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 photographs and 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 June 6 to June 12, there were 19 burglary reports, 29 auto break-in or theft from a vehicle reports, and 14 stolen vehicle reports to the Berkeley Police Department, according to CrimeMapping.com. Seven robberies and eight assaults, domestic violence incidents or batteries were reported. These numbers are subject to change. Click the previous links for the most current information.
June 6, Thursday
A home burglary was reported at 12:52 a.m. in the 2300 block of Haste Street.
A robbery was reported at 6:30 a.m. in the 3000 block of College Avenue.
A home burglary was reported at 3:40 p.m. in the 6000 block of Chabolyn Terrace.
Three auto burglaries or thefts from vehicles were reported: at 4:45 p.m. in the 1700 block of Fourth Street; at 6:30 p.m. in the 200 block of University Avenue; and at 8 p.m. in the 1500 block of Milvia Street.
June 7, Friday
Four auto burglaries were reported: at 1:45 a.m. in the 2300 block of Sixth Street; at 3:50 a.m. at Gilman Street and West Frontage Road; at 6:20 a.m. at Sixth and University; and at 5 p.m. in the 600 block of Colusa Avenue.
Four vehicles were reported stolen: at 7:53 a.m. in the 1500 block of Stannage Avenue; at 8:30 a.m. in the 2900 block of Dohr Street; at 7:30 p.m. in the 1600 block of Addison Street; and at 11 p.m. in the 2400 block of Hillside Avenue.
A commercial burglary was reported at 4 p.m. in the 3000 block of Ashby Avenue.
A robbery was reported at 9:55 p.m. at Piedmont Avenue and Parker Street.
June 8, Saturday
Someone reportedly brandished a weapon at 12:55 a.m. in the 1900 block of Hearst Avenue.
A home burglary was reported at 1 a.m. in the 2500 block of Durant Avenue.
Eight burglaries or thefts from vehicles were reported. See the full list here.
The Berkeley Fire Department responded to the 2300 block of Dwight Way for a report of an oven fire in a three-story building, according to Avery Webb, interim deputy fire chief. Four engines, one ladder truck, one ambulance, and the duty chief were dispatched. The first arriving engine company found a fire confined to an oven. They extinguished the fire with a water extinguisher, and removed accumulated light smoke with the help of the truck crew. The remainder of the alarm assignment was released. There was no damage beyond the oven, and no injuries were reported.
A robbery was reported at 11:39 p.m. at Milvia and Blake streets.
June 9, Sunday
A robbery was reported at 1 a.m. at College and Channing Way.
Four auto burglaries or thefts from vehicles were reported: at 2 p.m. in the 1600 block of McGee Avenue; at 5:10 p.m. in the 2000 block of Francisco Street; at 7 p.m. in the 2400 block of Prospect Street; and at 10 p.m. in the 1100 block of Shattuck Avenue.
Four commercial burglaries were reported: at 3 p.m. in the 2900 block of Regent Street; at 3:10 p.m. in the 100 block of Muir Way; at 11 p.m. in the 2500 block of Durant Avenue; and at 11 p.m. in the 2900 block of College Avenue.
Two vehicles were reported stolen: at 3:40 p.m. at Rose Street and Shattuck Avenue; and at 9 p.m. in the 2000 block of Los Angeles Avenue.
June 10, Monday
Two commercial burglaries were reported, at 3:50 a.m. in the 100 block of Berkeley Square, and at 5:27 a.m. in the 1900 block of Shattuck Avenue.
A home burglary was reported at 12:30 p.m. in the 1100 block of Park Hills Road.
Five auto burglaries were reported; see the list here.
Four vehicles were reported stolen: at 5 p.m. in the 2400 block of Hilgard Avenue; at 9 p.m at 10th Street and Dwight Way; at 11 p.m. in the 2300 block of 10th; and at 11 p.m. in the 2500 block of California Street.
A home burglary was reported at 9:30 p.m. in the 500 block of Stevenson Avenue.
Two robberies were reported, at 9:50 p.m. in the 1600 block of Prince Street, and at 10:50 p.m. in the 2700 block of Channing. According to a statement released by the University of California Police Department about the Channing incident, a male was walking on Channing when three men approached him; they pointed handguns at him and took his cell phone. The robbers fled east on Channing, then turned onto Piedmont Avenue. The victim was not injured. Police searched the area but were unable to find the robbers. One was described as a white man in his 20s, and 5 feet 8 inches tall with a thin build; he was wearing a gray beanie and a jacket, and holding a black handgun. Another was possibly Asian, in his 20s, and 5 feet 5 to 5 feet 9 inches tall with a large build and a black handgun. No description was available for the third robber. Police ask anyone with information about the incident to call the Berkeley Police Department at 510-981-5900.
June 11, Tuesday
Five home burglaries were reported: at 9 a.m. in the 2900 block of Ellsworth Street; at 9:30 a.m. in the 1300 block of Stannage Avenue; at 10:30 a.m. in the 1400 block of Grizzly Peak Boulevard; at noon in the 600 block of Creston Road; and at 3 p.m. in the 600 block of Hilldale Avenue.
Four auto burglaries were reported: at 3:45 p.m. in the 1800 block of Alcatraz; at 5 p.m. in the 800 block of Peralta Avenue; at 9:30 p.m. in the 900 block of Tulare Avenue; and at 11 p.m. in the 1900 block of Ashby Avenue.
Three vehicles were reported stolen: at 5 p.m. in the 800 block of Heinz Avenue; at 7:30 p.m. in the 1600 block of San Lorenzo Avenue; and at 10 p.m. in the 2100 block of Blake Street.
Shortly after 6 p.m., officers spotted a man they recognized from previous interactions who was driving a vehicle at Curtis and Francisco streets that had been reported stolen, according to officer Jamie Perkins of the Berkeley Police Department, in response to a Berkeleyside request. Police responded with lights and sirens to try to catch up with the man, though Perkins said it never turned into an official pursuit. Witnesses reported that the man was driving at reckless speeds, and officers were not able to reach him. Perkins said officers know the man and will decide whether to report the case to the district attorney’s office for review. Police followed the man into the area of Chestnut Street, and Curtis and Cedar streets, where they lost him.
A robbery was reported at 9:45 p.m. at Oxford Street and Hearst Avenue.
The University of California Police Department released a bulletin warning University Village residents about a man who had allegedly threatened to buy a gun and had tried to enter the home of a woman in the Village while looking for a former girlfriend. On June 5, police said Jose Antonio Villanueva tried to enter a home in the 500 block of Ohlone Street; officers detained him on suspicion of public intoxication and issued an emergency protective order to keep him away from his former girlfriend, who no longer lives in the Village. Police said Villanueva was later released from jail and tried to contact his former girlfriend again; as of June 11, police said they were seeking a warrant for his arrest. Police ask anyone who sees Villanueva in the Village or elsewhere to call Detective Deanna Ruiz or Detective Sergeant Andrew Tucker of the UCPD Criminal Investigations Bureau at 510-642-0472.
June 12, Wednesday
A theft from a vehicle was reported at 11:30 a.m. in the 1400 block of Queens Road.
A commercial burglary was reported at 6 p.m. in the 2900 block of Domingo Avenue.
A vehicle was reported stolen at 6 p.m. from the 1900 block of McGee Avenue.
A felony assault or battery was reported at 8:47 p.m. at Potter and Seventh streets.
A home burglary was reported at 11:49 p.m. in the 1700 block of Grant Street.
June 13, Thursday
A man was arrested after a reported fight at People’s Park at 10:17 a.m. A UCPD officer patrolling the area said an altercation had occurred and a man was fleeing. He gave the man’s description to dispatchers, who broadcast the information to officers. Another UCPD officer spotted the man, later identified as 55-year-old Kenneth Toombs, in front of Peet’s Coffee on Telegraph Avenue. Toombs had sustained injuries to his head and arms during the altercation, and was taken to Alta Bates Hospital for treatment and medical clearance before being arrested.
Police arrested a man said to be responsible for an armed robbery at People’s Park. Police said a male and female were in the park with friends around 5:11 p.m. when the incident occurred. They were sitting near a bench when they were approached by a stranger who showed them a handgun in his waistband. Police said the victims, fearing for their safety, did not confront the man who, without warning, began taking their belongings. The man walked to a waiting white Dodge Durango with yellow flames on the side, which was occupied by three females. A UCPD officer, patrolling near Martin Luther King Jr. Way, spotted the white Durango matching and initiated a stop. The suspect was identified by victims and witnesses and was arrested, and stolen items were recovered. Police identified the man as 19-year-old Andres Rodriguez.
See the full list of Berkeley Police Department calls for service 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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