Berkeleyside blotter: Crime in Berkeley, 1/28-2/3

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. Share photos, videos and tips, about breaking news or neighborhood safety issues, via email at crime@berkeleyside.com or on Facebook or Twitter. Don’t assume someone else will alert us. We want to know about issues of concern and rely on readers to help us stay informed.

From Jan. 28 to Feb. 3, there were reports of five robberies, 18 burglaries, 13 assaults or batteries, two weapon-involved calls and no sexual assaults, according to CrimeMapping.com. There were also 11 stolen vehicles, 30 disturbances and 26 auto break-ins or thefts from vehicles reported. A sex crime and a vehicle theft were among the crimes reported to the University of California Police Department (UCPD). The following items represent a sampling of calls; incidents that took place during a range of time are listed unless otherwise noted by the beginning of that time period. Arrested individuals listed in this blotter are presumed innocent.

Thursday, Jan. 28

There was a commercial burglary at 3:28 a.m. in the 1800 block of Fourth Street.

Someone reportedly brandished a weapon at 6:49 a.m. in the 2800 block of Adeline Street.

Three vehicles were stolen: at 10 a.m. in the 1500 block of Juanita Way; at 5 p.m. in the 2600 block of Regent Street; and at 5:30 p.m. at Cedar and Henry Streets.

There were five disturbance calls: at 10:27 a.m. at Telegraph Avenue and Blake Street; at 2:52 p.m. in the 1700 block of Hopkins Street; at 3:30 p.m. at Bancroft Way and Bolivar Drive; at 5:01 p.m. in the 2200 block of Shattuck Avenue; and at 8:20 p.m. in the same block.

Someone stole a white 2008 Ford Econoline UC Fleet bus from 2223 Fulton St. between 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 27, and at 3:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 28, according to UCPD.

Police arrested Jimmy Ngo, 54, in connection with a stolen vehicle. He remains in custody with bail of $45,000 and is scheduled for a hearing to determine his competency March 24.

A female UC Berkeley student told police she was the victim of sexual battery on Sproul Plaza shortly before 11 a.m. Officers were unable to find the man, who was described as black, in his 30s, with a dark complexion and medium build and a scruffy goatee. He was wearing a green jacket and black pants.

There were 18 burglaries (shown in black) reported over this period, via CrimeMapping.com. The prior week there were 21. There was also five robberies (in blue), following seven the prior week. Click the map for a list. — There were 18 burglaries (shown in black) reported over this period, via CrimeMapping.com. The prior week there were 21. There were also five robberies (in blue), following seven the prior week. Click the map for a list.

Friday, Jan. 29

There were two second-response calls, at 1:44 a.m. in the 2700 block of Bancroft, and at 11:29 p.m. in the 2300 block of Warring Street.

There was an arson call at 2:51 a.m. in the 2000 block of Kittredge Street.

There were six home burglaries: at 3 a.m. in the 2400 block of Ridge Road; at 6 a.m. in the 1300 block of Delaware Street; at 8:30 a.m. in the 800 block of Woodmont Avenue; at 9 a.m. in the 2500 block of Ashby Avenue; at 10 a.m. in the 1100 block of Keeler Avenue; and at 8:37 p.m. in the 2400 block of Piedmont Avenue.

From the BART Police: Officers responded to conduct a welfare check on a man at the Ashby station at about 8:45 a.m. and discovered that he had two no-bail warrants — for robbery and possession of drug paraphernalia — as well as a $10,000 warrant for battery. He was also a sex offender out of compliance with his registration requirements. He was booked into the Berkeley City Jail for the warrants and compliance violation.

There were five disturbance calls: at 10:10 a.m. in the 3100 block of College Avenue; at noon in the 2500 block of Milvia Street; at 1:14 p.m. in the 700 block of Harrison Street; at 2:45 p.m. in the 2100 block of Shattuck; and at 5:50 p.m. at San Pablo Avenue and Delaware Street.

Five vehicles were stolen: at 11 a.m. in the 100 block of Seawall Drive; at 2:30 p.m. in the 1100 block of Second Street; at 6 p.m. at 10th and Delaware streets; at 6 p.m. in the 2800 block of Milvia Street; and at 7 p.m. at McGee Avenue and Bancroft Way.

There was a robbery at 4:18 p.m. at Durant and Shattuck avenues.

There was a commercial burglary at 8:40 p.m. in the 1400 block of University Avenue.

The body of a 62-year-old Berkeley woman who had gone missing after leaving her workplace in Oakland on Jan. 22 was found in the San Leandro Bay. Berkeleyside has asked the coroner’s office for additional information. (Update, 8:45 p.m. According to the coroner’s office, the cause of death is still pending toxicology results. The woman — Diana Gail Hajisaari, who was widely known as Gail Saari — was seen removing her clothes and entering the water near the Martin Luther King Jr. Regional Shoreline Park.)

Saturday, Jan. 30

From the BART Police: A passenger reported that her iPhone 6 was taken from her backpack sometime after midnight while she traveled from the 16th Street station to the downtown Berkeley station. She was able to track her phone briefly to the city of Richmond, but then the signal was lost.

There were three second-response calls: at 12:54 a.m. in the 2300 block of Webster Street; at 11:49 p.m. in the 2200 block of Blake Street; and at 11:55 p.m. in the 2500 block of Warring.

There was an arson call at 12:54 a.m. in the 2300 block of Webster.

There were four disturbance calls: at 3:01 a.m. in the 1700 block of Hopkins Street; at 9 a.m. in the 2700 block of Hillegass Avenue; at 8:57 p.m. at Second and Gilman streets; and at 9 p.m. in the 1600 block of Woolsey Street.

There was a commercial burglary at 9:30 a.m. in the 2500 block of Ashby Avenue.

This burned-out car was found at CVS at 2655 Telegraph. Photo: Spencer Klein

Police received at call at 9:40 a.m. about this burnt-out car, which was found at CVS at 2655 Telegraph Avenue. Berkeley Police spokeswoman Officer Jennifer Coats said the car had not been reported stolen, and that CVS planned to have it towed.

There were two felony assaults or batteries, at 10:45 a.m. in the 2900 block of Dohr Street, and at 12:20 p.m. at Cedar Street and McGee Avenue.

There were two home burglaries, at noon in the 400 block of Vincente Avenue, and at 5 p.m. in the 2100 block of Woolsey Street.

There were three robberies: at 7 p.m. in the 2000 block of University; at 7:18 p.m. at Sacramento Street and Ashby Avenue; and at 9:20 p.m. at College Avenue and Parker Street.

Police recovered two guns and arrested four teenage boys, including a 14-year-old, after a robbery in Berkeley’s Elmwood neighborhood, the incident at 9:20 p.m. Read more on Berkeleyside.

There was a call involving a gun or other weapon at 11 p.m. at Russell and Park streets.

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

Sunday, Jan. 31

There were four second-response calls: at 12:26 a.m. in the 2600 block of Regent Street; at 12:37 a.m. in the 2600 block of Benvenue Avenue; at 12:39 a.m. in the 2500 block of Regent; and at 1:58 a.m. in the 2400 block of Dwight Way.

There was a home burglary at 10 a.m. in the 1300 block of Parker Street.

Two vehicles were stolen, at noon in the 2500 block of McGee and at 1:30 p.m. in the 2000 block of Center Street.

From the BART Police: An officer tried to detain a man at the downtown Berkley station just before 10 p.m. on suspicion of fare evasion. He resisted and tried to flee, but officers were able to take him into custody at street level. The man was found to be on probation, and had a no-bail arrest warrant from the Alameda County sheriff’s office. He was taken to Santa Rita Jail on suspicion of fare evasion and resisting arrest, and for the warrant and probation violation.

Monday, Feb. 1

There were two home burglaries, at 10:30 a.m. in the 700 block of Wildcat Canyon Road, and at 5:50 p.m. in the 1800 block of Delaware Street.

There were three disturbance calls: at 12:30 p.m. in the 1600 block of Visalia Avenue; at 5:45 p.m. in the 2100 block of Carleton Street; and at 9:50 p.m. in the 1500 block of Alcatraz Avenue.

There were 26 thefts or burglaries from vehicles, via CrimeMapping. There were 46 the prior week. There were also 11 vehicles stolen (in purple). Click the map for a list of incidents.

Tuesday, Feb. 2

There were two disturbance calls, at midnight in the 1800 block of 10th Street, and at 1:35 a.m. in the 700 block of Dwight Way.

There were two home burglaries, at 7 a.m. in the 1800 block of Delaware Street, and at 9 a.m. in the 2400 block of Fifth Street.

Cyclist Meg Schwarzman was seriously injured when a car struck her near the UC Berkeley campus at about 5 p.m. Read the initial report, and a follow-up story about the Berkeley doctor and mother. After the crash, cycling advocates said the city needs to take steps to extend the bike lane on the street where Schwarzman was hit.

Wednesday, Feb. 3

There was a home burglary at 12:01 a.m. in the 3000 block of Buena Vista Way.

There was a commercial burglary at 4:05 a.m. in the 600 block of Page Street. Police arrested a 40-year-old man in connection with the case but he is no longer in custody and charges do not appear to have been filed.

The CHP responded to a crash on Interstate 80 near University Avenue shortly before 8:50 a.m. Officer Sean Wilkenfeld, Oakland CHP spokesman, said two parties initially were trapped in an overturned vehicle. CHP officers were able to free one, and firefighters were able to free the other. Two lanes were closed and a SIG-alert was issued, but ultimately there were only minor injuries.

There were two disturbance calls, at noon in the 1900 block of Shattuck, and at 4:25 p.m. in the 2900 block of Ninth Street.

A vehicle was stolen at 6 p.m. in the 1500 block of Lincoln Street.

There was a robbery at 7:07 p.m. in the 2900 block of Shattuck.

Police arrested 49-year-old Eric Sayles on suspicion of identity theft in the 2800 block of Stanton Street at about 8:30 p.m. He remains in custody and is scheduled for a hearing where counsel is set to be appointed March 22. He is being held without bail.

There was a felony assault or battery at 11:15 p.m. in the 1900 block of Shattuck.

Other recent incidents

Via UCPD: On Sunday, Feb. 21, at about 8:10 p.m. UCPD responded to a report of an armed robbery on the Grinnell Pathway just south of the Valley Life Sciences Building. A 20-year-old male student was walking on the path when he was approached by five young males. One had a gun, which he pointed at the student, then demanded his property. The student fled. Police searched the area but could not find the group.

About 15 minutes later, UCPD received a report of a robbery in the 2500 block of Channing Way. The female victim was walking on Channing near Dana Street when she was robbed of her wallet, according to UCPD. UCPD responded and detained two teenagers matching the description of the robbery suspects. They were identified by the victim as the robbers. BPD arrived on scene and took both boys — a 16-year-old from Oakland and a 17-year-old from Hayward — into custody. Their names were not released because of privacy laws protecting minors. (Berkeley Police spokeswoman Officer Jennifer Coats said shortly after publication the teens were arrested on suspicion of grand theft, not robbery. The teenagers had reached into the victim’s purse and taken out her wallet. Her wallet was recovered during the investigation.)

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.

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Other recent incidents

Emilie Raguso