“We’d like to remind the community members to call the police instead of engaging with suspects,” police Deputy Chief Jen Tate told the Police Accountability Board Wednesday.
Crime trends
The 2024 Berkeley gunfire map
Berkeley and university police and the California Highway Patrol had investigated at least 13 shooting incidents in 2024 as of April 15. At least six people had been wounded.
Flash-bangs, launchers: BPD brought out specialized gear less often in 2023, but used it more
The fluctuations took place as crime rates rose year-to-year and the department condensed its beat structure in the middle of 2023.
Serious crimes spiked in Berkeley in 2023, according to police data
The Berkeley Police Department reported a 32% increase in robberies and a 62% increase in both auto theft and arson from 2022 to 2023.
Berkeley police investigating gunfire during catalytic converter theft Thursday
Police said they first got a report of an “interrupted catalytic converter theft” and an accompanying gunshot in the 2400 block of Ninth near Channing Way at 6:45 a.m.
Berkeley police spending outstrips state average, but solve rates remain lower, study says
Berkeley police’s rate for “clearing” cases by arresting suspects is rising, but still lags behind the state average.
Alameda County law enforcement, officials form anti-crime coalition
East Bay leaders and law enforcement from Berkeley, Emeryville, Oakland, San Leandro and the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office will convene quarterly meetings to share information to combat violent and property crime.
With robberies on the rise, Berkeley will ponder safety escorts
A Berkeley commission wants to revive a decades-old program in which the city offered safety escorts to deter robberies.
Berkeley picks 6 new locations for surveillance cameras to address crime
The cameras are meant to address rising rates of some violent crimes, including robberies. Skeptics said there has not yet been enough data evidence to justify expanding BPD’s surveillance network.
As retail thefts rise, Berkeley police are staking out thieves’ favorite stores
Retail theft rose 19% between 2022 and 2023, according to Berkeley police. Commercial burglaries alone rose 31%, and have risen nearly every year since 2016, the first year data were available.
How Oakland restaurants are dealing with break-ins
As commercial burglaries have increased and resources are stretched thin, many restaurant owners face mounting debt and stress.
The 2023 Berkeley gunfire map
Berkeley had at least 36 confirmed shootings in 2023. One person was killed and at least eight more were wounded.