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 18-24, there were 13 burglary reports, 43 auto break-in or theft from a vehicle reports, and 14 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. Police have also sent out a warning about multiple reports involving the “grandparent” scheme. Scroll to the bottom of this post for details.
April 18, Thursday
There were three home burglaries reported: at 8 a.m. in the 1900 block of Marin Avenue; at 12:30 p.m. in the 400 block of Michigan Avenue; and at 11:30 p.m. in the 1600 block of Ashby Avenue.
Two felony assault/batteries were reported, at 9 a.m. in the 1500 block of Derby Street, and at 12:23 p.m. in the 2400 block of Telegraph Avenue.
There were nine thefts or burglaries from vehicles reported. See the complete list.
Three robberies were reported: at 2:35 p.m. in the 2100 block of McKinley Avenue; at 4:38 p.m. in the 2900 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Way; and at 5:30 p.m. at Fairview and California streets.
Two vehicles were reported stolen, both at 4 p.m., in the 1100 block of Keith Avenue, and in the 1400 block of San Pablo Avenue.
April 19, Friday
A vehicle was reported stolen at 12:01 a.m. from Dana and Blake streets.
Eleven thefts or burglaries from vehicles were reported. See the complete list.
Three home burglaries were reported: at 7 a.m. in the 1300 block of Carlotta Avenue; at 8:30 a.m. in the 1500 block of Rose Street; and at 10:30 p.m. in the 900 block of Euclid Avenue.
A felony assault/battery was reported at 4:03 p.m. in the 1600 block of 63rd Street.
April 20, Saturday
A commercial burglary was reported at 5:26 p.m. in the 1300 block of San Pablo Avenue.
Three auto burglaries were reported: at 6:25 p.m. in the 2000 block of Francisco Street; at 9 p.m. in the 1100 block of Hearst Avenue; and at 10:30 p.m. at Otis Street and Ashby Avenue.
Two vehicles were reported stolen, at 6:30 p.m. from the 1800 block of Eastshore Highway, and at 9:21 p.m. from San Pablo Avenue and Allston Way.
A felony theft (over $950) was reported at 10 p.m. in the 2700 block of Channing Way.
A robbery was reported at 10:30 p.m. at Telegraph Avenue and Bancroft Way.
April 21, Sunday
Six auto burglaries were reported: at 12:30 a.m. at Parker and Ellsworth streets; at 1:40 a.m. at Derby Street and Shattuck Avenue; at 8:30 a.m. in the 2600 block of Benvenue Avenue; at 1 p.m. in the 3000 block of Bateman Street; at 3 p.m. in the 1300 block of Derby Street; and at 9 p.m. in the 2900 block of Benvenue.
A commercial burglary was reported at 3:44 a.m. in the 100 block of Seawall Drive.
Two vehicles were reported stolen, at 8 p.m. in the 2100 block of Seventh Street, and at 9 p.m. in the 2100 block of Seventh Street.
April 22, Monday
Four auto burglaries or thefts from a vehicle were reported: at 12:15 p.m. at College Avenue and Webster Street; at 5:15 p.m. in the 400 block of Gilman Street; at 7:30 p.m. in the 2100 block of Dwight Way; and at 9 p.m. in the 2400 block of Bonar Street.
Two vehicles were reported stolen, at 2 p.m. from the 1300 block of University Avenue, and at 7 p.m. from the 2800 block of Stanton Street.
A misdemeanor sexual assault was reported at 2:45 p.m. in the 2000 block of Shattuck Avenue.
April 23, Tuesday
Five auto burglaries were reported: at 4 a.m. at Hearst and Le Roy avenues; at 10:30 a.m. in the 1900 block of Ninth Street; at 10:45 a.m. in the 2900 block of Seventh Street; at 6 p.m. at Walnut and Vine streets; and at 7 p.m. in the 1800 block of San Pablo Avenue.
A misdemeanor sexual assault was reported at 6:39 a.m. at Masonic and Santa Fe avenues.
Four vehicles were reported stolen: at 12:30 p.m. from Virginia and Milvia streets; at 3:30 p.m. from the 1700 block of Milvia; at 6:30 p.m. from the 1800 block of Delaware Street; and at 7:30 p.m. from the 1000 block of Hearst Avenue.
Some kind of vice-related activity was reported at 3:53 p.m. at California Street and Bancroft Way.
Two home burglaries were reported, at 4:30 p.m. in the 1900 block of Oxford Street, and at 10:30 p.m. in the 1500 block of Milvia.
A felony theft (over $950) was reported at 5:45 p.m. in the 1700 block of University Avenue.
April 24, Wednesday
Two home burglaries were reported, at midnight in the 1900 block of El Dorado Avenue, and at 7 p.m. in the 2700 block of Hearst Avenue.
Four auto burglaries were reported: at 9 a.m. in the 2000 block of Allston Way, and also in the 1900 block of Seventh Street; at 1:30 p.m. at Byron Street and Allston Way; and at 8 p.m. in the 1300 block of San Pablo Avenue.
Arson was reported at 4:36 p.m. in the 700 block of Dwight Way.
A commercial burglary was reported at 6 p.m. in the 1100 block of Second Street.
A vehicle was reported stolen at 7 p.m. from the 2700 block of Ninth Street.
A robbery was reported at 8:30 p.m. at Adeline and Woolsey streets.
A felony theft, over $950, was reported at 8:45 p.m. in the 2300 block of Telegraph Avenue.
April 25, Thursday
The University of California Police Department received a call from a “Blue Light” emergency telephone that a 21-year-old male student had been riding his bike in the 2400 block of Durant Avenue, around 5 a.m., when a man jumped out and caused him to fall down. The robber demanded the victim’s property, then fled the scene running east on Durant. Police searched the area but were unable to find him. The victim suffered minor injuries from the fall and was treated at the scene by the Berkeley Fire Department. The suspect was described as a black man, 20 to 30 years old, with a medium complexion. He was 5 feet 8 inches in height and wore a gray hooded sweatshirt and blue jeans. Police ask anyone with information about this incident to call 510-981-5900.
The “grandparent” scheme
The Berkeley Police Department received at least two reports last week from elder residents in which a man called them claiming to be a police officer with a Bay Area law enforcement agency. In one instance, he said he had a woman detained that was the resident’s daughter. In the other, he said he had arrested a woman who had the resident’s identification and financial information. Noted police: “According to a recent article on the FBI’s website, the ‘Grandparent’ scam has been around for a few years. But the scam and scam artists have become more sophisticated. Thanks to the Internet and social networking sites, a criminal can sometimes uncover personal information about their targets, which makes the impersonations more believable. For example, the actual grandson may mention on his social networking site that he’s a photographer who often travels to Mexico. When contacting the grandparents, the phony grandson will say he’s calling from Mexico, where someone stole his camera equipment and passport.’ Scammers often call late at night or early in the morning, and claim a relative has gotten into a bad situation of some kind. Money transfers are said to be needed quickly. Sometimes military families are targeted. Criminals may also claim to be a family friend, niece or nephew, or another family member. Police remind residents: Resist the pressure to act quickly. Try to contact another family member or the relative him or herself to determine whether the call is legitimate. Never wire money based on a request made over the phone or email. Said police: “Wiring money is like giving cash—once you send it, you can’t get it back.”
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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