Crime & Safety

Car Stolen at Starbucks While Owner Grabs Coffee; 2nd Laptop Swiped at Starbucks

The El Cerrito Police Blotter for Dec. 3-10 included a car stolen from the San Pablo Ave. Starbucks when the owner went in for 15 minutes to get coffee, another laptop swiped at the El Cerrito Plaza Starbucks and a car fleeing the wrong way onto I-80.

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

December 3 

Automobile Burglary – 2600 Block Tassajara Ave 
Officer Li reports unknown suspect(s) broke into a 1999 Honda Accord between 12/3/12 @ 10:22 pm and 12/4/12 @ 7:15am. It appears there was an attempt to steal the car, which was thwarted by a steering wheel / brake lever club. The suspect settled on taking approximately $60 cash from the vehicle. 

Drunk in Public / Warrant Arrest - 11300 block of San Pablo Ave. 
Officers were dispatched to an intoxicated subject lying on the ground in front of a business. Upon arrival officers located the 63 year old male from Richmond passed out. The male was intoxicated and unable to care for himself. He was placed under arrest and transported to the Martinez Detention Facility. 

Under the Influence of Narcotics / Possession of Hypodermic Needles - El Cerrito Plaza 
Officers were dispatched to the El Cerrito Plaza regarding a disturbance. Upon arrival, officers located a 25-year-old male from Berkeley acting erratically. During the investigation, officers located hypodermic needles in the male’s possession and determined he was under the influence of heroin. The male was arrested and transported to the Martinez Detention Facility after booking. 

Driving Under the Influence - San Pablo Ave / Huntington Ave. 
Officer Thepkaysone conducted a traffic enforcement stop on a vehicle for a vehicle violation. During the contact Officer Thepkaysone arrested the 26 year old female from San Pablo for DUI. After booking the female was released to a sober friend. 

December 4 

Warrant Arrest - Fairmount Ave / Kearney Ave. 
Officer Elder conducted a pedestrian stop and contacted a 44 year old male from Albany. During a records check, Officer Elder discovered the male had a warrant out of Napa County. After booking, the male was transported to the Martinez Detention Facility. 

December 5 

Warrant Arrest – Central Ave and Belmont Ave. 
Officer Payne arrested a 24 year old male from El Cerrito after a traffic stop. The male was wanted on a robbery and probation violation warrant. He was booked, cited for his traffic violation and transported to Martinez Detention Facility. 

Stolen Vehicle – Starbucks (11861 San Pablo Ave) 
Officer Jacala responded to for a reported theft of a 1992 Acura Integra. The theft occurred between 7:30 am and 7:45 am while the owner went inside to purchase coffee. 

Recovered Stolen Vehicle – Starbucks (11861 San Pablo Ave) 
While investigation the pervious auto theft Officer Jacala located a 1991 Acura Integra parked in the same area of the stolen vehicle which had been reported stolen earlier in the morning to Albany PD. It was released to its owner at the scene. 

Warrant Arrest – Walgreens, 11565 San Pablo Avenue 
Corporal Tang arrested a 47-year-old Richmond man for a warrant for assault. The man was booked and transported to the Martinez Detention Facility. 

Warrant Arrest – Civic Center Apartments, 10944 San Pablo Avenue 
A 32 year old homeless man was found sleeping in the fitness room of the apartment complex. The man was found to have a warrant for a parole violation and was taken into custody. The man was booked and transported the Martinez Detention Facility. 

Warrant Arrest ¬¬– San Pablo Avenue and Carlson Boulevard 
Officer Elder contacted a 21-year-old woman and determined that she had a warrant from Berkeley for theft. The woman was cited and released from the scene. 

Driving Under the Influence – San Pablo Avenue and Potrero Avenue 
Officer Thepkaysone conducted a traffic enforcement stop and arrested the 25 year old female driver from Richmond for DUI. The woman was booked and released with a citation. 

December 6 

Driving Under the Influence – San Pablo Avenue and Waldo Avenue 
Officer Elder conducted a traffic enforcement stop and arrested 21 year old driver from Richmond for DUI. The man was booked and released with a citation. 

December 7 

Vehicle Theft – 600 block of Elm St. 
Officer Wong reports that an unknown suspect stole the victim’s burgundy 1993 Honda Accord sometime between 12/6/12 2300 hours and 12/7/12 1200 hours. 

Grand Theft – 3090 El Cerrito Plaza. 
Officer Wong reports that an unknown suspect grabbed the victim’s laptop from in front of him at Starbucks then fled to a waiting vehicle on Richmond St. at Central Ave. TOO: 1240 hours 
[Editor's note: a previous Police Blotter reported a laptop stolen from a patron at a table at the Plaza Starbucks on Oct. 30. The thief eluded police after a chase at the Plaza BART station.]

Recovered Stolen Vehicle - 600 Block of Elm St. 
While on patrol, Officer Del Prado located an unoccupied Honda Accord that was stolen from Oakland on 12/5/12. 

Driving Under the Influence - Everett St. / Portola Ave. 
Officer Aguilar conducted a traffic enforcement stop on a vehicle for a vehicle code violation. During the contact, Officer Aguilar arrested a 58-year-old male from Oakland for driving under the influence. After booking, the male was cited and released to a relative. 

December 8 

Auto Burglary – 1400 block of Richmond St. 
Officer Wells reports that an unknown suspect slit the canvas top on the victim’s vehicle and stole the victim’s stereo. TOO: 12/7/12 2300 hours to 12/8/12 1040 hours. 

Stolen Vehicle / Evading Police – Eastshore Blvd. / San Pablo Ave. 
Officer Wells attempted to stop a green Honda Civic for a traffic violation. Rather than stop, the vehicle accelerated southbound on Eastshore Blvd., drove the wrong direction in the northbound lanes then subsequently drove westbound on the eastbound I-80 off-ramp at Potrero Ave. The pursuit was cancelled and CHP was notified. 

Vehicle Theft – 225 E.C. Plaza 
Officer Wong reports that an unknown suspect stole the victim’s gold 1991 Honda Accord from the parking lot of the business sometime on 12/8/12 0900 to 1300 hours. 

Possession of a Dangerous Weapon – Eastshore Blvd. / San Pablo Ave. 
Officer Wells conducted a pedestrian stop and subsequently arrested a 24-year-old Oakland man for possession of nunchucks. The man was booked at the El Cerrito Police Department and released with a citation. 

December 9 

Recovered Stolen Vehicle – S. 52nd / Fray Ave. 
Officer Del Prado located an unoccupied 1997 Honda Civic that was reported stolen to SFPD on 12/2/12. 

Possession of a Controlled Substance – San Pablo Ave / Potrero Ave. 
Officer Aguilar conducted a pedestrian stop and contacted a 35-year-old male from Richmond. During the contact Officer Aguilar discovered the male, an ex felon, was in possession of suspected methamphetamine and pepper spray. After booking, the male was cited and released. 

Auto Burglary - 11700 Block of San Pablo Ave 
Officer Aguilar reports a witness saw two men shattering the right front passenger window of a Toyota Camry in the rear parking lot of the apartment complex and saw them remove property. The suspects were last seen traveling northbound on San Pablo Ave. in a gray Oldsmobile. TOO: 0326-0331 hours. 

December 10 

Arrest Warrant - 11800 block of San Pablo Ave. 
During a search warrant service, officers located a 22-year-old male from Hercules with an active warrant. After booking, he was transported to the Martinez Detention Facility. 

Stolen Vehicle Recovery - S.56th Ave @ Jefferson Ave. 
Officer Del Prado located the victim’s stolen 2008 Chevy Silverado.

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

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