2 Men Posing as Sewer Inspectors Gain Entry, Stolen Car Arrest

Editor's note: the El Cerrito Police Blotter is provided by the El Cerrito police department.

October 8 

Stolen Recycle Material & Vandalism – Portola Middle School Demolition Site 
Officer Wells reports unknown suspect(s) forced open a secured dumpster and stole scrap metal be reclaimed for recycle. The suspect(s) damaged a Bobcat Bulldozer that was used to secure the top of the dumpster. The theft and damage occurred between Friday 10/5/12 at 1600 hours and Monday 10/8/12 at 0730 hours. 

Stolen Vehicle Arrest – MacDonald Ave & Wilson Ave 
Officer Wells located a stolen 1991 Acura Integra travelling southbound on San Pablo Ave near Conlon Ave., at 0943 hours. The vehicle made a u-turn and Officer Wells stopped the vehicle at Wilson Ave & MacDonald Ave. The vehicle was stolen from Fairfield earlier in the morning and was occupied by three people, all from Fairfield. El Cerrito officers detained the occupants and sent the driver to County Jail. 

October 9 

Suspicious Circumstance 
Officer Purdy reports at 1410 hours, two men wearing work clothes asked to enter an elderly resident’s home. They told him they needed to inspect faulty sewer lines to the residence. They entered the residence but, luckily, they did not steal anything. This is similar to the ruse used on 09/27/12 in which two Middle Eastern or Hispanic men claimed to be with the water company, convinced the elderly owner to let them in his home, and stole jewelry.
[Editor's note: the report of two men posing as water company employees can be found on an earlier police blotter.] 

Driving Under the Influence - San Pablo Avenue and Schmidt Lane 
Officer Elder conducted a traffic enforcement stop and arrested a 26-year-old man from San Francisco for driving under the influence. He was booked at the El Cerrito Police Department and released with a citation. 

Driving Under the Influence - Potrero Avenue and Eastshore Boulevard 
Officer Thepkaysone conducted a traffic enforcement stop and arrested a 19-year-old woman from San Francisco for driving under the influence. She was booked at the El Cerrito Police Department and released with a citation. 

October 10 

Possession of a Controlled Substance and Resisting Arrest - Richmond Street and Blake Street 
Officers Elder and Thepkaysone contacted a bicyclist at approximately 0430 hours and located suspected cocaine on the 29-year-old man from Richmond. The man attempted to flee after the officers found the narcotics; however, the officers quickly caught him and arrested him. The man was booked at the El Cerrito Police Department and released pending the lab results on the suspected narcotics. 

Vehicle Collision Involving DUI – San Pablo Ave and Fairmount Ave 
Officers responded to a report of a three-vehicle collision on San Pablo Avenue near Fairmount Avenue. Officers discovered that the 19 year old male driver of one of the vehicles was intoxicated and he was taken into custody. He was transported to Doctor’s Hospital for minor injuries and released a few hours later. He was booked at the El Cerrito Police Department and then transported to the Martinez Detention Facility.
[Editor's note: El Cerrito Patch published an article Friday about this crash and arrest.] 

Fraudulent Use of a Stolen Credit Card - Ace Hardware, 10057 San Pablo Avenue 
Officers responded to a report of a man who attempted to use a credit card that did not belong to him to purchase items from the store. The man left the store however; officers located him a few blocks away and arrested him. The 55-year-old man from Richmond was booked at the El Cerrito Police Department and transported to the Martinez Detention Facility. 

October 11 

Vehicle Theft – 2200 Block Humboldt Ave 
Corporal Payne reports unknown suspect stolen a Honda Civic sometime between 10/10/12 at 1800 hours and 10/11/12 at 0630 hours. 

Vehicle Theft – 5200 Block Potrero Ave 
Officer Purdy reports that an unknown suspect stolen a Honda Accord sometime between 10/10/12 at 1430 hours and 10/11/12 at 0800 hours.

The El Cerrito Crime Blotter can be found also on nixle.com. 

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