Berkeley Police Log for July 7-13, 2011

Click the "Keep me posted" button below this story for an email alert as soon as we post the crime log. See past crime reports here on Berkeley Patch.

Wednesday, July 13

Three 19-year-old women were walking down the 2400 block of Dwight Way about 1:10 a.m. when a man pointed a handgun at them and demanded their purses. They described the robber to BPD as “a black male adult, in his 20s, black hair, 5’8-5’10, thin build wearing a grey or blue hooded sweatshirt and dark sweatpants.”

An 18-year-old was riding his purple-and-green “Fit” brand BMX style bicycle on the Thousand Oaks School grounds around 7 p.m. when a young man walked up and began punching him until he surrendered the bike. The robber was described as “a white male late teen or adult, light complexion, blond hair past his shoulders, 16-19 years old, 5'7 in height, 140-160 pounds, wearing a white T-shirt."

A young woman was walking to a party in the 2000 block of Durant Avenue about 9:10 p.m. when she saw a man closely following her. He grabbed her purse; when she held onto it, he pushed her to the sidewalk, pulled her purse from her and ran to an older-model dark sedan that sped away. She described the robber as “a black male adult, in his 20s, dark skin, short hair, 6’3”tall, thin build wearing a black jacket, white t-shirt and blue jeans."

A man left his home in the 100 block of The Uplands about 12:20 p.m. to run a short errand. When he returned half an hour later, he found his front door ajar, its lock evidently pried open, and at least one room ransacked. The man is still taking inventory of what, beyond some jewelry, was stolen. 

Tuesday, July 12

Guests at a Kittredge Street party helped themselves to the host's cash and electronics.  

The barrier pole meant to keep people from driving right up to California Hall evidently irritated somebody enough to steal it.

A Berkeley man who parked his 2002 Cadillac Escalade at Ward and Grant streets on Sunday expected it to be there when he returned to move it on Tuesday. It wasn't.

A Novato man parked his 2000 green Subaru Outback in a parking lot in the 2800 block of Seventh Street around 4 p.m. When he returned two hours later, someone had smashed the rear passenger window —apparently for the hell of it, since nothing was taken.

A resident of the 1600 block of Ashby Avenue was notified by the loud noise emerging from his Toyota Tacoma this morning that its catalytic converter had been removed overnight.

A San Francisco man parked his motorcycle for more than a week on the 1500 block of Holly Street. When he went to get it Tuesday, the license plate was gone.

A woman's $3,500 B-21 Giant Reign bicycle was stolen from University Village.

A 24-year-old woman was walking home at 9:10 p.m. on the 2500 block of Stuart Street when two men who evidently had been following her asked her what time it was. She pulled out her cell phone to check the time, One of the men grabbed the phone; both ran to a waiting sedan and drove away.

A young woman walking at Parker and Regent streets about 1:10 a.m. was confronted by a gunman who demanded her bag and got it.

Two People's Park denizens robbed a third of $23.

Monday, July 11

In separate incidents, two people were cited in People's Park for smoking marijuana.

Three other people enjoying marijuana nearby in the privacy of their car were spoken to about it. 

A student's white MacBook Pro was stolen from Wheeler Hall between 10 a.m. and noon.

Sunday, July 10

Someone smashed a vehicle window overnight on the 2200 block of Virginia Street and took the keys that had been left inside.  

An iPhone 4 owner on the corner of Carleton and California streets was forcibly divested of it a few minutes before midnight. 

Someone removed the rear license plate from a vehicle parked on the 2100 block of Shattuck Avenue.

A Shattuck Square waiter was robbed of his or her tips.    

Someone slashed a convertible in the 2700 block of San Pablo Avenue. 

A white 2003 Acura TL was stolen in the 2000 block of Durant Avenue. 

Saturday, July 9

A woman walking at University and McGee avenues at 2:17 a.m. had her purse stolen. 

Two men grabbed a woman's purse at University and McGee Avenues about 1:30 p.m.

A woman's wallet was lifted from her purse in the 200 block of Shattuck Avenue.      

Someone shoplifted a tray of rings from a shop in the 2300 block of Telegraph.    

Two people suspected of breaking into a car were arrested at 10th Street and Hearst Avenue about 10:45 p.m.                        
                
The person or people who smashed a vehicle window in the 1300 block of San Pablo got away. 

So did the thief or thieves of car stereos at Walnut and Virginia streets and the 2200 block of McKinley Avenue.

Friday, July 8

A 25-year-old man was arrested on narcotics charges in People's Park about 1:45 a.m.

A few minutes later, a student's $1,500 laptop was stolen from her unlocked I-House door. The suspects are two white guys in their 20s.

A man was picked up around noon in Memorial Glade on a probation violation, and another man there was chided about stealing UC-owned recyclables.

Someone stole a surveillance camera from the 2100 block of Parker Street.

Someone stole a "No Parking" sign from the 1900 block of Dwight Way. 

A car was left unlocked at Dwight Way and Telegraph Avenue, and the laptop inside disappeared.

If you know who  outside a King Street liquor store in the middle of the afternoon, BPD would love to talk to you.

Someone stole the seat off a bicycle in the 2000 block of University Avenue.                     

A 2006 Nissan Quest was stolen in the 900 block of Hearst Avenue just before midnight.

A 1995 Honda Civic was stolen around the same time from Dana Street and Channing Way.

The rear license plate was stolen from a vehicle at Webster Street and Telegraph.            
                
A 1991 black Nissan pickup truck was reported stolen about 4:20 p.m. from Page and 5th streets.            

Someone slashed a convertible in the 1300 block of Harmon Street and removed an iPod and a jacket.

Someone smashed a vehicle window in the 2300 block of Fourth Street and took a backpack.

The thief or thieves who smashed a car window and attempted to take the computer inside were unsuccessful.                  

Someone pried a lock in the 1600 block of Allston Way and stole bicycles.                         

Thursday, July 7

A 28-year-old convicted sex offender was arrested at Bancroft Way and Telegraph Avenue around 3:45 p.m. for allegedly molesting a minor and violating terms of his probation.

The revelation of 15 outstanding traffic warrants catapulted a 49-year-old man this afternoon from the corner of Allston Way and Harold Street straight to the Berkeley City Jail.

A UC employee was accused of damaging someone's silver 2005 Honda Civic in the process of maintaining the Smyth-Fernwald lawn.

A male student attempted suicide at 2535 Channing Way.

Another student drove his Honda Civic recklessly.