A string of eight auto burglaries took place in quick succession Wednesday morning between the Strawberry Canyon parking lot and the Lawrence Hall of Science.
The burglaries each involved smashed car windows and took place between 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. in several parking lots along Centennial Drive, which stretches between Memorial Stadium and the Lawrence Hall of Science on the eastern edge of the UC Berkeley campus, according to a UCPD Crime Alert.
In most cases, items such as purses and laptop computers were stolen from the vehicles, according to the UCPD crime log. UCPD currently has no suspects but is no stranger to auto burglaries on campus.
According to the crime alert, the Lawrence Hall of Science parking lot has seen a series of auto burglaries in recent months. In March, UCPD reported they were stepping up patrols after a series of auto burglaries in the LHS parking lot.
“It’s probably a combination of (being in a secluded area) and the fact that there are a lot of cars,” said UCPD Lt. Marc DeCoulode.
According to DeCoulode, the East Bay Regional Park District also experienced an auto burglary in nearby Claremont Canyon Regional Preserve on Wednesday. Such burglaries appear to be a fairly common occurrence in nearby parks as well.
“We do, unfortunately, have those incidents in our parks and in our parking lots,” said Emily Hopkins, spokesperson for the East Bay Regional Park District.
Hopkins said that an auto burglary was reported at a parking lot near the canyon at 10:26 a.m. on Wednesday.
Although it is not yet clear whether some of the robberies were committed independently of one another or by a group of people working together, DeCoulode said UCPD will continue investigating the cases.
“We have increased patrols in the areas and will continue to do so,” DeCoulode said. “Hopefully the public will report any suspicious activity the see as well.”
Adelyn Baxter is the news editor.
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“which stretches between Memorial Stadium and the Lawrence Hall of Science on the western edge of the UC Berkeley campus, according to a UCPD Crime Alert.”
pretty sure that’s the eastern edge of the UC Berkeley campus
What idiot leaves their notebook in a locked car these days? That’s almost asking for burglary, especially in Berkeley.
Maybe if the Berkeley Police put a few iPhones in unlocked cars then the police chief could quickly track down the thieves after the break-ins. He certainly found his son’s iPhone quickly enough.