Selected calls for service to the Berkeley Police, via CrimeMapping.com. (Scroll down for maps of burglaries, auto burglaries and auto thefts.) Click the map for the full list. See the map key here.
Selected calls for service to the Berkeley Police, via CrimeMapping.com. (Scroll down for maps of burglaries, auto burglaries and auto thefts.) Click the map for the full list. See the map key here.

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.

The following items represent a sampling of calls, and times may be approximate. From Aug. 14-20, there were reports of 11 burglaries29 auto break-ins or thefts from vehicles and 11 stolen vehicles, according to CrimeMapping.comThree robberies12 assaults, domestic violence incidents or batteries and one sexual assault were reported. Significant incidents from the University of California Police Department included one burglary and one sexual assault. These numbers are subject to change. Click the previous links for the most current information.

We always appreciate photographs and tips, about breaking news or neighborhood safety issues, via email at tips@berkeleyside.com or on Facebook or Twitter; please let us know up front if you prefer to be anonymous.

Thursday, Aug. 14

A business was burglarized at 1:54 a.m. in the 2600 block of San Pablo Avenue.

A vehicle was reported stolen at 5 p.m. in the 700 block of Hilldale Avenue.

Police responded to a felony assault or battery at 5:51 p.m. in the 1500 block of Alcatraz Avenue.

Police arrested 27-year-old Edward Elsea in the 2400 block of Telegraph Avenue just after 7 p.m. on suspicion of possession of marijuana for sale, selling marijuana and furnishing marijuana to a minor. He remains in custody and is scheduled for a preliminary examination Aug. 29.

Berkeley Police responded to the 1500 blocks of Alcatraz Avenue and Harmon Street, near Sacramento Street, at 8:12 p.m. after a report of a man with a gun. Read more on Berkeleyside.

A thief stole a locked 1-speed mountain bike valued at $330 from the Ashby BART station between 11 a.m. at 9:45 p.m., according to the BART police.

There were 11 burglaries reported over this period, via CrimeMapping.com. The prior week there were 19. Click the map for a list of calls.
There were 11 burglaries reported over this period, via CrimeMapping.com. The prior week there were 19. Click the map for a list of calls.

Friday, Aug. 15

Police arrested Berkeley residents Chanay Jackson, 25, and Renee Jackson, 54, on suspicion of embezzlement. They remain in custody at Santa Rita Jail and are scheduled for further pre-trial Aug. 27. Berkeleyside has requested additional information from the Alameda County district attorney’s office.

Someone reportedly brandished a weapon at 7:10 p.m. in the 1800 block of Sonoma Avenue.

A thief burglarized a home at 11:30 p.m. in the 2300 block of Piedmont Avenue.

Saturday, Aug. 16

A home was burglarized at 2:53 p.m. at San Pablo Avenue and Delaware Street.

A cyclist told the BART Police his or her 21-speed Trek hybrid bike, valued at $600, was stolen from the North Berkeley BART station between Aug. 14 at noon and Aug. 16 at about 10 a.m. It had been secured with a U-lock.

A driver said his or her gray 1986 Toyota truck was stolen from the North Berkeley BART station between 11:50 a.m. and 6:50 p.m., according to BART Police.

A BART patron said his or her red and black Schwinn Paramount bike was stolen from the north racks at the North Berkeley BART station between 12:40 p.m. and 8 p.m., according to BART police. The bike had been secured with two U-locks, which also were taken.

There were 29 thefts or burglaries from vehicles reported in Berkeley over this period, via CrimeMapping.com. There were 36 reported the prior week. There were also 11 vehicles stolen (shown in purple). Click the map for a list of incidents.
There were 29 thefts or burglaries from vehicles reported in Berkeley over this period, via CrimeMapping.com. There were 36 reported the prior week. There were also 11 vehicles stolen (shown in purple). Click the map for a list of incidents.

Sunday, Aug. 17

Four vehicles were reported stolen: at 4:47 a.m. in the 2900 block of Avalon Avenue; at 10:20 a.m. in the 100 block of University Avenue; at 7:30 p.m. in the 2200 block of Fourth Street; and at 9 p.m. in the 1000 block of Creston Road. Police arrested 41-year-old Jason Allen Waller on suspicion of vehicle theft, possession of a narcotic controlled substance and paraphernalia, and petty theft with a prior in connection with the Avalon Avenue incident. He remains in custody at Santa Rita Jail, with a bail of $175,000, and is scheduled for a pre-trial hearing Aug. 28 at the Wiley W. Manuel Courthouse in downtown Oakland.

Officers responded after a man reportedly brandished a weapon at 6:55 p.m. in the 2000 block of San Pablo Avenue. Police arrested 49-year-old Timothy Adams on suspicion of exhibiting a deadly weapon other than a firearm, making criminal threats, and disorderly conduct. He remains in custody at Santa Rita Jail in Dublin.

Monday, Aug. 18

Incidents involving a gun or other weapon were reported at 12:11 a.m. at Prince and Ellis streets, and at 3:39 a.m. in the 1900 block of Delaware Street. Someone also reportedly brandished a weapon at 6:13 p.m. in the 2900 block of San Pablo Avenue. Police arrested Berkeley resident 28-year-old Maxwell Littleton, after the Prince and Ellis incident, on suspicion of altering an imitation firearm. Littleton’s occupation is listed as a rap artist, according to the Alameda County sheriff’s department. He remains in custody at Santa Rita Jail.

Someone set a suspicious fire at 1:25 a.m. in the 1400 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Way.

A business was burglarized at 1:30 a.m. in the 2200 block of Shattuck Avenue.

Two homes were broken into, at 2 a.m. in the 2600 block of Dwight Way, and at 10 p.m. in the 1900 block of Oxford Street.

A thief stole a vehicle at 2 a.m. in the 2600 block of Dwight.

The University of California Police Department said a sexual assault took place in People’s Park sometime in the morning hours. A female was asleep in the park “when she was awoken by the male suspect who was sexually assaulting her. The victim began screaming at the suspect who then left the area. The suspect is known to the victim as a person who frequents the park,” police said in a prepared statement. The case is under investigation by UCPD. The suspect is described as a black man in his 50s, 5 feet 7 inches tall and 160 pounds, with a slender build. He was wearing a gray sweatshirt with a red devil on it.

The University of California Police Department said there was a burglary in Wheeler Hall at 9:14 a.m.

BART Police officers responded to the downtown Berkeley BART station platform at 7:23 p.m. on a report of a partially naked woman on a Richmond-bound train, they said in a prepared statement. Upon contact, the woman “was uncooperative and resisted the officers by hiding under the train seats.” A records check revealed she had an outstanding $20,000 arrest warrant out of Berkeley for probation violation, police said. Medical personnel took the woman to Alta Bates Hospital for treatment. A sergeant responded to the scene to approve the arrest and conduct a use of force investigation. The woman was later booked on the warrant and on suspicion of resisting officers. Trains were delayed for 30 minutes during the incident.

A breakdown of the most serious crimes reported by day of the week from Aug. 14-20. (Please note: The days of the week are not shown chronologically.) Image: CrimeMapping.com
A breakdown of the most serious crimes reported by day of the week from Aug. 14-20. (Please note: The days of the week are not shown chronologically.) Image: CrimeMapping.com

Tuesday, Aug. 19

Two vehicles were stolen, at 12:01 a.m. in the 1800 block of Highland Place, and at 8 p.m. in the 300 block of Halcyon Court.

A robbery took place at 7:10 a.m. at Acton and Virginia streets.

A thief broke into a home at noon in the 1600 block of Addison Street.

Someone reportedly brandished a weapon at 4:29 p.m. at Milvia and Parker streets.

The Sal's Pharmacy break-in. Photo: Neil Mishalov
The Sal’s Pharmacy break-in. Photo: Neil Mishalov
The Sal’s Pharmacy break-in. Photo: Neil Mishalov

There were three commercial burglaries: at 5:30 p.m. in the 2000 block of Addison; at 7:30 p.m. at an unlisted location; and at 11:46 p.m. in the 1800 block of Solano Avenue. A reader asked Berkeleyside about the Solano Avenue incident, which took place at Sal’s Pharmacy. Berkeley Police spokeswoman Officer Jennifer Coats said police responded to 1831 Solano after an alarm sounded. Officers discovered the front glass door smashed when they arrived, but no one was there. Coats said it appeared someone used a piece of concrete to smash the door and get inside. The thief prowled through the business and stole prescription medications, then fled through the same smashed window. No one is in custody, said Coats, but the case has been sent to the Property Crimes Detail for review and follow up.

A thief stole a Trek 10-speed bicycle valued at $400 from the North Berkeley BART station, according to BART Police. The victim told police the bike had been locked to the bike racks, with a U-lock and cable lock, at 10 a.m. The victim returned at 7 p.m. to find the bicycle gone.

A felony sexual assault was reported at 11 p.m. in the 2300 block of Shattuck Avenue.

Wednesday, Aug. 20

Three vehicles were stolen: at 10:30 a.m. at an unlisted location; at 4 p.m. in the 200 block of Tunnel Road; and at 9:30 p.m. in the 2300 block of Derby Street.

A business was burglarized at 5 p.m. in the 1900 block of Addison.

Police arrested Berkeley resident 26-year-old Mark Hevener at 5:10 p.m. at Telegraph Avenue and Haste Street on suspicion of marijuana sales, possession of marijuana for sale and disobeying a court order. He remains in custody at Santa Rita Jail with a $30,000 bail and is scheduled for a pre-trial hearing Aug. 27 at the Wiley W. Manuel Courthouse in downtown Oakland.

There were two robberies, at 5:45 p.m. in the 1100 block of Carrison Street, and at 10:45 p.m. in the 1500 block of Harmon Street.

Other recent incidents

Police responded to 2310 Piedmont Ave. at 11:20 p.m. Aug. 22 after three people brandished a gun at an apartment manager who had confronted them about an illegally parked black two-door Mercedes C-Class. The incident took place inside the garage of an apartment complex, UCPD reported in a prepared statement. When the manager confronted the group, “a parking dispute ensued and one of the individuals brandished a revolver.” The three got into the vehicle and left, driving south on Piedmont. Police searched the area but could not find them. The man with the gun was Asian, appeared about 26, and looked about 5 feet 5 inches tall with a muscular build. He had short black hair and a mustache, and was wearing a red short-sleeved shirt and blue jeans. The other male appeared white or Hispanic, and no description was available about the third person except that it was a female.

See the full list of Berkeley Police Department crime reports on CrimeMapping.com. See the list of calls to UC Police at Berkeley, which are also posted on CrimeMapping. 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. New reports may be added to CrimeMapping in an unpredictable manner, so numbers may increase slightly in the days after this report. This post does not reflect every call. See recent Berkeley crime blotters here.

Related:
Berkeleyside Blotter: Crime in Berkeley, Aug. 7-13 (08.19.14)

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Emilie Raguso (former senior editor, news) joined Berkeleyside in 2012 and covered politics, public safety and development until her departure in 2022. In 2017, Emilie was named Journalist...