Police are asking for the community’s help after a startled burglar grabbed a North Berkeley resident who found him inside her home.
The Live Oak/Codornices Creek Neighborhood Association email list was abuzz Thursday about the incident, in the 2300 block of Eunice Street (between Spruce Street and Glen Avenue) shortly before 10 a.m. (Berkeleyside first reported the incident on Facebook.)
According to one local resident, who shared the news with her neighborhood over email, the woman “heard a noise around 10am and went to investigate and turned around and was assaulted by a tall man dressed in all black who attacked her.”
The resident provided more detail over email Friday: “They struggled, she screamed, and apparently lots of people heard it. He ran away. She’s rattled but OK. Many police cars arrived rapidly.”
In a “community crime alert” early Friday evening, police said the woman had been grabbed Thursday when she found the man — an “apparent burglar” — inside her home.
“The resident had arrived home and was unpacking her groceries when she heard noise in the front part of her house. As she approached the front door, she was confronted by the suspect, who immediately grabbed the victim,” police wrote. “The resident instantly fought back, screaming and struggling with the suspect, who released the victim and fled from the house.”
Officers responded within three minutes, and conducted “an extensive area check.”
Police detained two people, but neither were determined to have been responsible for the Eunice Street incident.
Police described the man as black with a medium complexion, 20-40 years old, over 6 feet tall with a slim-medium build. He was wearing black nylon clothing, possibly a track suit.
Police ask anyone with information about this incident to call the Property Crimes detail at 510-981-5737.
Police said, too, that “Vigilant and observant neighbors are often the key to stopping a burglary in progress. For an in-progress crime, such as a residential burglary, call 9-1-1. If you see someone behaving suspiciously, such as an unknown person apparently casing, prowling, or trespassing, call BPD at 981-5900. Additional Crime Prevention information is available on the BPD website” and in this PDF overview.
Burglary reports in Berkeley remained, for the most part, flat from 2011 to 2013. The 2014 crime report is coming up soon before the Berkeley City Council.
Read more about burglaries in past Berkeleyside coverage. Sign up on Nixle to receive alerts from the Berkeley Police Department.
Related:
Violent crime reports down 44% in Berkeley (09.08.14)
Berkeley police chase leads to stolen car, burglary tools (06.16.14)
Robberies rise, but serious crime down overall in 2013 (03.14.14)
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