The following is a sample of crime in Berkeley this week, provided by the Berkeley Police Department.
Driving Under the Influence — Seventh Street and Bancroft Way
On Sunday at about 2:39 a.m., a BPD patrol officer saw a black Honda driving at a high rate of speed south on Eighth Street from University Avenue. The Honda then failed to stop at two stop signs, then drove the wrong way around a turnabout at Allston Way and Seventh Street. The officer made a traffic enforcement stop at Seventh Street and Bancroft Way. The driver, a 24-year-old Berkeley man showed signs of intoxication such as slurred speech, blood shot eyes, strong odor of alcoholic beverage on his breath and losing balance when getting out of the car. Based on these symptoms and the driver’s performance on the Field Sobriety Tests, the BPD officer arrested the man for violation of 23152 (a)CVC and booked him into the BPD Jail.
Stolen Auto — 900 block of Allston Way
On Sunday at approximately 9:34 a.m., a Berkeley man called BPD to report that his van had been stolen from the 900 block of Allston Way. Sometime overnight between 7:00 p.m. on Saturday and 9:00 a.m. on Sunday, an unknown suspect or suspects took a 1994 white Plymouth Voyager. The BPD officer documented the crime and entered the license plate and van description into SVS – Stolen Vehicle System.
Residential Burglary of Apartment via unlocked Door — 1800 block of University Avenue
On Sunday at 7:45 p.m., a Berkeley woman called BPD to report a burglary. She told a BPD officer that she left her Toshiba laptop on her desk in her apartment. She left the front door unlocked and left the apartment at about 7:00 a.m. When the woman returned home at approximately 4:00 p.m., she saw that her laptop was missing. She did not note any other property that was gone. She called BPD. None of the woman’s neighbors said they saw anyone suspicious or heard anything amiss. The BPD officer documented the crime.
Robbery via Strong Arm — 2900 block of Harper Street
On Monday at about 9:07 a.m., two men were walking south on the 2900 block of Harper Street, one of whom was carrying a laptop computer under his arm. A male suspect approached the pair from behind, snatched the computer and ran away northbound. The victim pair pursued the suspect on foot north on Grant Street, through the Grove Recreation Center tot-playground then west on Oregon Street. The victim caught up to the suspect a short distance west of Grant Street and began to tussle with the suspect over the laptop. The victim’s friend also arrived and joined the fray. The suspect got away with the computer and fled west. BPD officers did area checks but did not locate the suspect. The victim described the suspect as “a black male adult, mid 30s, shaved short hair, 5’11” to 6’3” tall, skinny build, wearing a maroon sweatshirt and dark colored pants.”
Auto Burglary — 2200 block of Seventh Street
On Monday at about 11:22 a.m., a male suspect got out of a dark colored new model four-door Ford Explorer displaying paper plates, smashed the driver’s window of a parked, unoccupied vehicle and stole two bags. A BPD patrol officer doing an area check for the suspect and his car saw a dark gray Ford Explorer with paper plates south of Eighth Street. When the officer tried to make an enforcement stop, the Explorer failed to yield. The suspect and the Explorer are believed responsible for other window smash auto burglaries around the city.
Suspect – a black male adult, in his 20’s, 5’ 8″ – 10” tall, thin build wearing a black hoodie.
Suspect vehicle – a 2012 or 2013 Ford Explorer, gun metal gray with paper dealer plates.
Parole Warrant, Possession of Narcotics — 2100 block of Allston Way
On Tuesday at 1:30 a.m., a BPD patrol officer checked a location in the 2100 block of Allston Way where there have been ongoing complaints about trespassers. The officer found a man sleeping under the postings that prohibited trespassing there. The officer did a pat search for weapons and felt an ankle monitor on the man’s leg. The man lied about his name as the computer check of the name given did not reveal any probation or parole for which ankle monitoring would be necessary. During a search incident to his arrest for lying, the officer found a glass pipe and suspected methamphetamine. The suspect finally offered his true name. A records check revealed a parole warrant. The BPD officer booked the suspect, a 38-year-old for violations of 11377 (A) H&S – Possession of a Controlled Substance, 11364.1 H&S – Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, 148.9 (A) PC – False Information to a Peace Officer and the parole warrant.
Theft of Catalytic Converters — Various Locations
On Tuesday officers documented three catalytic converter thefts that had happened during the nighttime hours. They were reported in the morning hours as follows:
9:13 a.m. 1600 block of Beverly Place.
The focus of the suspect or suspects were 1998 Toyota trucks in all events.
Probation Search Leads to Narcotics Arrest — 1900 block of Haste Street
On Tuesday at about 12:30 p.m., a group of BPD patrol officers conducted a probation search of the home of a man in the 1900 block of Haste Street. The BPD beat officer knew the suspect from prior contacts and organized the search. The 60 year old man dropped a glass pipe used to smoke meth when the officers entered the home. Officers safely detained the probationer and an male associate who was inside. During the search of the home, the BPD officers found over eight grams of methamphetamine, a digital scale, plastic packaging, a cell phone and over $350 in cash. These were seized as evidence. The beat officer arrested the man for violation of 11378 H&S – Possession for Sale of a Controlled Substance and 1203. 2 PC – Felony Probation Violation then booked him into the BPD Jail.
Identity Theft/Fraud — 2000 block of Parker Street
On Tuesday at about 3:22 p.m., a Berkeley woman called BPD to report a case of identity theft. She had received a credit card bill with a charge in southern California for over $11,000. She learned that an unknown suspect or suspects had opened a credit card in her name and the large charge was made on that card. The victim needed documentation to challenge the fraud and she had alerted the credit agencies.
Residential Burglary — 1300 block of Watkins Street
On Tuesday at about 7:39 p.m., a mother and daughter who live in the 1300 block of Watkins Street called to report a burglary of their home. The mother told the BPD officer that she left for work at approximately 7:30 a.m. and her daughter left at 11:30 a.m. When the mother returned home at 7:30 p.m., she discovered that her Apple laptop and iPod were gone. Her daughter’s Apple laptop and iPhone were also stolen. The rear sliding glass door was left unlocked. The BPD officer documented the crime.
Stolen Auto — Halcyon Court and Webster Street
On Wednesday a Berkeley woman called BPD at 8:33 a.m. to report that someone stole her car. She told the responding officer that she parked and locked her 1995 green Honda Civic at about 10:00 p.m. the night before. She parked next to the west curb of Halycon Court just south of Webster Street. At 8:30 a.m. that morning, she went out to her car and noticed that the vehicle was missing. The BPD officer documented the crime and entered the Honda’s license number and description into the Stolen Vehicle System. (SVS)
Drunk in Public Arrest — 2900 block of King Street
On Wednesday at approximately 12:48 a.m., BPD received a report of a man screaming in the 2900 block of King Street. When BPD officers arrived, they met a man who was yelling profanities and obviously under the influence of an alcoholic beverage. The suspect could not speak in clear sentences, had slurred speech, “reeked of alcohol” and could not care for his own welfare. The beat officer arrested and booked the 63-year-old Berkeley man for violation of 647(f)PC to be released from the BPD Jail when sober.
Tagging Arrest — Dwight Way & Dana Street
On Wednesday at about 1:27 a.m., a BPD patrol officer was driving near Dwight Way and Dana Street when he spotted a male suspect tagging. The suspect had a spray can in his hand and was spraying a brown fence there. The suspect saw the police car and started to run but the officer was able to detain him. The suspect had silver paint on his fingertips. The BPD officer arrested the 23-year-old for 594(a) PC – Vandalism. Once the city of San Pablo resident’s identity was confirmed in the BPD Jail, he was released with a misdemeanor citation and a future court date.
View Crime in Berkeley: June 3 — June 6 in a larger map
Adelyn Baxter is the news editor.
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