This is a partial list of recent crime in Berkeley, compiled by Berkeleyside, and based on reports to the Berkeley Police Department unless otherwise noted. See past crime blotters here.
The following items represent just a sampling of calls, and times may be approximate. From Jan. 2-8, there were 11 burglary reports, 21 auto break-in or theft from a vehicle reports, and 10 stolen vehicle reports to the Berkeley Police Department, according to CrimeMapping.com. Two robberies and nine assaults, domestic violence incidents or batteries were reported. These numbers are subject to change. Click the previous links for the most current information.
[Editor’s Note: We always appreciate photographs and tips, about breaking news or neighborhood safety issues, via email at tips@berkeleyside.com or via Facebook or Twitter; please let us know when you write if you prefer to be anonymous.]
Thursday, Jan. 2
A commercial burglary was reported at midnight in the 3000 block of Ashby Avenue.
Four burglaries or thefts from vehicles were reported: at 9 a.m. at an unlisted location; at 5 p.m. in the 1100 block of Oxford Street; at 7:30 p.m. in the 2200 block of Virginia Street; and at 10 p.m. in the 700 block of Cragmont Avenue.
Someone reportedly brandished a weapon at 11:46 p.m. in the 2300 block of Telegraph Avenue.
Friday, Jan. 3
Two home burglaries were reported, at midnight in the 1200 block of Delaware Street, and at 4 p.m. in the 2500 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Way.
Four thefts or burglaries from vehicles were reported: at 8 a.m. in the 1500 block of Summit Road; at 9:50 p.m. at Napa Avenue and The Alameda; at 11 p.m. in the 700 block of Channing Way; and at 11:20 p.m. in the 1200 block of Monterey Avenue.
Police arrested a former Berkeley High football player on an Oakland warrant tied to a homicide in that city, authorities said, in response to a request from Berkeleyside. At approximately 8 p.m., a Berkeley Police officer spotted Berkeley resident Dessalines Gant in the area of Ashby and Sacramento. The officer was aware that Gant had a warrant out of Oakland, according to police spokeswoman Officer Jennifer Coats. Believing Gant was likely to flee, authorities organized “a coordinated police response involving numerous officers occurred, which led to the safe apprehension of the suspect.” Gant, 28, is no longer in custody. He had been scheduled for arraignment Jan. 7. The Oakland Police Department has not responded to multiple requests for information, and court records related to this case have been unavailable over the past week.
Saturday, Jan. 4
A robbery was reported at midnight at Shattuck Avenue and Walnut Street.
Three reports of a gun or other weapon came in: at 1:30 a.m. at Bancroft Way and College Avenue; at 3:30 a.m. in the 2900 block of Ninth Street; and at 8:22 p.m. at University Avenue and Sixth Street.
A vehicle was reported stolen at 4:30 a.m. at Second and Page streets.
An arson report was made at 10:55 a.m. in the 400 block of Gilman Street.
Three burglaries or thefts from vehicles were reported: at 12:30 p.m. in the 300 block of Oak Ridge Road; at 6 p.m. in the 2300 block of Seventh Street; and at 6 p.m. in the 1300 block of Harmon Street.
A felony assault or battery was reported at 9 p.m. in the 1600 block of Ashby Avenue.
Sunday, Jan. 5
Three vehicles were reported stolen: at midnight in the 1400 block of Dwight Way; at 6 a.m. in the 1100 block of Miller Avenue; and at 9 p.m. in the 1000 block of Cragmont Avenue.
A home burglary was reported at 9:21 a.m. in the 2700 block of Channing Way.
Five auto burglaries were reported: at 11 a.m. in the 2600 block of Regent Street; at 4:45 p.m. in the 2400 block of Warring Street; at 5 p.m. in the 600 block of San Miguel avenue; at 8:45 p.m. in the 700 block of Hilldale Avenue; and at 10 p.m. in the 2500 block of Marin Avenue.
Monday, Jan. 6
A felony assault or battery was reported at 10:11 a.m. in the 1000 block of Harrison Street.
An auto burglary was reported at 1 p.m. at Fifth and Harrison streets.
A vehicle was reported stolen at 8 p.m. from an unlisted location.
Two males reportedly robbed another man on Telegraph Avenue shortly before 9:30 p.m., according to a statement released by the University of California Police Department. The 23-year-old victim had been walking in the south campus area when he came across two males outside a restaurant on Telegraph. They began talking, and the two males walked with the victim onto Upper Sproul Plaza. When he took out his phone, one of the suspects tried to grab it. Both males started beating the victim with their fists, and the man fell to the ground. One suspect took the phone and fled north toward Strawberry Creek. The victim tried to follow, and the other robber pulled out a knife, then fled. The victim suffered minor injuries during the incident. Police searched but could not find the robbers. They were described as two black males with light builds. One was about 5 feet 8 inches tall and wearing black shoes, beige pants and a black sweatshirt. The other was about 5 feet 9 inches tall with black pants and a gray sweatshirt.
A commercial burglary was reported at 10:30 p.m. in the 1900 block of University Avenue.
Tuesday, Jan. 7
A commercial burglary was reported at 3:47 a.m. in the 2200 block of Shattuck Avenue.
Two home burglaries were reported, at 9 a.m. in the 1800 block of 63rd Street, and at 10:50 a.m. in the 500 block of Santa Clara Avenue.
Wednesday, Jan. 8
Four thefts or burglaries from vehicles were reported: at midnight in the 2200 block of Haste Street; at 5 p.m. in the 1100 block of Shattuck; at 10 p.m. in the 1400 block of Ashby; and at 10 p.m. in the 1100 block of High Court.
A commercial burglary was reported at 2 a.m. in the 3000 block of Telegraph Avenue.
A robbery was reported at 9:10 a.m. in the 2400 block of Bancroft Way. According to a statement released by the University of California Police Department, the victim was walking on Bancroft at Telegraph and using his cellphone. The robber passed him and “attacked” him, trying to take the phone. Authorities said the robber also tried to grab items from the victim’s pockets. The victim was able to fight off the robber and flee. A UCPD officer detained a man matching the robber’s description several blocks away. Police arrested Lavar Denmark Brown, 36. He remains in custody at Santa Rita Jail with a bail of $55,000. He’s scheduled for an attorney and plea hearing Jan. 13.
Five vehicles were reported stolen: at 11 a.m. in the 1300 block of Allston Way; at 5 p.m. in the 2800 block of Eighth Street; at 7 p.m. in the 1500 block of Julia Street; at 9 p.m. in the 1100 block of Spruce Street; and at 9:30 p.m. in the 1100 block of Walnut Street.
Two home burglaries were reported, at 12:30 p.m. in the 2300 block of Prince Street, and at 5 p.m. in the 1300 block of Berkeley Way.
Related:
‘Snitch’ rumor leads to Berkeley dad’s murder (01.09.14)
2 testify in Berkeley murder hearing against Oakland man (01.08.14)
Breaking: Police announce arrest in Berkeley homicide (01.07.14)
Alleged yoga class burglar arrested in Berkeley (01.07.14)
Berkeleyside Police Blotter: Crime in Berkeley, 12/26-1/1 (.01.06.14)
Residents fight off burglar during home invasion attempt (01.02.14)
See the full list of Berkeley Police Department calls for service on CrimeMapping.com. See the list of calls to UC Police at Berkeley. 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 post does not reflect every call.]
Follow Berkeleyside on Twitter and Facebook. Email us at tips@berkeleyside.com. Get the latest Berkeley news in your inbox with Berkeleyside’s free Daily Briefing.
