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Man Sought by Berkeley Police in Connection With Open House Thefts

A man posing as a potential homebuyer is suspected of entering numerous open houses in Berkeley and other Bay Area cities and stealing items including a former police officer’s badge, which police said may be allowing him to falsely impersonate an officer.

Paul McClung, 30, has allegedly entered open houses throughout Berkeley accompanied by a woman in her 50s who identifies herself as McClung’s mother, said Berkeley police Lt. Erik Upson.

The couple pretends to be a mother and son interested in purchasing the property and, while the woman speaks with the realtor, McClung allegedly steals wallets and purses from the house, according to a statement issued by the Berkeley Police Department.

During a recent open house, McClung may have stolen the badge of a former Santa Barbara police officer and could now be impersonating the police officer, the release states.

McClung is identified in the statement as being 5 feet 10 inches tall and of thin build with brown hair and blue eyes.

Upson advised anyone who spots McClung to call Berkeley police at 510-981-5911 but to be careful not to let the couple know that the police are being notified.

If McClung is not actually present at the time of the call, Upson said callers could use the non-emergency line at 510-981-5900.

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