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 March 13-19, there were 20 burglary reports, 17 auto break-in or theft from a vehicle reports, and eight stolen vehicle reports to the Berkeley Police Department, according to CrimeMapping.com. Six robberies and seven 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, March 13
Three auto burglaries were reported: at 3:58 a.m. at Piedmont Avenue and Forest Lane; at 11 a.m. at Fourth and Delaware streets; and at 3 p.m. in the 100 block of Spinnaker Way.
Two home burglaries were reported, at 8 a.m. in the 1300 block of Gilman Street, and at 11 a.m. in the 1900 block of Bonita Avenue.
A felony assault or battery was reported at 4:54 p.m. in the 2000 block of Kittredge Street.
Two vehicles were reported stolen, at 5 p.m. in the 1500 block of Hearst Avenue, and at 9 p.m. in the 800 block of Channing Way.
Two robberies were reported, at 5:04 p.m. at Haste and Ellsworth streets, and at 5:30 p.m. at King and Harmon streets.
Friday, March 14
A commercial burglary was reported at 12:01 a.m. in the 1800 block of Shattuck Avenue.
Three home burglaries were reported: at 7:30 a.m. in the 1600 block of Buena Avenue; at 9 a.m. in the 1200 block of Albina Avenue; and at noon in the 2100 block of Roosevelt Avenue.
Two auto burglaries were reported, at 10 a.m. in the 3000 block of Dwight Way, and at 9 p.m. in the 200 block of University Avenue.
Two vehicles were reported stolen, at noon in the 2400 block of Virginia Street, and at 1 p.m. in the 200 block of University.
A robbery was reported at 8:15 p.m. in the 2400 block of San Pablo Avenue. An employee from a business in the 2400 block of San Pablo Avenue, near Channing, said he was robbed by two men with a gun.
A gun or other weapon was reported at 10:40 p.m. at University and West Frontage Road.
Saturday, March 15
Three thefts or burglaries from vehicles were reported: at 7 a.m. in the 1500 block of Milvia Street; at 11 a.m. in the 1500 block of Dwight Way; and at 7 p.m. in the 2600 block of Channing Way.
Police and firefighters responded to a report of a vehicle into a tree on Colusa near Marin. Two people reported “complaints of pain” and were taken by ambulance to hospitals for treatment.
A “small stubborn fire” kept firefighters busy for hours Saturday, authorities said. The Berkeley Fire Department responded to a report of “dark smoke” in the 2400 block of Bancroft Way on Saturday at 10:32 a.m. Deputy Fire Chief Avery Webb said arriving firefighters found that the smoke was coming from a 4-inch gap between two commercial buildings on the south side of the street near Telegraph Avenue. Firefighters determined that burning debris, which had accumulated 15 feet below the roofline parapet of one of the buildings, was the source of the smoke. Fire companies stayed on scene for an “extended period” trying to extinguish the “small stubborn fire” due to the tiny 4-inch access space, Webb said. Firefighters used foam and water “to maximize penetration and saturation of the combustibles.” Eventually, one engine had to be assigned to return every 1-2 hours to insure complete extinguishment, he said.
An injury accident at Ashby and Hillegass avenues in Berkeley was reported at 3:14 p.m., with four vehicles involved. The Berkeley Fire Department requested two ambulances to transport people with injuries.
Sunday, March 16
Two auto burglaries were reported, at midnight in the 1900 block of Oxford Street, and at 8:45 p.m. at Bancroft Way and Fulton Street.
A robbery was reported at 1:38 a.m. in the 2300 block of Telegraph Avenue.
A commercial burglary was reported at 2:30 a.m. in the 2900 block of College Avenue.
Three home burglaries were reported: at 7 a.m. in the 2400 block of Prospect Street; at 2 p.m. in the 2000 block of Ward Street; and at 5 p.m. in the 1900 block of Grant Street.
A felony sexual assault was reported at 11:26 a.m. at Woolsey and Adeline streets. Police arrested Brett Walker on suspicion of sexual battery. He remains in custody at Santa Rita Jail and is scheduled for a hearing after review April 2.
A gun or other weapon was reported at 1:45 p.m. in the 3200 block of Adeline. Police arrested two people after responding to a report of a man with a gun at the Washingtown Coin Wash laundromat at 3215 Adeline St. in South Berkeley: Jamaiya Johnson and Justin Perkins. Both have since been released.
Monday, March 17
Four commercial burglaries were reported: at 12:56 a.m. at an unlisted location; at 1:01 a.m. in the 1800 block of Solano Avenue; at 2:10 p.m. in the 2000 block of Kittredge Street; and at 6 p.m. in the 2800 block of Telegraph Avenue.
Four residential burglaries were reported: at 9:20 a.m. in the 2100 block of Prince Street; at 9:45 a.m. in the 2900 block of Hillegass Avenue; at 11 a.m. in the 1400 block of San Pablo Avenue; and at 6:30 p.m. in the 2700 block of College Avenue.
A robbery was reported at 9:35 a.m. in the 3300 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Way.
Three thefts or burglaries from vehicles were reported: at noon in the 1200 block of Fifth Street; at 3 p.m. in the 1800 block of 62nd Street; and at 5:55 p.m. in the 1700 block of Fourth Street.
Police arrested Henry Whitmore on suspicion of second-degree robbery and making threats in connection with a 2013 case. He remains in custody at Santa Rita Jail with a bail of $110,000. He is scheduled for a pre-trial hearing April 1.
A vehicle was reported stolen at 6 p.m. in the 2300 block of Blake Street.
Tuesday, March 18
Three auto burglaries were reported: at 7:05 a.m. in the 1700 block of Fourth Street; at 8:35 a.m. at an unlisted location; and at 9:30 p.m. in the 1600 block of Shattuck Avenue.
A commercial burglary was reported at 1:20 p.m. in the 1300 block of San Pablo Avenue.
A home burglary was reported at 1:40 p.m. in the 1100 block of Hillview Road.
A robbery was reported at 3 p.m. in the 1500 block of Derby Street.
Three vehicles were reported stolen: at 3 p.m. in the 2700 block of Webster Street; at 7 p.m. at Allston Way and Harold Way; and at 7:30 p.m. at Addison and Milvia streets.
Wednesday, March 19
An auto burglary was reported at 6:15 p.m. in the 1700 block of Alcatraz. (No additional incidents were listed at the time of this report. Updated information may be available here.)
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:
Man drives van into bay near Berkeley, crawls to safety (03.21.14)
Potentially hazardous chemical suicide in Berkeley called for cautious approach (03.20.14)
Chemical suicide victim was UC Berkeley professor (03.19.14)
Woman commits suicide with toxic chemical at Berkeley City Club (03.18.14)
Teen tries to buy 14 iPhones, 2 laptops with fake credit card at Apple store (03.18.14)
Berkeleyside Police Blotter: Crime in Berkeley, March 6-12 (03.17.14)
Person hit, killed by freight train on tracks in Berkeley (03.17.14)
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