Crime & Safety

Liquor Store Clerk Arrested for Buying Stolen Cell Phones

On March 22, 2013, Berkeley Police Department detectives arrested M&H Market and Liquor store employee Alawdi Saleh, 59, of Berkeley, for knowingly purchasing phones which appeared to be stolen.

Berkeley Police Department detectives, in conjunction with California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) agents, arrested a liquor store employee for purchasing apparent stolen cellular phones.

The M&H Market and Liquor store located at the corner of Fairview Street and Adeline Street was part of a month-long investigation focused on identifying businesses that buy and sell stolen goods, according to a BPD release.

During surveillance operations a clerk was seen buying stolen cell phones on several occasions, the release said.

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On March 22, 2013, detectives arrested market employee Alawdi Saleh, 59, of Berkeley, for knowingly purchasing phones which appeared to be stolen.

During this operation, detectives also seized more than 20 cell phones, some of which were stolen, according to the release.

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This is an on-going investigation, and detectives are working to identify the owners of each cell phone and determine the status of the seized phones.

Cellular phones are often the target of thefts and robberies, due to their high resale value, BPD said.

The department encourages community members to take these crime prevention measures to avoid becoming a victim of theft or robbery:

  • Do not talk on cell phones or listen to IPods when alone outside as they significantly limit awareness.
  • Do avoid isolation: Avoid uninhabited parks, parking lots, garages, and alleyways; stick to well-lit, high-traffic areas.
  • Do walk with a purpose: Project an assertive image that conveys you know where you are going


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