This is an overview of recent crime in Berkeley, exclusively 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 Nov. 13-19, there were reports of 14 burglaries, 31 auto break-ins or thefts from vehicles, five stolen vehicles and 18 disturbances, according to CrimeMapping.com. Six robberies, 11 assaults or batteries, no weapon-related calls and no sexual assaults were reported. Significant incidents from the University of California Police Department included a robbery, two stolen vehicles and a weapon-related call. These numbers are subject to change. Click the links above for the latest numbers.
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Thursday, Nov. 13
Police responded to four disturbances: at 5:20 a.m. in the 2700 block of Seventh Street; at 6:38 a.m. in the 2500 block of Regent Street; at 11:23 a.m. at University Avenue and Fifth Street; and at 3:35 p.m. in the 2600 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Way.
There were five home burglaries: at 7:50 a.m. in the 1700 block of Blake Street; at 8 a.m. in the 2100 block of Sacramento Street; at 8 a.m. in the 1400 block of Hopkins Street; at 10:40 a.m. in the 700 block of San Luis Road; and at 2 p.m. in the 1500 block of Hearst Avenue.
There was a robbery at 1:45 p.m. in the 2100 block of Shattuck Avenue.
A thief stole the in-dash stereo from a Honda Accord parked at the North Berkeley BART station between 4 p.m. and 11:15 p.m., according to the BART Police. There was no forced entry.
A campus security authority reported to UCPD an alleged sexual assault that in a campus dormitory. According to the report, a female student had attended a fraternity party, and was later escorted by a male student to her dorm, where the alleged assault took place. No additional details were released, and neither the victim or witnesses contacted UCPD directly. (This item first appear in last week’s blotter for timeliness.)
Friday, Nov. 14
Three homes were burglarized: at 7 a.m. in the 1500 block of Sacramento; at 3 p.m. in the 1600 block of Posen Avenue; and at 5 p.m. in the 2500 block of Grant Street.
The Alameda County district attorney’s office charged 18-year-old Kamau Berlin with murder in the stabbing death of 72-year-old Nancy McClellan in South Berkeley in September. Berlin — a B-Tech student — also has been charged with attempted rape, attempted robbery and attempted carjacking, as well as elder abuse resulting in death. See Berkeleyside’s full coverage of the case.
A thief stole a $300 gold-and-blue-colored Elite men’s road bicycle from the Ashby BART station while it was cable locked to the bike racks between 8 a.m. and 5:40 p.m., according to the BART Police.
A vehicle was stolen at 8 p.m. in the 1200 block of Allston Way.
Police handled a “second response” call just before 11 p.m. in the 2600 block of Regent.
Saturday, Nov. 15
There was a robbery at 12:11 p.m. in the 2000 block of Shattuck. Police arrested 48-year-old Marvin Agnew at 12:52 p.m. on suspicion of attempted robbery, possession of burglary tools and other violations.
A vehicle was stolen at 1:30 p.m. in the 100 block of Canyon Road.
UCPD arrested a suspected bike thief after a witness told police he’d been spotted with bolt cutters trying to cut the lock securing a bicycle parked near Minor Hall on the UC Berkeley campus. The witness confronted the man shortly before 4 p.m., and the man walked off through campus. Later, inside the Bancroft parking structure, police detained a man who matched the description provided by the witness and identified him as 46-year-old John Janosko. According to authorities, Janosko confessed to coming onto campus to try to steal bikes, and had bolt cutters with him when he was arrested.
Police responded to two disturbance calls, at 7 p.m. in the 1400 block of Alcatraz Avenue, and at 10 p.m. in the 2900 block of Sacramento.
A home was burglarized at 7:30 p.m. in the 2300 block of Fulton Street.
Police handled a “second response” call at 9 p.m. in the 800 block of The Plaza Drive.
Sunday, Nov. 16
Police handled three disturbance calls: at 2:45 a.m. in the 2300 block of Grant; at 1:24 p.m. in the 1400 block of Ninth Street; and at 6:06 p.m. at Bancroft Way and San Pablo Avenue.
Shortly before 10 a.m., Berkeley Police officers responded to a report of a robbery at a business in the 3100 block of Sacramento Street, said Coats. Two suspects entered the business and ordered food to go. When the food was ready, one suspect pretended to pay for the item, but instead grabbed cash from the drawer when a business owner opened the register to accept payment. The other suspect was seen armed with a gun. The robbers fled the business, and police were unable to find them. (This item first appear in last week’s blotter for timeliness.)
Two vehicles were stolen, at 4 p.m. in the 500 block of Domingo Avenue, and at 4 p.m. in the 100 block of Seawall Drive.
According to the BART Police, a robber snatched an iPhone from a woman on a BART train at Ashby station just after 6 p.m. The passenger told police a man with a disheveled appearance grabbed her $125 iPhone 5 from her hands, and ran off as the train doors closed. The woman, who was not injured at the time of the theft, continued on the train and reported the theft to police at the downtown Berkeley station. Investigating officers met the victim there, while assisting officers unsuccessfully searched for the subject near Ashby station. The robber was described as a white man about 20 years old, 5 feet 8 inches tall with a medium build, who was wearing a tan jacket and blue jeans, and carrying a black backpack. (This item first appear in last week’s blotter for timeliness.)
Monday, Nov. 17
A business was burglarized at 4:27 a.m. in the 1500 block of University Avenue.
A home was burglarized at 6 a.m. in the 1800 block of Curtis Street.
There were two robberies, at 9 a.m. in the 1900 block of Shattuck, and at 7:30 p.m. at Milvia Street and University.
There were two disturbance calls, at 9:25 a.m. in the 2100 block of Stuart Street, and at 1 p.m. in the 3100 block of Telegraph Avenue.
A thief stole a blue Trek 4500 mountain bike while it was cable locked at the North Berkeley BART station between 10 a.m. and 3:45 p.m.
UCPD responded at 11:33 p.m. to building 17 of the Clark Kerr Campus for an attempted robbery that occurred about three minutes prior. According to police, an 18-year-old female student was standing outside the building talking on her cellphone. A man approached her, grabbed her arm and demanded her phone. He fled on foot without the phone, eastbound toward Derby Street. Officers searched the area but could not find the man, who was described as white, 30 to 40 years old and approximately 5 feet 7 inches tall. He had some facial hair and was wearing a gray beanie cap, a blue zip-up hooded sweatshirt and jeans. (This item first appear in last week’s blotter for timeliness.)
Tuesday, Nov. 18
Two businesses were burgled, at 3 a.m. in the 1800 block of Solano Avenue, and at 12:30 p.m. in the 3000 block of Colby Court.
There was a robbery at 12:10 p.m. at California and Fairview streets.
There were two disturbance calls, at 2 p.m. in the 2100 block of Curtis Street, and at 4:59 p.m. in the 2300 block of Shattuck.
There was a home burglary at 2:50 p.m. in the 2300 block of California Street.
Via BART Police: One male reported that another male — with whom he had agreed on Facebook to make an unspecified exchange at 6:40 p.m. — “tried to forcefully take a belt and shoes from him,” then fled the North Berkeley BART station in an unknown direction. The victim boarded a train.
CHP officers arrested an Oakland man after a 53-mile pursuit that began in Berkeley. At about 9 p.m., an Oakland CHP officer spotted a red Dodge speeding on westbound Interstate 80 near Gilman Street, according to the CHP. The officer tried to stop the Dodge, but the driver instead exited at Gilman and got back onto the highway eastbound on I-80. The pursuit continued up to Cummings Skyway, between Rodeo and Crockett, on I-80, reaching speeds in excess of 100 mph. A CHP helicopter helped track the Dodge as it exited and re-entered the freeway multiple times. Eventually, the driver exited the freeway and changed directions, heading westbound on I-80 onto I-580 in Oakland. The driver exited I-580 at Seminary Avenue, and a short pursuit occurred on city streets. The driver ultimately tried to flee on foot at 73rd and Arthur Street. Officers captured the driver, identified as 23-year-old Lateef Omari of Oakland, with the use of a Taser. After his arrest, officers discovered that the car Omari had been driving had just been stolen out of Hercules, and had not yet been reported. Officers also learned that Omari had three warrants out for his arrest related to providing false identification, hit and run, resisting arrest and other violations. He was booked into North County Jail on his three warrants, as well as new charges that include vehicle theft and recklessly evading police. (This item first appear in last week’s blotter for timeliness.)
Wednesday, Nov. 19
A vehicle was stolen at 3 p.m. in the 100 block of Berkeley Square.
There were three disturbance calls: at 4:47 p.m. in the 1500 block of Alcatraz; at 8:15 p.m. in the 1300 block of University; and at 10:25 p.m. in the 2500 block of Russell Street.
BART Police said a thief stole a 1991 gray Honda Accord from the North Berkeley BART station between 8:25 a.m. and 7:10 p.m.
Other recent incidents
On Sunday, Nov. 23, at the Ashby BART station, police arrested a man who resisted police during a detention related to his failure to register as a sex offender, according to BART Police. At 5 p.m., officers were performing a welfare check on the man when they learned he was out of compliance with his required registration. They tried to arrest him and he physically resisted, leading to a struggle in which officers and the man received minor abrasions. Using physical force, officers were able to detain him. He was booked into the county jail on suspicion of the above offenses.
See the Berkeley Police Department’s 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. The Berkeley Police Department also posts “calls for service” spreadsheets — containing more data — online for those who would like to see more. 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:
‘Pizza delivery’ police nab armed robbers in Berkeley (11.24.14)
San Leandro man to face murder, gang charges after 2013 killing (11.20.14)
Berkeleyside blotter: Crime in Berkeley, Nov. 6-12 (11.19.14)
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