Pepper Spray Robbery at Thousand Oaks School

A member of the staff at Thousand Oaks Elementary School in North Berkeley was assaulted with pepper spray and robbed of her purse while walking to her car after school on Tuesday, the principal said in a message to school families.

Here is the message from Principal Gayle Hughes:

January 23, 2013

Dear Thousand Oaks Families,

Yesterday afternoon, just after 5:00 p.m., one of our staff members was assaulted while walking to her car that was parked on Catalina Avenue. She was approached from behind, sprayed in the face with pepper spray and her purse was stolen. Aside from the emotional trauma and pepper spray, she counts herself fortunate that nothing else happened. No one else was on the street at the time.

The suspect was a Caucasian female with shoulder-length, straight, reddish hair and brown or black plastic glasses. She was approximately 5’3” tall and was of average build. Immediately after the attack, a late model white SUV, without model/brand markings (possibly a Tahoe) drove up and the attacker jumped inside and sped away. The license number included “15M” and possibly an “H”.
It is our hope that this was an isolated incident, yet in response to it, I encourage all community members to be extra vigilant to survey ...their surroundings when leaving campus and walking on the side streets near our campus. If at all possible, walk with a group or ask someone to observe as you go to your cars.

Please report any suspicious activity adjacent to our school to our school office during school hours or to the Berkeley Police Department (510) 981-5900. we will be better able to assure everyone’s safety.
Sincerely,

Gayle Hughes Principal