Crime & Safety
Man Arrested in Connection With Albany Attempts to Lure Girls Into Truck / Not El Cerrito Suspect, Police Say
Albany police arrested a man they say was connected to several incidents since the fall in which he tried to lure teenage girls into his truck, but El Cerrito police say he's not the same man being sought in a similar El Cerrito incident on Feb. 28.
Albany police have arrested a Richmond man in connection with trying to since October, authorities announced today.
El Cerrito have been in contact with Albany police, and the man in custody is not the man being sought in connection with a on Feb. 28 near St. Jerome Catholic School in El Cerrito, said El Cerrito police Capt. Michael Regan. A man in a battered black Ford pickup tried to lure a 10-year-old girl student from St. Jerome into his truck around 3 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 28, according to police.
On March 5, at about 7:30 p.m., Albany police arrested Gilberto Moreno, 36, at his home in Richmond. Police said they identified Moreno after he tried to lure a 16-year-old girl into his truck Saturday in Albany at 5:20 p.m.
Find out what's happening in El Cerritowith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The 16-year-old girl, who said she had been approached once before by the man, took a photograph of his truck and license plate, confirmed Lt. Dan Adams of the Albany Police Department, which helped lead to his arrest.
In several other reported incidents, a man stopped a teenage girl to ask for directions, according to information released today by police.
Find out what's happening in El Cerritowith free, real-time updates from Patch.
When she got close, police said he would try to get the girl inside by offering money, or showing her a map or an address written on paper. In one instance, the man exposed his genitalia to a victim when she approached the truck.
On Saturday, police said Moreno asked a girl for directions while seated inside his pickup truck. Police said the girl had been approached by the same man in October; she was 15 at the time.
"The victim immediately recognized the suspect and his vehicle. Due to quick thinking and presence of mind on the part of the teenaged victim, she avoided contact and quickly reported the attempt to . This report led police to Moreno’s vehicle, and ultimately to his arrest," according to the police news release.
"I'm absolutely impressed by this young girl, who recognized Moreno, yet remained calm enough to provide us with information that led us directly to him," said Police Chief Mike McQuiston. "Although we will not publicly release her identity, she is to be commended for her courageous calm during what was understandably a very frightening experience."
Moreno was arrested without incident and is being held at Santa Rita Jail. His bail was set at $110,000.
In addition to the two cases involving the 16-year-old victim, Moreno has been linked to three similar attempts in Albany, police said.
These include an incident on Oct. 21, where a man tried to lure a 14-year-old girl into his vehicle; an incident Jan. 11 with a 13-year-old girl; and an incident Feb. 23 with another 13-year-old girl.
The Alameda County Office of the District Attorney has charged Moreno with five counts of annoying a minor, according to the police department.
In the El Cerrito incident, the driver was described as African American, possibly between 25 and 35 years old, driving a small, "beat up" black Ford pickup. The girl said the truck had a standard cab, with the word “FORD” in silver letters on the tailgate and a construction rack on the back with wooden side panels, according to police.
A bumper sticker on the truck apparently contained the words "no driving while talking on a cell phone" and included an image of a woman involved in a vehicle collision. police said. The rear license plate contained the numbers "26” near the end of the license number.
