Burglars Hit 4 Homes, Diners 'Eat and Run' at Denny's

Editor's note: the El Cerrito Police Blotter below is provided by the El Cerrito Police Department.

March 22, 2013 

Auto Burglary – Harper St. at Knott Ave. 
Sometime between March 15 and March 18, an unknown suspect damaged the victims front passenger door lock to their Volvo to gain entry and stole speakers, a toolbox and a catalytic converter. 

Residential Burglary – 1400 block of Richmond St. 
The homeowner reported that an unknown suspect took the washer and dryer from a residence. A witness reported seeing a red pick-up truck in the driveway of the residence early in the day. The investigation is ongoing. 

Bait Car Operation
With the assistance with California Highway Patrol detectives, El Cerrito police officers and reserve police officers conducted a “Bait Car” operation in the city between the hours of 12:00 pm to 8:00 pm. The Bait car was deployed at different commercial areas along San Pablo Ave. between Cutting Blvd and Potrero Ave. There were no vehicle thefts or vehicle break-ins reported during the operation. (For more details on the "bait car" operation, see "No One Takes 'Bait Car' in El Cerrito.")

Grand Theft – 7500 block of Schmidt Ln. 
An unknown suspect stole the victim’s nearby camera accessories while the victim was taking photographs of the area sometime between 1515 and 1530 hours. 

Residential burglary – 1000 of King Dr. 
An unknown suspect entered the victim’s residence by prying the front door, conducted a minor ransack and stole property sometime between 1830 and 2000 hours. 

Driving under the Influence – San Pablo Ave. / Blake St. 
Officers conducted a traffic enforcement stop and arrested the driver, a 22-year-old Richmond woman, for driving under the influence of alcohol. The woman was booked at the El Cerrito Police Department and released to a sober friend. 

Driving under the Influence – Carlson Blvd. / Van Fleet Ave. 
Officers conducted a traffic enforcement stop and arrested the driver, a 22-year-old Oakland man, for driving under the influence of alcohol. The man was booked at the El Cerrito Police Department and released to a sober friend. 

Driving under the Influence – San Pablo Ave. / Lincoln Ave. 
Officers conducted a traffic enforcement stop and subsequently arrested the driver, a 19-year-old Berkeley man, for driving under the influence of alcohol. The man was booked at the El Cerrito Police Department and released to a sober friend. 

March 23, 2013 

Drunk in Public – Creekside Park 
At 11:03 pm, officers arrested a 27-year-old male from Albany after he was found exposing himself in the park while highly intoxicated. The male was arrested, booked at the El Cerrito Police Department and transported to the Martinez Detention Facility. 

Petty Theft (Shoplifting) – Safeway 11450 San Pablo Ave. 
At 3:12pm, officers accepted the citizen’s arrest of a 24-year-old male from Pleasant Hill and a 25-year-old female from Martinez, after loss prevention employees caught them stealing miscellaneous items from the store. They were booked at the El Cerrito Police Department and released on a citation. 

Attempted Residential Burglary – 600 block of Lexington Ave. 
Officers were dispatched to the area for an audible alarm sounding from the residence. Officers arrived to find that an unknown suspect pried on the front door, which caused the alarm to sound at approximately 2010 hours. 

Driving under the Influence and Violation of DUI Probation – San Pablo Ave. / Santa Cruz Ave. 
Officers conducted a traffic enforcement stop and arrested a 41-year-old Richmond woman for driving under the influence of alcohol. The woman is currently on probation for a previous DUI case. The woman was booked at the El Cerrito Police Department and released to a sober family member. 

Driving under the Influence – Macdonald Ave. / 45th St. 
Officers conducted a traffic enforcement stop and arrested the driver, a 24 year-old El Sobrante woman, for driving under the influence of alcohol. The woman was booked at the El Cerrito Police Department and released to a sober friend. 

March 24, 2013 

Residential Burglary – 800 block of Everett St. 
Between 5:00pm on March 23 and 8:00am on March 24, and unknown suspect(s) forced open the rear security gate and entered the residence. The suspect(s) placed miscellaneous tools from inside the residence onto the front porch. No property was taken from the residence and the victim reported seeing an unknown gray primer colored pickup truck leaving the area as he arrived this morning. 

Stolen/Recovered Vehicle – 11200 San Pablo Ave. 
Between 6:00pm on March 23 and 8:00 am March 24, an unknown suspect stole the victim’s Honda Accord. After reporting it to the police, the victim located his Honda, unoccupied in the 1200 block of S. 57th St. 

Defrauding an Innkeeper – 11344 San Pablo Ave. 
Three subjects ate a meal at Denny’s and left without paying. Officers apprehended the suspects several blocks away. Officers arrested an 18-year-old Richmond man, a 20-year-old Richmond man, and a 21-year-old Richmond man for defrauding the business. Officers booked them at the El Cerrito Police Department and released them with a citation. 

Residential Burglary – 5900 block of Lassen Ave. 
An unknown suspect entered the victim’s residence through a bathroom window and stole miscellaneous electronics and jewelry, sometime between 3/22/13 at 1800 hours and 3/24/13 at 2230 hours.

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

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