Home Invasion Robberies, Carjacking in El Cerrito, Kensington – Robber Escapes
A robber kicked in the front door of two homes in El Cerrito and stole two cars, one from a Kensington resident at gunpoint, and escaped after a police pursuit this morning, Tuesday, police said.
A robber kicked in the front doors of two homes in the El Cerrito hills this morning, Tuesday, and stole two cars, one at gunpoint, before eluding police after a pursuit, police said.
The spree began at 9:04 a.m. when the police dispatch center received a report of prowler in the backyard of home on Baron Court, El Cerrito police said in a news release. The prowler went to the front door, knocked and asked to come inside, but the resident refused and called police, police said. The prowler climbed over a back fence into the Hillside Nature Area.
Officers arriving on the scene were told by another resident, of King Drive, that a robber kicked down that resident's front door, assaulted the resident and stole the resident's property, according to police.
An officer spotted the suspect fleeing in a car from a neighboring residence, where a man had also kicked in the front door and stolen the vehicle, police said. A resident told Patch that the two robbed homes are in the 1200 block of King.
El Cerrito police alerted other police agencies, and a Kensington police officer spotted the suspect on Sunset Drive in a different car, taken at gunpoint from a Kensington resident, El Cerrito police said.
"El Cerrito and Kensington Police Officers attempted to keep up with the vehicle as it drove recklessly across the residential streets of the hillside neighborhood," the news release said. "Many walkers, joggers, and neighbors helped direct the police response by pointing in the direction of the suspect’s flight. Ultimately, the police officers discovered that the suspect drove onto a fire trail at the top of the Hillside Nature Area, in the carjacked vehicle, and exited at the bottom."
The suspect escaped, and El Cerrito police said they are following "promising leads in the case."
Witnesses described the man as a having a dark complexion, of medium height and weight, with short black hair, police said. He wore a gray, hooded sweatshirt and dark pants.
Anyone who may have seen the man or knows his identity is asked to call El Cerrito police. The department can be reached at 510-215-4400 during normal business hours and at 510-237-3233 night and weekends.
Danny Chester
6:50 pm on Tuesday, February 14, 2012
This sounds like the same person who broke into our place of business in Kensington twice over the last 2 months.
Karin
7:23 am on Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Everyone in our neighborhood was very shaken up yesterday, especially our neighbors who had a home invasion. I thought we were safe from the recent hillside home robberies because everyone in our neighborhood is home during the day. Now I know that is not the case. It is extremely scary when a burglar is so brazen that he could care less whether people are home or not. Everyone, please do your best to be safe, and report any suspicious activity to the police, even if it might seem trivial at the time. That is the only way we can cut down on crime in our lovely city.
Ron
8:25 am on Wednesday, February 15, 2012
APB...be on the lookout for a male "dark complexion, of medium height and weight, with short black hair. He word [sic] a gray, hooded sweatshirt and dark pants".
What a worthless description! BTW...what in the heck does the PC term "dark complexion" mean anyway? If hispanic, African American, Asian, Anglo or Green say it! If not, then might as well just say...he looked like a man and draw a stick figure. Typical PC non-sense.
mr. potato head
9:56 am on Wednesday, February 15, 2012
yep, couldn't agree more. Maybe it was the speaker of the house Mr. Boehner... he has a "dark complexion"
Charles Burress
11:03 am on Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Mea culpa on "word." Should be "wore." I was typing fast so that I could get the news out to readers as soon as possible and neglected to proofread carefully enough. Apologies. It's been fixed.
Toni Mayer
10:56 am on Wednesday, February 15, 2012
I agree, Karin. We've felt safe because pretty much everyone's home in our neighborhood during the day. For close to 30 years we haven't locked our doors because of our location and our dogs, but we're locking them now. I don't like the progression from burglaries to home invasions to carjacking at gunpoint. We're certainly more alert than we have been.
Tim
11:32 am on Wednesday, February 15, 2012
As one who has called in a handful of suspicious persons, I'd like to say that everyone interested in stemming crime should practice (the art of) giving a good physical description. The fact is that's it's hard. Police get training for this, and memory experiments show that the average person is terrible at it (and highly suggestible). Height, weight, hair and eye color, jacket and pants, facial hair, and head wear (if any) are key aspects, as well as gait, accessories (clip board, eg.), vehicle, accomplices.
Karin
11:56 am on Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Yes, I agree, but I have to admit that is easier said than done! As you said, it is an art. I too have called in a number of suspicious persons/activities and have found it is difficult to get all that information most times. Yesterday, when the carjacker almost ran me down while I was walking with my baby and dog, my first instict was to run as fast as I could to get out of the street (we have no sidewalks in our neighborhood). It was only after I was safe that I thought of looking at the car. I wasn't able to get a description of the driver or license plate, but I did make a note of the color, make and model. I wouldn't have thought to do that a year ago before I began calling the police often.
It's just about taking that extra step or two once you are out of harm's way.
Karin
11:38 am on Wednesday, February 15, 2012
I just found out that they caught him, yay!
Larry Craighill
12:15 pm on Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Please keep us informed Charles. It would be a huge relief to know the suspect is in custody.
Larry Craighill
12:25 pm on Wednesday, February 15, 2012
And my request was answered even before I could hit the "Reply" button. Thanks!
Sherry Lebeck
12:26 pm on Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Someone left a poorly written note on my car window asking if I wanted to sell. The person left a phone number. That same week someone knocked at my door, but I didn't answer. A person then left a second note on the car window. It's troubling to think that people are cruising around watching the comings and goings of people in the neighborhoods. I've accosted three Hispanic men on three occasions (separately) either trying or in the process of breaking into my car at night when taking the dog out. One guy left all his tools in the car as he fled. I wished at the time that I had a Rottweiller that could have taken him down!
George McRae
9:29 pm on Wednesday, February 15, 2012
I'm desperately trying to get the city consider DNA processing in solving these crimes. I have spoken with the council, the chief and the asst city manager. DNA screening has come to the point that there is over a 50% "hit" rate. Serological Research in Richmond wants to talk to the city. And the Chief seems or seemed interested, yet all the contact info I have given them as of today at least goes in one direction only. Please call the city and chief over and over as much as it takes. The tools left behind in a car breakin are seething in recoverable DNA, as well as car theft and home breakins/burglaries. The people committing these crimes are in the system already as most as you can tell from the record of yesterday's lunatic is long in the system. Read the San Jose Mercury article and read the last two paragraphs. That he was anywhere near our community in the first place shows a poor failing of our entire criminal justice system. http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_19970458. PLUS SRI will arrange for grant money to offset the budget. Talking is done. DOING BY THE CITY MUST BE NEXT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!