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. 29 to Sept. 4, there were 18 burglary reports, 18 auto break-in or theft from a vehicle reports, and 15 stolen vehicle reports to the Berkeley Police Department, according to CrimeMapping.com. Eight robberies and 22 assaults, domestic violence incidents or batteries were reported. These numbers are subject to change. Click the previous links for the most current information. Scroll to the bottom of this story to read about several recent Berkeley arrests.
Thursday, Aug. 29
Two home burglaries were reported, at 1 a.m. in the 2500 block of College Avenue, and at 2 a.m. in the 2400 block of Carleton Street.
A gun or weapon was reported at 2:30 p.m. in the 1700 block of Ward Street.
A commercial burglary was reported at 4 p.m. in the 1100 block of University Avenue.
Three auto burglaries were reported: at 5:43 p.m. in the 1400 block of Henry Street; at 5:50 p.m. at Webster Street and College Avenue; and at 9 p.m. in the 2600 block of Russell Street.
A vehicle was reported stolen at 9 p.m. in the 1100 block of Eastshore Highway.
Friday, Aug. 30
Two commercial burglaries were reported, at 2:20 a.m. in the 2400 block of Shattuck Avenue, and at 11:40 p.m. in the 1600 block of Shattuck Avenue.
Two home burglaries were reported, at 4 a.m. in the 2200 block of Channing Way, and at 11 p.m. in the 2600 block of College Avenue.
Three burglaries or thefts from vehicles were reported: at 8:15 a.m. in the 1500 block of Harmon Street; at 7 p.m. at Henry Street and Berkeley Way; and at 11 p.m. in the 1500 block of California Street.
Two robberies were reported, at 1:51 p.m. at Shattuck and University avenues, and at 10:18 p.m. in the 3200 block of Adeline Street.
Two vehicles were reported stolen, at 6 p.m. in the 1900 block of Berkeley Way, and at 10 p.m. in the 2700 block of Telegraph Avenue.
Saturday, Aug. 31
A felony sexual assault was reported at 2 a.m. in the 1300 block of Lincoln Street.
Five thefts or burglaries from vehicles were reported: at 2 a.m. in the 1700 block of Sacramento Street; at 11:14 a.m. in the 700 block of Hilldale Avenue; at 6 p.m. at Claremont Avenue and Webster Street; at 10 p.m. in the 2600 block of San Pablo Avenue; and at 11 p.m. in the 200 block of Dwight Way.
Two felony assaults or batteries were reported, at 2:30 a.m. at Telegraph Avenue and Dwight Way, and 2:45 a.m. in the 2900 block of Adeline Street.
A robbery was reported at 3:38 p.m. at Stuart Street and Shattuck Avenue.
Two vehicles were reported stolen, at 7 p.m. in the 1200 block of Seventh Street, and at 10:30 p.m. in the 700 block of Neilson Street.
A home burglary was reported at 7:20 p.m. in the 1200 block of Colusa Avenue.
Sunday, Sept. 1
A commercial burglary was reported at 6 a.m. in the 800 block of Bancroft Way.
Two home burglaries were reported, at 7:30 a.m. in the 1200 block of Grizzly Peak Boulevard, and at 10 a.m. in the 2700 block of Parker Street.
Sometime between 4:30 and 11 a.m., UCPD reported that a hate-related vandalism occurred on an interior door of Building 7 at the Clark Kerr Campus Housing Complex. A residential advisor discovered scratch marks on the interior door that depicted a swastika and two phallic symbols. She reported the vandalism to UCPD. UCPD is working with the affected parties related to this offense. At this point, said police, the suspect is unknown and UCPD is actively working on the investigation. Information on hate crimes can be found on the UCPD website. UCPD can also be contacted for safety presentations and outreach at police@berkeley.edu. The Gender Equity Resource Center also has additional information on its website.
Two thefts from vehicles were reported, at 9 p.m. in the 2400 block of Eighth Street, and at 9 p.m. in the 1400 block of Curtis Street.
A robbery was reported at 10:52 p.m. in the 1300 block of San Pablo Avenue.
Monday, Sept. 2
Four vehicles were reported stolen: at midnight in the 2300 block of Acton Street; at 10 a.m. in the 1400 block of Addison Street; at noon in the 2000 block of Addison; and at 11 p.m. in the 2100 block of Roosevelt Avenue.
Two robberies were reported, at 12:10 a.m. in the 2700 block of Regent Street, and at 1:39 a.m. at Piedmont Avenue and Dwight Way. In the second incident, UCPD said an 18-year-old was walking when she heard someone running up toward her. A man approached her and demanded her property. The suspect had his hand in his waistband, as if he had a gun. The man took the victim’s property and left the scene on foot. Police searched the area but were unable to find the robber. He was described as a black male, approximately 19 years old, and 5 feet 7 inches tall with a thin build and a dark complexion. He was wearing a red, brown and green beanie cap that matched his belt, a black T-shirt, medium-wash baggy jeans, and blue and white boxers. Police ask anyone with information call the Berkeley Police Department at 510-981-5900.
Two home burglaries were reported, at 8 a.m. in the 2400 block of Prince Street, and at 7 p.m. in the 2200 block of Woolsey Street.
An auto burglary was reported at 4 p.m. in the 1200 block of Fifth Street.
A felony assault or battery was reported at 7:13 p.m. in the 2000 block of Curtis Street.
At 10:40 p.m., UCPD received a report of an indecent exposure. The victim, a 22-year-old female student, was studying in the Academic Service Center of the Unit-2 Housing Complex. While studying, she saw the suspect standing outside and looking at her through a window. The man’s genitals were exposed and he was masturbating. The man fled on foot and the victim called UCPD. Officers searched the area but was unable to locate him. He was described as an unknown race male, approximately 20 years old, with a thin build and dark hair. He was wearing a white T-shirt and green pants. Police ask anyone with information to call 510-642-6760.
Tuesday, Sept. 3
At 12:44 a.m., UCPD received a report of an indecent exposure. The victim, a 19-year-old female student, left the Academic Service Center of the Unit-3 Housing Complex to walk to a women’s restroom within the building. When she left the restroom stall and advanced toward the sinks, she saw a man inside the restroom. His genitals were exposed and he was looking at her while masturbating. The victim returned to the Academic Service Center and told the housing staff, who called UCPD. Officers searched the area but were unable to locate the man. He was described as a white male, between 30 and 40 years old, about 5 feet 8 inches tall with a heavy build. He was wearing a white T-shirt and light-colored pants. Police ask anyone with information to call 510-642-6760.
A robbery was reported at 1:09 a.m. at Shattuck Avenue and Allston Way.
A home burglary was reported at 10 a.m. in the 1900 block of Ward Street.
Three thefts or burglaries from vehicles were reported, at 3 p.m. in the 1400 block of Sacramento Street, at 4 p.m. in the 2800 block of Acton Street; and at 5:35 in the 2600 block of Ellsworth Street.
A commercial burglary was reported at 5 p.m. in the 1700 block of Fifth Street.
Wednesday, Sept. 4
Three home burglaries were reported: at 2:01 a.m. in the 2100 block of McKinley Avenue; at 2:30 a.m. in the 2400 block of Fulton Street; and at 8:27 p.m. in the 2600 block of Telegraph Avenue.
An auto burglary was reported at 3 p.m. in the 1300 block of San Pablo Avenue.
A robbery was reported at 3:30 p.m. in the 1900 block of San Pablo Avenue.
Six vehicles were reported stolen: at 4:30 p.m. in the 1900 block of University Avenue; at 5 p.m. at Ellsworth Street and Dwight Way; at 8 p.m. in the 1700 block of Berkeley Way; at 9 p.m. in the 2600 block of Stuart Street; at 10:30 p.m. in the 2700 block of Benvenue Avenue; and at 11 p.m. in the 2100 block of Parker Street.
A gun or weapon was reported at 7:30 p.m. in the 1000 block of 62nd Street.
Several recent arrest reports
In response to requests from Berkeleyside, the Berkeley Police Department released information about the following arrests.
On Tuesday, Aug. 13, at 7:36 p.m. Berkeley Police responded to the 2100 block of Shattuck Avenue for a report of an assault with a deadly weapon. The victim, a 28-year-old street vendor, called police after getting into an altercation with a man later identified as Siaosi Aleamotua, 20, in Constitution Square. Police said Aleamotua, of Berkeley, approached the victim and demanded a percentage of his earnings. The victim refused to give Aleamotua any of his earning, then Aleamotua picked up a wooden object and swung it at the victim, striking him. Police said the victim reported a complaint of pain as a result. Through a subsequent investigation, police identified Aleamotua, who was arrested Aug. 21. He remains in custody without bail at Santa Rita Jail in Dublin, and is scheduled for his next court date Sept. 16.
On Wednesday, Aug. 21, at 7:10 p.m., Berkeley Police responded to a domestic disturbance in the 1500 block of Campus Drive. It was reported that a man had physically assaulted a victim and threatened the victim with a knife. The man, later identified as 42-year-old Geoffrey Cronin, fled before police arrived. When conducting an area check for the suspect, an officer spotted Cronin’s vehicle, said police. The officer attempted to pull the vehicle over, but Cronin failed to yield, and fled “in a willful and wanton disregard for public safety,” said police spokeswoman Officer Jennifer Coats, via email. Due to the increased threat to public safety, the officer gave up the pursuit. Moments later, another officer located Cronin standing outside his vehicle. The officer attempted to detain him, but he refused to obey the officer’s commands and physically assaulted the officer. Additional officers responded to assist, and Cronin was detained. At the conclusion of the investigation, he was arrested on numerous charges and booked into the Berkeley City Jail. He no longer appears to be in custody.
On Thursday, Aug. 22, at 9:40 a.m. Berkeley Police officers served a search warrant at a residence in the 1400 block of Ninth Street. The search revealed “a quantity” of marijuana and cocaine packaged for sale. Officers found additional evidence used in the packaging and sales of illegal substances and a loaded firearm, said Coats. Shavora Ikner, 28, and Erik Lang, 42, were arrested and booked into the Berkeley City Jail. Ikner is no longer in custody, but Lang is being held without bail at Santa Rita Jail with a report-and-sentencing hearing set for Oct. 1.
On Sunday, Aug. 25, at 3:30 p.m. a Berkeley Police officer was on routine patrol in the area of San Pablo Avenue and Jones Street when an employee of a business in the area contacted the officer. The employee pointed out a man later identified as 25-year-old Christopher Seelig, advising that he had just stolen property from a business. Police detained Seelig and, during the investigation, found stolen property from another business in the Seelig’s possession. Underneath the stolen property, police found a cat, which had been inside Seelig’s zipped-up backpack. Police arrested Seelig on suspicion of theft, animal cruelty and possession of burglary tools. He no longer appears to be in custody.
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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