Pepper-spray Purse Robbery, Laptop Snatch from Starbucks

Editor's note: the El Cerrito Police Blotter below was released today, Nov. 12, by the El Cerrito police department.

October 30 

Recovered Stolen Vehicle – 1700 Block Elm St 
Officer Li located an unoccupied stolen 1995 Acura Legend at 1000 hours which had been reported stolen to San Pablo PD on 10/29/12. 

Residential Burglary – 1300 Block Everett St 
Officer Li reports unknown suspect entered the residence via an unlocked side yard window. The suspect stole jewelry, a Mac Book computer and cash. The burglary occurred between 0845 and 1000 hours. 

Petty Theft w/Prior Theft Convictions – CVS Pharmacy 
Officer Li reports the arrest of a 50 year old male from Richmond at 1350 hours after he was stopped by store security for stealing alcohol. He was booked and released with a citation. 

Grand Theft from a Person – El Cerrito Plaza 
Officers responded at 1640 hours to a report of a strong arm robbery near the El Cerrito Plaza Starbucks. The suspect was observed by a witness running towards the Plaza BART station where School Resource Officer’s Maldonado & Albrandt located him on the station platform. A brief foot pursuit from the station towards Richmond Street ensued in which the suspect was able to elude capture. The subsequent investigation determined the victim sustained an injury from falling as he gave chase after the suspect grabbed his laptop from the coffee table and fled.

Vehicle Theft – 1800 block of Liberty St 
Officer Li reports the theft of a 1995 Honda Accord taken between 0500 and 1700 hours today. 

Auto Burglary- Parking Lot in the El Cerrito Plaza near Trader Joes 
Officer Alvarez reports an unknown suspect entered the victim’s locked Nissan by unknown means and stole a briefcase from the passenger compartment. 

October 31 

Auto Burglary - 5300 block of Cypress Avenue 
The front passenger window to the victim’s Nissan SUV was broken and the suspect stole a GPS device from the passenger compartment. 

Vehicle Theft - Parking Lot in the El Cerrito Plaza near Panda Express 
Officer Elder reports the victim’s Acura TL was stolen from the parking lot sometime between 1600 and 2100 hours. 

Trespassing and Public Intoxication - Jo-Ann Fabrics 300 El Cerrito Plaza 
Officers responded to Jo-Ann Fabrics because the alarm had been activated. Officers found the front door ajar and after searching the business found a heavily intoxicated 37 year old male from San Francisco seated in an aisle. The man was disoriented and had entered the business after it had closed. The man was booked at the El Cerrito Police Department and transported to the Martinez Detention Facility. 

November 1 

Recovered Stolen Vehicle – Officer Li located a Honda Accord in the parking lot of the El Cerrito Plaza next to Lucky’s. The Honda had been reported stolen to Berkeley PD the day before. 

Disturbance of a School Activity – Officer Li responded to St Jerome’s Elementary School after 57 year old female was reported as an unwanted person causing problems. The school principal reported the female had recently been parking her car in the church parking lot with the volume on her car radio so loud as to disrupt the school. Today, the female started yelling and swearing at one of the teachers and the principal in front of a 3rd grade class who were returning to their classroom from the church. The woman had left prior to officer’s arrival. 

Robbery – 500 Block Clayton Ave 
Officers responded to a report of a theft in progress where the victim had been sprayed in the face with an unknown substance. Upon arrival, officer’s determined the victim had been pepper sprayed by a female suspect while a second suspect stole the victim’s purse. Neighborhood citizens observing the event detained one of the two suspects until the arrival of the police. Officers arrested a 17 year old female who was booked and transported to Juvenile Hall. The second suspect was not apprehended. 

Vehicle Theft - San Pablo Avenue and El Dorado Street 
Officer Strang reports the victim’s Acura Legend was stolen sometime within the last 24 hours from when it was parked on San Pablo Avenue. 

November 2 

Suspended license, Failing to obey a lawful order, Burglary tools – Jordan Ave. at Ludwig Ave. 
Officers responded to the area for suspicious subjects loitering in the area. Officers contacted two 16 year-old Richmond males and an 18 year-old Richmond man. The 16 year-old males were cited for violating the daytime curfew. The driver of the vehicle was informed that his driver license was suspended and he was ordered not to drive the vehicle. Within 10 minutes of this order, Corporal Wahrlich saw the vehicle driving in the area. A traffic enforcement stop was conducted and the driver was arrested. A search of the vehicle produced burglary tools belonging to the other 16 year-old. He was arrested as well. Both males were booked at the El Cerrito Police Department and released to family. 

Possession of a controlled substance & failure to register - 1900 Key Boulevard 
Officer Schillinger arrested a 47 year-old Richmond resident for being in possession of a controlled substance (meth) during a traffic enforcement stop. The subject was also booked for failing to register as a sex offender. The subject was booked at the ECPD and then transported to the Martinez Detention Facility. 

Assault with a deadly weapon - 11500 block of San Pablo Avenue- 
Officer Wong reports that a 37 year-old Richmond man entered the business and began swinging his belt around. An unknown suspect then struck the Richmond resident in the head with a baseball bat and fled the business. The victim was treated at a local hospital for minor injuries and then released. 

November 3 

Automobile Burglary – Ashbury Ave. at Moeser Ln. 
Officer Wells reports that an unknown suspect shattered the victim’s right rear passenger window and stole belongings from the vehicle sometime between 1600 hours to 1640 hours. 

Possession of a stolen vehicle - 11500 block of San Pablo Avenue 
Officer Wong arrested a 19 year-old Richmond resident for being in possession of a stolen Honda Civic. The subject was arrested, booked at the ECPD and then transported to the Martinez Detention Facility. 

Possession of a controlled substance - San Pablo Avenue @ Wenk Avenue 
Officer Aguilar arrested a 35 year-old Richmond resident for being in possession of meth and smoking device during a pedestrian contact. The subject was arrested and then booked at the ECPD. 

Residential Burglary - 100 block of Pomona Avenue 
Officer Aguilar reports an unknown suspect entered the residence by unknown means and stole two Mac Books from inside of the residence. The burglary occurred on November 3 between 1730 and 2030 hours. 

November 4th 

Possession of a controlled substance - Eastshore Boulevard @ San Pablo Avenue 
Officer Wong arrested a 45 year-old San Francisco resident for being in possession of methamphetamine during a traffic enforcement stop. The man was arrested and then booked at the ECPD. 

Possession of a controlled substance & counter identification - South 45th @ Cypress Avenue- 
Officer Schillinger arrested a 43 year-old Richmond resident for being in possession of methamphetamine, a smoking device and a counterfeit driver license during a traffic stop. The subject was arrested and then booked at the ECPD.

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

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