This overview of recent crime in Berkeley is based on reports to the Berkeley Police unless otherwise noted. Share photos, videos and tips by emailing crime@berkeleyside.com or on Facebook and Twitter. Don’t assume someone else will alert us. We rely on readers to help us stay informed.
SNAPSHOT From May 19-25, there were reports of six robberies, 19 burglaries, 18 assaults or batteries, three weapon-involved calls and two sexual assaults, according to CrimeMapping.com. There were also 12 stolen vehicles, eight disturbances and 23 auto break-ins or thefts from vehicles reported. A robbery and a burglary, among other crimes, were reported on CrimeMapping to the University of California Police Department (UCPD). Arrested or charged individuals are presumed innocent. Find the May 19-25 round-up below several more recent items.
Recent public safety news
ROBBERY AT ASHBY BART A man took multiple pairs of sunglasses from a vendor at the Ashby BART flea market, then pushed the vendor to the ground and fled, the BART Police report. The robbery happened Sunday, June 12, at about 3:10 p.m. The man took the sunglasses without paying and tried to leave the booth. The vendor tried to stop him but was shoved to the ground. Authorities said the vendor was not, however, injured during the encounter. Police searched the area but could not find the robber, who was described as a black man with short black hair, 40 years old and 180-200 pounds, who was wearing a black T-shirt and black shorts.
“POSSIBLE KIDNAPPING” REPORTED NEAR BERKELEY BORDER South Berkeley neighbors were on alert last week, June 8, when police responded to 65th and Herzog streets, in North Oakland, for a report of a possible kidnapping. Berkeleyside kept readers informed on Facebook, and police put out numerous alerts about the incident. OPD said the report came in at about 9:15 a.m. about a possible kidnapping in the 1000 block of 65th. Ultimately, the teenage victim was found safe and the person believed to the responsible, a man in his 20s, was arrested. Several Berkeley Police officers helped block traffic in the area and look for the suspect during the incident. BPD spokesman Sgt. Andrew Frankel confirmed today, June 15, this was not related to several kidnapping attempts in Berkeley that began last fall.
NATIONAL NIGHT OUT Registration is open for the 2016 National Night Out celebration in Berkeley, which is scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 2. The Berkeley Police Department describes the event as “an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make our neighborhoods safer, better places to live.” Last year, more than 100 neighborhood, business and community groups around Berkeley took part in the event. See the registration form here; the deadline to file it is July 26.
Says BPD: “Typically events consist of neighbors getting together for a potluck or barbecue and some go as far as getting a jump house for the young ones and make it a block party. While some groups keep it simple and do an ice cream social and others just do hors d’oeuvres. Whatever your flavor, keep it fun and inviting for all of those in your neighborhood. It is an excellent way to interact with and get to know your neighbors better.” Berkeley police and firefighters, along with city staff and local officials, stop by as many of the events as they can given time constraints.
The week in review: May 19-25
Thursday, May 19
There were three disturbance calls: at 12:01 a.m. in the 2300 block of Grant Street; at 5:33 p.m. in the 2000 block of Dwight Way; and at 9:52 p.m. in the 2100 block of Bancroft Way.
There was a call involving a gun or other weapon at 2:42 a.m. in the 100 block of Seawall Drive.
There was a commercial burglary at 5:21 a.m. in the 1400 block of Shattuck Avenue.
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There were two felony assaults or batteries, at 5:30 a.m. in the 1900 block of Shattuck Avenue, and at 10:45 p.m. in the 1900 block of Shattuck.
There were four robberies: at 8:40 a.m. at Parker and Warring streets, at 11 a.m. in the 1300 block of San Pablo Avenue; at 4:45 p.m. at Mabel and 66th streets; and at 11 p.m. in the 1600 block of Oregon Street.
There were two home burglaries, at 9 a.m. in the 1700 block of Walnut Street, and at 10 a.m. in the 1500 block of Grant Street.
Two vehicles were stolen, at 10:45 a.m. in the 1100 block of Hillview Road, and at 9:30 p.m. in the 1000 block of Camelia Street.
A Berkeley parking enforcement officer (PEO) spotted and reported an abandoned vehicle at about 1:30 p.m., which led to the arrest of a woman police said had burglary tools and electronic payment cards that did not belong to her. Read more in last week’s blotter.
A thief stole a Yamaha scooter from the Ashby BART station between 7:30 a.m. and 2 p.m., the BART Police reported.
There was a felony sexual assault at 10 p.m. in the 2100 block of Essex Street.
A thief burglarized a white 1993 Mercedes Benz between 3:15 p.m. and 11:45 p.m. while it was parked at the North Berkeley station, the BART Police reported: “The vehicle’s left front window was smashed to gain entry and spare change [was] taken from its passenger compartment.”
Friday, May 20
UCPD is investigating a report of a rape at 2 a.m. in the courtyard of Unit 3, at 2400 Durant St., authorities said. The agency received word of the incident June 8, and noted that the suspect and victim knew each other. The suspect was described as a 20-year-old male student, 5 feet 10 inches tall and 190 pounds, with a medium build and brown wavy medium-length hair. Police ask anyone with information about the case to call UCPD at 510-642-6760. For safety tips related to sexual assault, read the original statement from UCPD. Police informed the public about the incident today, June 15.
There were three home burglaries: at 9:30 a.m. in the 200 block of Bridge Road; at 1 p.m. in the 1600 block of Chestnut Street; and at 7:15 p.m. in the 1700 block of Seventh Street.
Two vehicles were stolen, at 1 p.m. in the 2400 block of Parker Street, and at 6 p.m. in the 2900 block of Dwight Way.
There was a robbery at 4:08 p.m. at Acton Street and University Avenue.
There was a noise-related disturbance at 10:21 p.m. in the 2600 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Way.
Saturday, May 21
There were five home burglaries: at midnight in the 2900 block of Stanton Street; at 2:28 a.m. in the 2700 block of San Pablo Avenue; at 9:20 a.m. in the 3200 block of Boise Street; at 4 p.m. in the 200 block of University Avenue; and at 9 p.m. in the 3100 block of Ellis Street.
UCPD said there was a robbery at 12:15 a.m. at North Gate Hall, the Graduate School of Journalism. The daily log had not been posted as of publication time, so no further information was available.
Two vehicles were stolen, at 9:30 a.m. in the 800 block of University, and at 10 p.m. in the 1400 block of Ninth Street.
Someone reportedly brandished a weapon at 6:23 p.m. at Kittredge and Oxford streets.
Sunday, May 22
At 12:30 a.m., police arrested Ryan Schreader, 26, on a warrant for a 2015 robbery in Berkeley that involved assault with a deadly weapon. He remains in custody at Santa Rita Jail, according to online records from the Alameda County sheriff’s office, and is scheduled for a sentencing hearing June 29.
There was a commercial burglary at 2:56 p.m. in the 2800 block of Adeline Street.
A vehicle was stolen at 3 p.m. in the 2300 block of Haste Street.
There was a home burglary at 3 p.m. in the 1400 block of 67th Street.
The California Highway Patrol, Oakland division, reported its “slowest pursuit ever,” and added the following: “Some felonious fowl (baby geese in this case) tried crossing I-80 near Ashby Ave in Berkeley this morning. After a nail biting pursuit, they were eventually channeled back into the bay, leaving nothing but a traffic jam in their wake.” See the video, which has been viewed nearly 50,000 times.
Monday, May 23
There were two home burglaries, at 8 a.m. in the 3100 block of Deakin Street, and at 8:30 a.m. in the 1800 block of Milvia Street.
Two vehicles were stolen, at 8 a.m. in the 1400 block of Ninth Street, and at 9 p.m. at California Street and Allston Way.
Bay Area actor Berwick Hayes, 47, turned himself in to authorities in connection with a near-fatal crash in Berkeley earlier this year that almost killed a cyclist. Authorities say Haynes was high on marijuana at the time of the crash. Berkeleyside broke the news that a warrant had been issued for Haynes’ arrest May 2. Haynes was charged with DUI causing bodily injury. He was released after posting a bond for bail in the amount of $135,000. Haynes is scheduled for a motion hearing and further pretrial July 20, according to online records from the sheriff’s office. Read more background on Berkeleyside about the collision.
Police arrested William Wood Jr. in Richmond at 12:30 p.m. on a warrant for a Berkeley robbery April 20. Richmond Police officers arrested Wood, a 58-year-old Berkeley man, and informed BPD of the arrest. Wood also was arrested on suspicion of harming an elder or dependent adult. According to online records from the sheriff’s office, he is no longer in custody. Wood, who also goes by the name “Maria Garcia” according to sheriff’s office records, is scheduled for a protective order control date hearing June 3, 2019.
There was a disturbance at 10:07 p.m. at Webster Street and College Avenue.
Tuesday, May 24
There was a home burglary at 3:20 a.m. in the 1900 block of Los Angeles Avenue.
There was a commercial burglary at 5:31 a.m. in the 800 block of Bancroft Way.
There was a robbery at 11 a.m. at Mabel and Ward streets.
There were two disturbance calls, at noon in the 1600 block of California Street, and at 4:19 p.m. in the 900 block of Harrison Street.
UCPD reported a burglary in the Hearst Gym at 1:31 p.m. The daily log had not been posted as of publication time, so no further information was available.
There was a call involving a gun or other weapon at 2:50 p.m. in the 2400 block of Adeline Street.
A vehicle was stolen at 10 p.m. in the 1300 block of Burnett Street.
Wednesday, May 25
Two vehicles were stolen, at 12:01 a.m. in the 2000 block of McGee Avenue, and at 9 p.m. at Allston Way and Fourth Street.
There were two home burglaries, at 5 a.m. in the 1500 block of Tyler Street, and at 8 a.m. in the 1000 block of Creston Road.
There was a disturbance at 8:10 a.m. in the 2000 block of Sixth Street.
There was a misdemeanor sexual assault at 11 a.m. in the 1700 block of Rose Street.
Berkeley public safety data resources
- The Berkeley Police Department incident log on CrimeMapping and CrimeView Community
- The UCPD crime log, also posted in brief on CrimeMapping, and UCPD crime alerts
- Local Crime News lists arrests of Berkeley residents (not by agency); BPD’s arrest log and booking log (new as of April 2016)
- Nixle public safety alerts, by email and text, from BPD and UCPD
- The Berkeley Police Department’s “calls for service” heat map
- BPD on Twitter: Chief Meehan, spokesman Sgt. Frankel, Officer Byron White
- See what the Berkeley Safe Neighborhoods Committee (BSNC) is up to
- Learn about what info BPD can release to the public
- Find your area coordinator to ask about neighborhood issues (but don’t forget to tip Berkeleyside, too!)
Please note: These 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. 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.
Related:
Man arrested in Berkeley tied to Oakland killing, found with alleged murder weapon (06.14.16)
Missing 84-year-old Dorothy Ewing has been found (06.13.16)
4 arrested after cellphone theft from coffee shop (06.09.16)
Police search nets arrest, stolen gun, cocaine for sale (06.08.16)
Teen arrested after robbery attempt, assault at BART (06.07.16)
Fight with pepper spray, student fight at Realm, woman arrested with burglary tools, more (06.07.16)
BFD responds to machinery fire in West Berkeley (06.06.16)
Jury recommends death in double murder case (06.02.16)
Woman arrested (again) in Berkeley after arson (06.02.16)
Former UC housing resident sentenced for child porn (06.02.16)
WWII hand grenade found in planter at Berkeley home (06.01.16)
3 arrested, guns and meth found, in West Berkeley raid (05.27.16)
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