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 recent Berkeley crime coverage here.
The following items represent just a sampling of calls, and times may be approximate. From Jan. 30 to Feb. 5, there were five burglary reports, 14 auto break-in or theft from a vehicle reports, and 10 stolen vehicle reports to the Berkeley Police Department, according to CrimeMapping.com. Three robberies and five 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. 30
An auto burglary was reported at 7 p.m. at Euclid and Hearst avenues.
A theft from a vehicle was reported at 7:45 p.m. in the 2800 block of Fulton Street.
Friday, Jan. 31
A theft from a vehicle was reported at 2:12 a.m. in the 3000 block of Fulton, and an auto burglary was reported at 2 p.m. in the 100 block of Seawall Drive.
A felony sexual assault was reported at 1 p.m. in the 1700 block of Curtis Street.
A commercial burglary was reported at 5:40 p.m. in the 1800 block of Solano Avenue.
A robbery was reported at 5:50 p.m. at College and Woolsey avenues.
A home burglary was reported at 6 p.m. in the 1500 block of Buena Avenue.
A police chase from Oakland ended up in South Berkeley, and culminated in one arrest, and the recovery of a firearm and apparent drugs. California Highway Patrol officer Sean Wilkenfeld, the Oakland-area CHP spokesman, said the chase began on Golf Links Road when a vehicle failed to stop at a stop sign at roughly 7 p.m. The chase continued on westbound I-580 to Highway 24. Wilkenfeld said a CHP helicopter tracked the vehicle into South Berkeley, allowing officers on the ground to abandon their pursuit in the interest of public safety. Police responded to King and Prince streets, to the area where the car had been abandoned. Berkeley Police officers helped set up a perimeter, and authorities arrested one person associated with the vehicle in connection with a weapons violation.
The University of California Police Department responded to a reported sexual assault at 10:18 p.m. on University Drive. According to a statement released by authorities, a 19-year-old female student was “grabbed from behind, restrained and sexually fondled by the suspect. The victim struggled and managed to get away.” The woman ran from the scene and reported the incident to police. Officers are investigating the incident. The suspect was described as a Hispanic male, 5 feet 9 inches tall and 140 pounds, with a light build, brown eyes and short straight brown hair. He was wearing a black jacket, a white T-shirt and black jeans. Police ask anyone with information to call the University of California Police Department at 510-642-6760.
Saturday, Feb. 1
Three vehicles were reported stolen: at midnight in the 2300 block of Durant Avenue; at noon in the 2200 block of Virginia Street; and at 5 p.m. in the 3000 block of Ashby Avenue.
Two auto burglaries were reported, at 2 p.m. at Cedar and Grant streets, and at 9 p.m. in the 1700 block of Fourth Street.
Someone reportedly brandished a weapon at 5:19 p.m. in the 1800 block of San Pablo Avenue.
A commercial burglary was reported at 7 p.m. in the 1300 block of San Pablo Avenue.
Sunday, Feb. 2
Four thefts or burglaries from vehicles were reported: at midnight at 10th and Parker streets; at 7:55 a.m. in the 2800 block of Prince Street; at 1:34 p.m. in the 2400 block of Seventh Street; and at 7 p.m. in the 2100 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Way.
A gun or other weapon was reported at 4:25 p.m. at Telegraph Avenue and Channing Way.
A robbery was reported at 7:36 p.m. in the 1700 block of San Pablo Avenue.
A commercial burglary was reported at 8:30 p.m. in the 2100 block of McGee Avenue.
Monday, Feb. 3
Two auto burglaries were reported, at 12:01 a.m. at an unlisted location, and at 7 p.m. in the 3000 block of Dana Street.
A robbery was reported at noon at Telegraph and Ashby avenues.
Two vehicles were reported stolen, at 12:30 p.m. at Haste and Bowditch streets, and at 8 p.m. in the 100 block of Hill Road.
BART stopped trains briefly at the Downtown Berkeley BART station at about 3:15 p.m. after receiving a call to dispatch that a man was carrying a firearm aboard a Richmond-bound train. According to Lt. Michael Hayes, of the BART Police Department, “It was reported that the male was carrying a concealed firearm inside his waistband. BART and Berkeley Officers intercepted the train at the Berkeley Station and located the male aboard the lead car. He was accompanied by a female and both parties willingly off-boarded the train. Both parties were searched, however neither person was in possession of a firearm. The train car was also searched but no firearms were located. The male and female were identified and released on scene. No further action was taken.”
Tuesday, Feb. 4
A misdemeanor sexual assault was reported at 5:30 p.m. in the 1900 block of Ninth Street.
An auto burglary was reported at 8 p.m. in the 1300 block of 67th Street.
Wednesday, Feb. 5
A commercial burglary was reported at 2:16 a.m. in the 1600 block of Shattuck Avenue.
Five vehicles were reported stolen: at 5 a.m. in the 1200 block of Gilman Street; at 7 p.m. in the 1100 block of Cragmont Avenue; at 7 p.m. in the 1000 block of Grizzly Peak Boulevard; at 8:30 p.m. in the 800 block of Santa Barbara Road; and at 10:30 p.m. in the 800 block of Grizzly Peak.
An auto burglary was reported at 2:05 p.m. in the 1900 block of Vine Street.
Authorities shut down roads and evacuated some residents near the 100 block of Tunnel Road on Wednesday afternoon after a report of a suspicious package. The package had been rendered safe as of 4:15 p.m. Authorities declined to provide details about what had made the package suspicious, or what was done to render it safe.
A vehicle overturned during an accident at Sacramento Street and Alcatraz Avenue at roughly 6:20 p.m. Minor injuries were reported.
A man reportedly causing a disturbance on Fourth Street on Wednesday night, who was breaking out windows from a business in the main commercial block, was taken for medical evaluation. After the initial reports, police responded, set up a perimeter, and cleared the 1800 block of Fourth Street while they convinced the man the turn himself in for treatment.
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.]
Related:
Update: 1 sent to hospital after Fourth Street disturbance (01.05.14)
Berkeley Hills ‘suspicious package’ rendered safe (02.05.14)
Alleged Berkeley wedding ring robber arrested, charged (02.05.14)
Berkeley therapist convicted after nearly $377K tax fraud (02.05.14)
25th anniversary of bombing of Berkeley’s Cody’s Books (02.04.14)
Think you can hear Berkeley Police online? Think again (02.04.14)
Berkeleyside Police Blotter: Crime in Berkeley, Jan. 23-29 (02.03.14)
Breaking: CHP chase from Oakland ends in South Berkeley (01.31.14)
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