. One pinned the victim to the ground while the other punched her once on the left cheek area. The suspects took the victim’s wallet and iPhone, then fled running eastbound through campus. The victim utilized a campus “Blue Light” emergency phone to contact UCPD. UCPD officers searched the area and detained two girls on Bancroft Way east of Bowditch who matched the description of the suspects. They were identified by the victim and taken into custody. The victim sustained minor injuries during the encounter.
Five thefts or burglaries from vehicles were reported: at 1 a.m. at Shattuck Avenue and Delaware Street; at 7:42 a.m. in the 1700 block of University Avenue; at 11 a.m. in the 1700 block of Fourth Street; at 2 p.m. in the 2500 block of Benvenue Avenue; and at 7:45 p.m. in the 100 block of Seawall Drive.
Two vehicles were reported stolen, at 2 a.m. from Ashby and Piedmont avenues, and at 7 p.m. from Russell Street and Claremont Avenue.
Two felony thefts were reported, at 2:21 a.m. in the 600 block of Santa Rosa Avenue, and at 2:13 p.m. in the 1800 block of San Pablo Avenue.
Two robberies were reported, at 4:30 a.m. at Prince and King streets, and at 11:40 p.m. at Channing Way and Dana Street. According to the University of California Police Department, a 27-year-old man was walking with a 22-year-old woman at 11:40 p.m. at Channing and Dana when a man approached them and demanded money. The victims fled, but the man followed them. The victims were able to call police, who responded and searched the area for the man. Police located Emmanuel Thomas-Reed, 31, and arrested him on suspicion of attempted robbery and a probation violation.
At 5 p.m., a University of California Police officer was sent to the Alta Bates emergency room after receiving a phone call about a patient who had been the victim of a battery at People’s Park earlier in the day, according to UCPD. The victim had been in the park at 7:30 a.m. when a male approached him; the two got into an argument and the suspect punched the victim in the jaw. The suspect walked away when the victim fell back. He suffered a broken jaw and was treated at Alta Bates for the injury. The suspect was described as a white male, 5 feet 8 inches tall, and 135 pounds with a light build and short straight brown hair. He was wearing a blue jacket and beige pants. He was reported to have spent time at People’s Park in the past. Police ask anyone with information to call 510-642-0472 during the work week and 510- 642-6760 at other times.
April 15, Monday
A felony assault/battery was reported at 1:43 a.m. in the 1200 block of Dwight Way.
Four thefts or burglaries from vehicles were reported: at 2:52 a.m. in the 800 block of Northampton Avenue; at 9 a.m. in the 1100 block of San Pablo Avenue; at 6 p.m. in the 1400 block of Seventh Street; and at 8:30 p.m. in the 2700 block of Webster Street.
Two home burglaries were reported, at 4 a.m. in the 400 block of Spruce Street, and at 8:39 p.m. in the 2600 block of Regent Street.
A commercial burglary was reported at 4 p.m. in the 2400 block of Warring Street.
Three vehicles were reported stolen: at 6 p.m. from the 1400 block of Bonita Avenue; at 7:30 p.m. from the 1400 block of Josephine Street; and at 8 p.m. from the 500 block of Woodmont Avenue.
April 16, Tuesday
Two commercial burglaries were reported, at 12:30 a.m. in the 2100 block of University Avenue, and at 3:51 a.m. in the 1900 block of Addison Street.
A vehicle was reported stolen at 1:30 a.m. from the 1400 block of Rose Street.
A felony theft was reported at 12:40 p.m. in the 1800 block of Thousand Oaks Boulevard.
Four thefts or burglaries from vehicles were reported, at 1 p.m. in the 400 block of Gilman Street; at 4 p.m. in the 1100 block of San Pablo and in the 2600 block of Russell Street; and at 5 p.m. in the 1900 block of Fifth Street.
A felony assault/battery was reported at 5 p.m. in the 2500 block of Haste Street.
A home burglary was reported at 5:30 p.m. in the 500 block of Oakvale Avenue.
April 17, Wednesday
Two auto burglaries were reported, at 11 a.m. in the 2800 block of Claremont Avenue, and at 9:10 p.m. in the 400 block of Gilman Street.
A vehicle was reported stolen at 11:45 a.m. from the 1600 block of Woolsey Street.
Two homes were reported to have been burglarized, at 12:54 a.m. in the 200 block of Tunnel Road, and at 5:29 p.m. in the 2600 block of Piedmont.
A felony theft was reported at 1:28 p.m. in the 2300 block of Shattuck.
See the full list of Berkeley Police Department calls for service here on CrimeMapping.com. This may have been updated since publication. See the list of calls to the UC Police Department. See also Local Crime News’ regularly published list of arrests of Berkeley residents. Other sources of information on crime in Berkeley include the Police Department’s CrimeView Community and CrimeMapping.com.
Editor’s Note: New calls for service are at times added to the CrimeMapping.com system in an unpredictable manner, and numbers for most types of calls are likely to increase in the days following this report. This weekly post offers a relatively detailed account of calls for service over the course of a week but does not reflect every call.
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