Berkeley was hit by 14 robberies this past week, with stolen items ranging from a flashlight to a tricycle, according to a Nixle alert released by Berkeley Police Department on Tuesday afternoon.
About 10:30 p.m. April 15, a 19-year-old woman was robbed by two suspects while she was walking on the 2300 block of Channing Way. The suspects, who were both described as Black, 19 to 20 years old and wearing dark clothing, took the woman’s cellphone before fleeing.
Four robberies occurred the evening of April 16, according to the alert. About 8 p.m., a 26-year-old man was robbed by three suspects, who took his backpack containing his laptop, while walking on the 2700 block of Benvenue Avenue. One of the suspects was described as a Black male in his early 20s, about 5 feet 8 inches to 5 feet 9 inches tall, with a small to medium build. The suspects were seen fleeing in a white sedan.
In a separate case, a 75-year-old man was robbed at his place of residence about 8:38 p.m. after asking a man who was sleeping in front of his property to move. The suspect, a 26-year-old man, took the victim’s flashlight. Authorities found the suspect a few blocks away after searching the area. The suspect was arrested on suspicion of robbery and battery.
About 10:19 p.m. the same day, two suspects robbed a 21-year-old woman of her laptop and bag in an unrelated case while she was walking on Carleton Street toward Dana Street. One of the suspects was described by witnesses as a white female, 20 to 30 years old, with a medium to heavy build. She was also described as wearing jeans and a jacket. The other suspect was described by witnesses as a white female, about 25 to 33 years old, with brown or golden hair and a medium to heavy build. She was described as wearing a dark jacket and jeans. Both suspects were last seen fleeing in a dark gray sedan.
About 10:30 p.m., a cellphone belonging to a 26-year-old woman was taken by four suspects while she walked on the 2500 block of Le Conte Avenue. The suspects were described by witnesses as Black men in their 20s wearing dark hooded tops. The victim suffered bruising around her eye as a result of being kicked during the robbery. Authorities later recovered the victim’s cellphone, which had been abandoned in Oakland.
Three robberies took place Wednesday, according to the alert. About 12:20 p.m., a 33-year-old woman was robbed of her wallet while walking on the 67th Street with her 1-year-old baby. The suspect was described by witnesses as a Black female in her early 20s, 5 feet to 5 feet 2 inches tall, with a slim to medium build. Witnesses also said the suspect had short, curly hair tied in a ponytail and was wearing an olive green tank top and black pants. She was last seen fleeing in a “newer” white sedan.
About 12:46 p.m. the same day, a 25-year-old man was robbed of his scooter immediately after renting it from a kiosk on the 2000 block of Shattuck Avenue. The victim was able to film the suspect leaving the scene — using this video, authorities were able to identify and locate the suspect a few blocks away. The suspect, a 54-year-old man, was arrested on suspicion of robbery and violation of probation.
About 11:40 p.m. that evening, a suspect armed with scissors attempted to rob a 62-year-old woman of her purse while she was walking on the 2700 block of Garber Street. The suspect was described as a Black female in her late teens or early 20s and was last seen fleeing in an older white or beige sedan, which was possibly occupied by three other suspects. The suspect cut the victim’s hand with the scissors during the robbery attempt, according to the alert.
About 7:15 p.m. Thursday, a 25-year-old man had his laptop stolen by two suspects while sitting inside Espresso Roma. One of the suspects was described by witnesses as a Black male in his early 20s, about 6 feet 1 inch tall, with a thin build and dressed in a white hooded top. The other suspect was described as a Black male in his early 20s, about 5 feet 9 inches tall, with a thin build and thin mustache. He was also described as wearing a blue jumpsuit.
Berkeley was hit by five robberies Saturday. Just after midnight, a 22-year-old man walking on the 2600 block of Parker Street was robbed by a suspect armed with a handgun who took the victim’s backpack. The suspect was described by witnesses as a Black male about 25 to 30 years old, 6 feet tall and heavyset. He was last seen wearing a dark blue zip-up hooded top.
About 12:30 a.m. that same night, a suspect armed with a handgun robbed a 17-year-old girl of her cellphone while she was walking on Dwight Way near Ellsworth Street. The suspect was described as a Black male, about 5 feet 6 inches tall, with a medium build and wearing a white or gray hooded top. The suspect was last seen driving away in a white or gray sedan.
About 7:50 a.m. Saturday, an 18-year-old jogger was robbed of his cellphone and wallet while running near Monterey Avenue and Hopkins Street. Medical personnel evaluated the victim at the scene after he was punched unconscious during the robbery. The victim’s cellphone was returned to him after being found abandoned nearby. The suspect was described as a White male about 16 to 18 years old, 5 feet 7 inches to 5 feet 9 inches tall, with a large build and bushy blond hair. He was last seen wearing a gray T-shirt and tan pants.
About 1 p.m. that same day, a 52-year-old man was robbed of his tricycle while standing on the 3000 block of Adeline Street. One suspect was described by witnesses as a white female, about 5 feet tall with a slim build and wearing a black short-sleeve shirt and blue jeans. The other suspect was described as a white male about 5 feet 10 inches tall with a bald head and tattoos on both arms. The stolen tricycle was later found abandoned on the 1700 block of 63rd Street and was returned to the victim.
Later than day, about 5:40 p.m., a suspect robbed a 22-year-old woman of her rental bicycle while she was stopped at the 1200 block of Fourth Street. The suspect was described by witnesses as a Black male about 20 to 30 years old, 5 feet 9 inches to 6 feet tall and wearing a red sweatshirt and black pants.
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