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 Aug. 8-14, there were 19 burglary reports, 42 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 14 assaults, domestic violence incidents or batteries were reported. These numbers are subject to change. Click the previous links for the most current information.
Police also released a crime alert warning residents to be aware of a scam involving a man calling by phone who pretends to be a PG&E representative; police said the man demands a wire payment of $500 to avoid an electricity shut-off. The man provides the telephone number 559-800-7403 to call back for instructions on making the transfer. Residents can call PG&E (800-743-5000) to confirm a request if they do receive a call from the company. According to PG&E, its representatives never ask for immediate payment, or personal or credit card information over the phone. Residents who have been victimized by this scam can report this fraud to the Berkeley Police Department by calling 510-981-5900.
Thursday, Aug. 8
Twelve burglaries or thefts from vehicles were reported; see the full list here.
A home burglary was reported at 9 a.m. in the 2000 block of University Avenue.
A gun or weapon was reported at 7:08 p.m. at Market Street and Arlington Avenue.
Police arrested an Oakland man in connection with two crimes, a robbery and a grand theft, in Berkeley this summer. On July 23, police said Clifton Celestine Jr., 35, stole a woman’s purse near Ward Street and Shattuck Avenue; police say he later used the victim’s credit cards. On Aug. 1, at about 5:25 p.m., police say Celestine also was responsible for a strong-armed robbery near Allston Way and California Street, in which another purse was stolen. Police spokeswoman Officer Jennifer Coats said, during the investigations into those cases, police developed Celestine as the suspect, and had a warrant issued for his arrest, which took place Aug. 8. Celestine remains in custody with a bail of $220,000 and is being held at Santa Rita Jail. He’s set for a pre-trial hearing Aug. 21 at the Wiley Manuel Courthouse in downtown Oakland.
The day before, said Coats in response to a request from Berkeleyside, officers were patrolling around 62nd and Baker streets at 8:45 p.m. when they saw a man who fled on foot in response to the police presence. Police pursued him and said the man tossed a gun during the chase; police caught up with the man, detained him and recovered the weapon. Coats said the man also was found in possession of suspected illegal substances. During the investigation officers also contacted a female related to the incident. She was found in possession of items used for possible identity theft, said Coats. The woman, 20-year-old Lamisha Byrd of Oakland, was arrested in connection with those items but is no longer in custody. The man was identified as Lashawn Price, 25, of Oakland. He is being held without bail due to violation of his parole, and was arrested on suspicion of possession of narcotics, carrying a concealed weapon and ammunition, and other violations. He’s scheduled for an attorney and plea hearing Aug. 23 at the Wiley Manuel Courthouse.
Friday, Aug. 9
Five home burglaries were reported: at 2:49 a.m. in the 2100 block of Essex Street; at 3 a.m. in the 2400 block of Haste Street; at 5 a.m. in the 2400 block of Carleton Street; at 8 a.m. in the 3100 block of Ellis Street; and at 10 a.m. in the 1400 block of Lincoln Street.
Six burglaries or thefts from vehicles were reported: at 3:25 a.m. in the 2800 block of Ashby Avenue; at 9:30 a.m. in the 1000 block of Mariposa Avenue; at 7 p.m. in the 1900 block of Delaware Street; at 9 p.m. in the 1900 block of Virginia Street; at 10 p.m. in the 700 block of The Plaza Drive; and at 10 p.m. in the 1900 block of Delaware.
Someone reportedly brandished a weapon at 12:40 p.m. in the 2600 block of San Pablo Avenue
A robbery was reported at 7 p.m. at Ashby Avenue and Mabel Street.
A vehicle was reported stolen at 9 p.m. in the 2400 block of California Street.
Saturday, Aug. 10
A robbery was reported at 12:30 a.m. at Hillegass Avenue and Dwight Way. According to a notice released by the University of California Police Department, the victims, a 20-year-old woman and a 24-year-old woman, were walking when they were approached by two men who displayed firearms, pushed the women, and demanded their property. The men took purses from the women and ran west on Dwight. Police were unable to find them, but they were described as a black man in his mid-20s, 6 feet tall with a large build and braided hair, wearing a striped polo-style shirt and dark jeans; and a black man in his mid-20s, 5 feet 10 inches tall with a thin build, wearing a light-colored t-shirt and dark jeans. Police ask anyone with information about this robbery to call 510-981-5900.
Someone reportedly brandished a weapon at 12:50 a.m. at Bancroft Way and College Avenue.
A felony assault or battery took place at 1:50 a.m. at San Pablo and University.
Eight thefts or burglaries from vehicles took place; see the full list here.
A gun or weapon was reported at 9:05 a.m. in the 2000 block of Fourth Street.
A home burglary was reported at 8:30 p.m. in the 2700 block of Hillegass Avenue.
At approximately 9:55 p.m. Berkeley Police officers responded to the area of Sacramento Street and Alcatraz Avenue for multiple reports of loud reports. Officers were able to determine the noise had been caused by fireworks.
Sunday, Aug. 11
Five thefts or burglaries from vehicles were reported: at midnight in the 1100 block of Addison Street; at 10 a.m. and at 11:38 a.m. in the 800 block of Bolivar Drive; at 8 p.m. in the 1300 block of Eighth Street; and at 9 p.m. in the 800 block of Oxford Street.
A home burglary was reported at 1 a.m. in the 2500 block of Piedmont Avenue.
Three commercial burglaries were reported: at 1:36 a.m. in the 2100 block of Center Street; at 2:20 a.m. in the 2300 block of Sixth Street; and at 7:30 p.m. in the 2000 block of University Avenue.
A robbery was reported at 2:35 a.m. in the 1900 block of Walnut Street.
Three vehicles were reported stolen: at 2:55 p.m. in the 800 block of Potter Street; at 8:30 p.m. in the 1700 block of Marin Avenue; and at 10 p.m. in the 2800 block of Regent Street.
Monday, Aug. 12
A robbery was reported at 12:50 a.m. in the 800 block of Bolivar Drive.
Four vehicles were reported stolen: at 1:30 a.m. in the 2600 block of Parker Street; at 3 a.m. at an unlisted location; at 6:45 a.m. in the 1500 block of Francisco Street; and at 9 p.m. in the 1200 block of Bancroft Way.
A commercial burglary was reported at 11:22 a.m. in the 2700 block of Ninth Street.
A felony assault or battery was reported at 1:10 p.m. in the 1400 block of Bonita Avenue.
Three home burglaries were reported: at 3:30 p.m. in the 1800 block of Monterey Avenue; at 9:30 p.m. in the 2200 block of Jefferson Avenue; and at 10:10 p.m. in the 2200 block of Jefferson.
Three thefts or burglaries from vehicles were reported: at 5:40 p.m. in the 3000 block of Telegraph Avenue; at 6 p.m. in the 2000 block of Oregon Street; and at 8 p.m. in the 2300 block of Russell Street.
Tuesday, Aug. 13
A vehicle was reported stolen at midnight in the 2400 block of Acton Street.
Five thefts or burglaries from vehicles were reported: at 2 a.m. in the 900 block of University Avenue; at 2:30 p.m. in the 1100 block of Cedar Street; at 9 p.m. in the 500 block of Colusa Avenue; at 9:30 p.m. in the 1500 block of Thousand Oaks Boulevard; and at 11 p.m. in the 1500 block of Ada Street.
Two home burglaries were reported: at 8:30 a.m. in the 100 block of Ajax Place, and at 9 a.m. in the 1900 block of Milvia Street.
Two felony assaults or batteries were reported, at 4:28 p.m. in the 100 block of Shattuck Square, and at 7:30 p.m. in the 2100 block of Shattuck Avenue.
A robbery was reported at 10 p.m. at Milvia Street and Berkeley Way.
Wednesday, Aug. 14
Three thefts or burglaries from vehicles were reported: at 3 p.m. at Benvenue Avenue and Dwight Way; at 5:50 p.m. at Domingo Avenue and Russell Street; and at 10:15 p.m. in the 1900 block of Carleton Street.
A commercial burglary was reported at 5:32 p.m. in the 2700 block of Milvia.
A home burglary was reported at 9:15 p.m. in the 2100 block of Fifth Street.
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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