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 anonymity. Don’t assume someone else will alert us — you may be the only one to get in touch. We want to know about issues of concern and rely on readers to help us stay informed.
From Nov. 26 to Dec. 2, there were reports of one robbery, 13 burglaries, 13 assaults or batteries, no weapon-involved calls and two sexual assaults, according to CrimeMapping.com. There were also eight stolen vehicles, seven disturbances and 31 auto break-ins or thefts from vehicles reported. An assault, a burglary and two sex crimes 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, Nov. 26
There was a home burglary at 5 p.m. in the 1900 block of Chestnut Street.
Two vehicles were stolen, at 6 p.m. in the 2400 block of Acton Street, and at 6 p.m. in the 2700 block of Forest Avenue.
There was a disturbance call at 8:06 p.m. in the 1400 block of Addison Street.
Friday, Nov. 27
There was a call listed by BPD as arson at 12:11 a.m. in the 2000 block of Shattuck Avenue. The fire was one of two to break out at Mandarin Garden at 2025 Shattuck Ave. (Berkeleyside is seeking an update from authorities, which previously said arson was a consideration but had not made a determination as to cause.)
There was a commercial burglary at 9:05 a.m. in the 2900 block of College Avenue.
There was a home burglary at 1:30 p.m. in the 1200 block of Peralta Avenue.
There was a disturbance at 6:05 p.m. in the 1600 block of Francisco Street.
Saturday, Nov. 28
A vehicle was stolen at 7:15 a.m. in the 2400 block of Ashby Avenue.
UCPD arrested a 20-year-old man at 10:12 p.m. on suspicion of a sexual battery alleged to have taken place at Memorial Stadium. No information about the victim was provided. The man has since been charged with misdemeanor domestic battery and is no longer in custody.
There was a disturbance at 10:54 p.m. at Gilman Street and West Frontage Road. Police arrested 33-year-old Tamara Weaver on suspicion of receiving known stolen property, a felony, and several misdemeanors. She remains in custody with a bail of $60,000 and is scheduled for a preliminary hearing Dec. 15.
Sunday, Nov. 29
Authorities received a report at about 1:50 a.m. about a vehicle fire near Aquatic Park.
There was a felony sexual assault at 6:30 a.m. in the 1300 block of Grizzly Peak Boulevard.
Two vehicles were stolen, at 7:40 a.m. in the 2400 block of California Street, and at 10:30 p.m. in the 200 block of Marina Boulevard. Police arrested 22-year-old Deaante Atchinson in connection with the incident on California on suspicion of vehicle theft. He was released on his own recognizance and is scheduled to enter a plea Tuesday, Dec. 8.
There was a felony assault or battery at 8 p.m. at Prince and California streets.
There was a home burglary at 11 p.m. in the 2400 block of Valley Street.
Monday, Nov. 30
There were five home burglaries: at 3 a.m. in the 2700 block of Haste Street; at 5 a.m. in the 2500 block of College Avenue; at 8:45 a.m. in the 2400 block of Russell Street; at 10 a.m. in the 1200 block of Allston Way; and at 12:39 p.m. in the 2500 block of Milvia Street.
UCPD responded to three burglary reports at the Clark Kerr Campus that took place sometime over the holiday vacation. The thief or thieves kicked in a door and stole power tools, smashed a window and stole copper wire, and cut a lock (take unknown).
There were two disturbance calls, at 10:33 a.m. in the 3000 block of San Pablo Avenue, and at 3:13 p.m. in the 2200 block of Marin Luther King Jr. Way.
There was a felony sexual assault at 11:30 a.m. in the 1700 block of Arch Street. Police arrested a 51-year-old homeless man after the robbery and assault with the intent to commit rape of a UC Berkeley student. Read more on Berkeleyside. The man remains in custody at Santa Rita Jail with a bail of $815,000 and is scheduled to enter a plea Thursday, Dec. 10.
A 19-year-old UC Berkeley student told UCPD she was raped at 7 p.m. The case remains under investigation. UCPD released a brief statement to report that the woman said she had met a 26-year-old man online. They then “met at an off campus location in the City of Berkeley and soon after the victim was sexually assaulted by the suspect.” UCPD asks anyone with information about the case to call investigators at 510-642-6760.
A vehicle was stolen at 8:30 p.m. in the 2200 block of Dwight Way.
Tuesday, Dec. 1
There were two disturbance calls, at 1:25 a.m. in the 1300 block of Haskell Street, and at 10:20 a.m. at Ward Street and Milvia Way.
A vehicle was stolen at 7:10 a.m. in the 100 block of Roble Court.
There were two home burglaries, at 2:45 p.m. in the 1900 block of Dwight Way, and at 9:17 p.m. in the 2300 block of Curtis Street.
Police arrested 24-year-old Margarita Sobalvarro at 6:30 p.m. in El Cerrito in connection with vehicle theft case in Berkeley. She remains in custody at Santa Rita Jail with a bail of $30,000 and is scheduled for a pretrial hearing Dec. 28.
Police arrested Todd Roberson, 26, at 7:08 p.m. after a report of a battery on Telegraph Avenue at Blake Street at 6:40 p.m. Roberson has been charged with felony battery causing serious bodily injury and two misdemeanors, according to online records from the Alameda County sheriff’s department. He remains in custody at Santa Rita Jail with a bail of $25,000, and is scheduled for a pretrial hearing Wednesday, Dec. 9.
Wednesday, Dec. 2
There were two home burglaries, at 1:45 p.m. in the 2200 block of McKinley Avenue, and at 2 p.m. in the 1400 block of Cornell Avenue.
A vehicle was stolen, at 7 p.m. at Edith and Virginia streets.
There was a robbery at 11:55 p.m. in the 1400 block of Carleton Street.
Other recent incidents
POLICE: FELON ARRESTED WITH FIREARMS Last week, Berkeleyside reported the arrest of Michael Atchison, also known as Michael Atchinson, in connection with firearm and ammunition violations. According to court papers, the 44-year-old was arrested at his Oakland home in the 800 block of 61st Street at 3:45 p.m. Nov. 19. During the operation, police said they recovered multiple firearms, including one that had been reported stolen from San Leandro during a home burglary earlier this year. Police identified Atchison as a convicted felon who is prohibited from owning firearms or ammunition. On Nov. 19, police conducted warrants searches of his home, his vehicle and his person. According to police, officers recovered two firearms and ammunition during the operation. Atchison has been charged with two felonies: possession of a firearm by a felon and possession of a firearm by someone with a prior conviction. Being found guilty of either charge could send him back to prison. According to charging documents, Atchison was convicted in 1992 of robbery, which initially sent him to prison. He was convicted in 2001 of possession of a firearm by a felon, and in 2003 of possession of a controlled substance. He entered a plea of not guilty Nov. 23 in connection with the recent arrest, and has since been released from custody. He is scheduled for further pretrial Jan. 28, 2016.
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, and UCPD crime alerts. 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:
Update: Hit-and-run accident stops traffic on I-80 (12.05.15)
Fourth Street Apple store reports theft by 7 males (12.04.15)
Berkeleyside blotter: Crime in Berkeley, Nov. 19-25 (12.04.15)
Police make arrest after homeless camp stabbing (12.03.15)
Car crash causes power outage in southwest Berkeley (12.03.15)
Women charged after Berkeley hit-and-run, cyclist crash (12.03.15)
Berkeleyside blotter: Crime in Berkeley, Nov. 12-18 (11.30.15)
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