Selected calls to the Berkeley Police, via CrimeMapping.com. Scroll down for detailed maps. Click the map above for the list. See the map key here.
Selected calls to the Berkeley Police, via CrimeMapping.com. Scroll down for detailed maps. Click the map above for the list. See the map key here.

This overview of recent crime in Berkeley is based on reports to the Berkeley Police unless otherwise noted. Please share photos, videos and tips, about breaking news or neighborhood safety issues, via email at crime@berkeleyside.com or on Facebook or Twitter; let us know if you prefer to be anonymous. Don’t assume someone else will alert us — you may be the only one to get in touch. We very much want to know about issues of neighborhood concern and rely on our readers to help us stay informed.

From Sept. 10-16, there were reports of five robberies20 burglariesseven assaults or batteries, two weapon-involved calls and no sexual assaults, according to CrimeMapping.com. There were also 17 stolen vehicles22 disturbances and 43 auto break-ins or thefts from vehicles reported. An assault, a burglary and a stolen vehicle were reported by the University of California Police Department (UCPD). Click the links for the latest numbers. The following items represent a sampling of calls, and times may be approximate; incidents that took place during a range of time are listed unless otherwise noted by the beginning of that time period.

Thursday, Sept. 10

According to the BART Police, a female passenger on a train at the North Berkeley BART station reported that a man slapped her phone out of her hand, then stepped on the phone while it was on the floor, at about 9:20 a.m. He then slapped the victim in the face. BART PD said “The suspect is not known to the victim and it is undetermined what caused him to attack her.” She declined medical attention, and placed the man under citizen’s arrest on suspicion of battery and vandalism. He was booked into the Berkeley City Jail. According to Alameda County sheriff’s department records, 29-year-old Laron Aikens was arrested in connection with the case. He remains in custody with a bail of $2,500 and is scheduled to enter a plea Thursday, Oct. 1.

There were two disturbances, at 5 p.m. in the 1400 block of Ninth Street, and at 9:20 p.m. in the 3100 block of Acton Street.

There was a home burglary at 6 p.m. at an unlisted location.

There was a robbery at 6:18 p.m. in the 2200 block of Ward Street.

UCPD received a report of a burglary at Alumni House at 8:19 p.m. A thief stole a wallet containing $250. 

There were 20 burglaries (shown in black) reported over this period, via CrimeMapping.com. The prior week there were 13. There were also five robberies (in blue), following six the prior week. Click the map for a list.
There were 20 burglaries (shown in black) reported over this period, via CrimeMapping.com. The prior week there were 13. There were also five robberies (in blue), following six the prior week. Click the map for a list.

Friday, Sept. 11

There were two second-response calls, at 12:08 a.m. in the 2700 block of Bancroft Way, and at 10:15 p.m. in the 2000 block of Emerson Street.

There were three home burglaries: at 1:47 a.m. in the 2100 block of Channing Way; at 6:27 a.m. in the 2200 block of Parker Street; and at 8:20 a.m. in the 2000 block of Grant Street.

Someone reportedly brandished a weapon at 1:38 p.m. in the 2400 block of Ashby Avenue.

There were two commercial burglaries, at 2:52 p.m. in the 3000 block of Telegraph Avenue, and at 3 p.m. in the 2800 block of Telegraph.

Two vehicles were stolen, at 3 p.m. in the 500 block of Wildcat Canyon Road, and at 9 p.m. in the 1100 block of Cragmont Avenue.

Saturday, Sept. 12

There were five second-response calls: at 12:10 a.m. in the 2700 block of Bancroft Way; at 1:28 a.m. in the 2300 block of Warring Street; at 10:36 p.m. in the 2300 block of Prospect Street; at 10:43 p.m. in the 2400 block of Stuart Street; and at 11:57 p.m. in the 2300 block of Fulton Street.

Two vehicles were stolen, at 12:30 a.m. in the 1400 block of Grizzly Peak Boulevard, and at 1:40 a.m. in the 2400 block of Ashby.

There was a home burglary at 1:30 a.m. in the 2500 block of Dwight Way.

There were three disturbance calls: at 2:19 a.m. in the 2100 block of Oregon Street; at 11:55 a.m. in the 1300 block of Russell Street; and at 12:20 p.m. at San Pablo Avenue and Haskell Street.

There was a commercial burglary at 5 p.m. in the 600 block of Page Street.

Shown above: assaults or batteries, weapon calls, sexual assaults, arsons and disturbances. Click the image for a list. Source: Crimemapping.com
Shown above: assaults or batteries, weapon calls, sexual assaults, arsons and disturbances. Click the image for a list. Source: Crimemapping.com

Sunday, Sept. 13

There were two second-response calls, at 12:16 a.m. in the 2700 block of Haste Street, and at 12:18 a.m. in the 2300 block of Prospect Street.

There was a commercial burglary at 4:28 a.m. in the 2100 block of Vine Street.

Three vehicles were stolen: at 12:15 p.m. in the 2100 block of Channing Way; at 6:30 p.m. in the 2900 block of Mabel Street; and at 9:39 p.m. in the 1400 block of Oxford Street.

There was an assault in the Greek Theater at 12:30 p.m., according to UCPD.

Someone reportedly brandished a weapon at 5:10 p.m. in the 2400 block of Shattuck Avenue.

There was a home burglary at 9 p.m. in the 2100 block of Ashby.

Monday, Sept. 14

There was an arson incident at 2:40 a.m. in the 1000 block of University Avenue.

There were four home burglaries: at 7:30 a.m. in the 1400 block of Edith Street; at 9:30 a.m. in the 400 block of Vermont Avenue; at 7 p.m. in the 2400 block of California Street; and at 7:30 p.m. in the 1000 block of Oxford.

Three vehicles were stolen: at 3 p.m. at Le Conte and Scenic avenues; at 7 p.m. in the 2400 block of Blake Street; and at 11 p.m. in the 2700 block of Ellsworth Street.

There was a robbery at 6:13 p.m. in the 2600 block of San Pablo Avenue.

There were 43 thefts or burglaries from vehicles, via CrimeMapping. There were 26 the prior week. There were also 17 vehicles stolen (in purple). Click the map for a list of incidents.
There were 43 thefts or burglaries from vehicles, via CrimeMapping. There were 26 the prior week. There were also 17 vehicles stolen (in purple). Click the map for a list of incidents.

Tuesday, Sept. 15

There was a home burglary at 1 a.m. in the 2300 block of Durant Avenue.

There were three disturbance calls: at 6:06 a.m. in the 1700 block of Shattuck Avenue; at 2:30 p.m. in the 2200 block of Blake Street; and at 5 p.m. in the 3200 block of California Street.

According to the BART police, a victim reported the theft of a tan 21-speed Schwinn Trailway hybrid bike from the bike racks at Ashby station. The bike had been secured with two U-locks on Monday at 6:15 p.m. When the victim returned at 7:50 a.m. Tuesday, the bike and locks were gone.

There was a commercial burglary at 10:32 a.m. in the 2800 block of Adeline Street.

Police arrested Nelson Massengale, 20, on a warrant related to rape by use of force or fear of bodily injury. He is no longer in custody, having posted a $100,000 bond, but he is scheduled for pretrial hearing Nov. 3.

Police arrested Hamisi Marshall, 38, at about 4:30 p.m. on a warrant related to firearm possession. He is no longer in custody, having posted a $70,000 bond, but he is scheduled for a pretrial hearing Oct. 27.

There was a robbery at 7:26 p.m. at Atherton and Haste streets.

A motorcycle rider was taken to the hospital after police say he collided with a vehicle on University Avenue that turned in front of him. Read more on Berkeleyside.

Four vehicles were stolen: at 8 p.m. in the 1900 block of Ninth Street; at 9 p.m. in the 2800 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Way; at 9 p.m. in the 2200 block of Virginia Street; and at 11 p.m. in the 2300 block of Fulton Street.

A victim reported to the BART Police the theft of a red 1997 Honda Accord while it was parked in the west lot at the North Berkeley BART station between 7 a.m. and 8:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Sept. 16

There were five disturbance calls: at 6:06 a.m. in the 1700 block of Shattuck; at 8:43 a.m. in the 2100 block of Carleton Street; at 9:20 a.m. at Blake and Milvia streets; at 2:14 p.m. in the 1900 block of University Avenue; and at 2:15 p.m. in the 2800 block of Telegraph Avenue.

At 6:49 a.m, police received a report of a hit-and-run crash involving a vehicle and a bicycle, with the vehicle leaving the scene. The bicyclist was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries, said Berkeley Police Officer Jennifer Coats. No additional information was immediately available. According to unconfirmed scanner reports, the bicyclist suffered a shoulder injury.

Three vehicles were stolen: at 9:20 a.m. in the 2600 block of Benvenue Avenue; at 5 p.m. in the 1000 block of Sierra Street; and at 11:30 p.m. in the 2400 block of Warring Street.

There were three home burglaries: at 11:40 a.m. in the 3100 block of Claremont Avenue; at 6:45 p.m. in the 2700 block of Bancroft Way; and at 10:52 p.m. at Fulton and Kittredge streets.

According to Berkeley Police spokeswoman Officer Jennifer Coats, between 6:45 and 8 p.m., a residential burglary occurred in the 2700 block of Bancroft Way. The thieves entered a locked room and stole a laptop, cash and other items. Later the laptop was discovered near Kittredge and Fulton in the possession of two people who attempted to flee on foot. They were arrested for possession of stolen property. No additional information was provided.

According to Alameda County sheriff’s department records online, police arrest Kesean Edwards, 18, at Fulton and Kittredge on suspicion of burglary and possession of stolen property. He is no longer in custody, having posted a $5,000 bond, but is scheduled to enter a plea Oct. 9 at the Wiley W. Manuel Courthouse in downtown Oakland.

There were two robberies, at 7:05 p.m. in the 2100 block of Center Street, and at 8:52 p.m. in the 2500 block of Hillegass Avenue.

There was a commercial burglary at 7:30 p.m. in the 1000 block of Gilman Street.

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 in brief 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 in the days after this report. This post does not reflect every call. See recent Berkeley crime blotters here

Related:
Sleeping Uber passenger has wallet stolen; driver charged with ID theft (09.30.15)
Berkeley coalition says police stops show racial bias (09.29.15)
Students victims of armed robbery, assault on Grizzly Peak (09.29.15)
Fallen tree cuts power in Tilden, sends cyclist to hospital (09.29.15)
Green gets 21 years after robberies, assaults of elderly (09.28.15)
Ashby BART station re-opens after fatality of person under train; expect delays (09.28.15)
Pepper spray, less-lethal rounds used in 2 recent arrests (09.26.15)
Update: Man comes down from sculpture after 5.5 hours (09.26.15)
UCPD arrests man in bathroom recording case (09.25.15)
Berkeleyside blotter: Crime in Berkeley, Sept. 3-9 (09.25.15)
Man charged in hammer attack during Berkeley protests (09.24.15)
Berkeley medical cannabis commissioner faces fraud and extortion charges (09.23.15)
Berkeleyside blotter: Crime in Berkeley, 8/27-9/2 (09.22.15)
Vandalism, crime cause problems at Allston Way Garage (09.21.15)
Small fire knocks out UC Berkeley’s computers, WiFi (09.19.15)
Berkeley schools on alert after 2 abduction attempts (09.18.15)

Do you rely on Berkeleyside for local news? Support independent journalism by becoming a Berkeleyside member for $10 a month or even less, or by making a one-time donation.

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 of the Year...