Robber Escapes with Cash from Sketchers Shoe Store

For El Cerrito police activity April 2-4, including two robberies and four residential burglaries, see"Two Teens Arrested After Pair of Armed Robberies," published April 9, 2013.

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

March 29, 2013 

Officers conducted a traffic enforcement operation on Central Ave. / San Mateo Ave., which resulted in one citation and an arrest for DUI. 

Domestic Dispute – Hillside Natural Area 
Officers responded to a 911 call where a hiker advised that a man was assaulting a woman in the hillside natural area behind the recycling center. Officers contacted a witness who directed them to where the incident occurred. Officers contacted a female victim with minor injuries however the male suspect had fled prior to the officer’s arrival. Officers located the suspect, a 22-year-old El Cerrito man, a short time later and took him into custody. He was booked at the El Cerrito Police Department and later transported to the Martinez Detention Facility. 

Driving under the Influence, DUI probation, Suspended driver’s license – Central Ave. / I-80
While working on a traffic operation, Officers conducted a traffic enforcement stop and arrested the driver, a 32 year-old San Francisco man, for driving under the influence of alcohol. The man was booked at the El Cerrito Police Department where officers discovered he was on probation. His driving license was also suspended as a result of his last DUI conviction. He was released to a sober relative. 

Driving under the influence – San Pablo Ave. / Huntington Ave. 
Officers conducted a traffic enforcement stop and subsequently arrested the driver, a 29 year-old Richmond man, for driving under the influence of alcohol. The man was booked at the El Cerrito Police Department and released to a sober relative. 

Driving under the influence – Carlson Blvd. / Fairmount Ave. 
Officers conducted a traffic enforcement stop and subsequently arrested the driver, a 21 year-old Pinole woman, for driving under the influence of alcohol. The woman was booked at the El Cerrito Police Department and released to a sober friend. 

Possession of a controlled substance – Barrett Ave. / Carlston Ave. 
Officers conducted a pedestrian stop and arrested a 50 year-old El Sobrante man for possession of tar heroin. The man was booked at the El Cerrito Police Department and released pending lab results. 

March 30, 2013 

Stolen Vehicle – 7100 block of Central Avenue 
An unknown suspect stole the victim’s Acura sometime between 7 pm and 9 am. 

Auto Burglary – 1500 block of Regency Court 
An unknown suspect broke the passenger side window to the victim’s Toyota Camry and stole an iPod sometime between 10 pm and 6:30 am. 

Auto Burglary – 1300 block of Contra Costa Drive 
An unknown suspect broke the front passenger window to the victim’s VW Jetta and stole a laptop and a purse sometime between 11pm and 7am. 

Auto Burglary – 1000 block of Villa Nueva Drive 
An unknown suspect broke the front passenger side window to the victim’s Mazda Protégé and stole a cell phone sometime between 2 am and 9 am. 

Auto Burglary – 7900 block of Terrace Drive 
An unknown suspect broke the rear passenger window to the victim’s Scion and stole a jar of change sometime between 8 pm and 8 am. 

Auto Burglary – 800 block of Shevlin Drive 
An unknown suspect broke the front passenger window to the victim’s Ford Focus and stole a Garmin brand GPS sometime between 7 pm and 10 am. 

Armed Robbery – Sketchers Shoes, 5805 Cutting Blvd.
Officers responded to a report of an armed robbery at Sketchers. Upon arrival officers determined that the suspect had entered the store and demanded money from the cashier. The cashier complied with the demands and the suspect grabbed the money from the till and quickly fled in a silver Hyundai onto eastbound I80. 

Parole Violation, Possession of controlled substances, Drug paraphernalia, Provide police with false information – 11299 San Pablo Ave. 
Officers conducted a suspicious vehicle stop and found that the driver, a 46-year-old Oakland man, had an parole violation warrant. His passenger, a 44-year-old Richmond woman, provided offices with a false name and date of birth. A subsequent search of the vehicle yielded methamphetamine and a smoking pipe. The man and woman were booked at the El Cerrito Police Department. The man was transported to the Martinez Detention Facility. The woman was cited and released. 

Warrant Arrest – Potrero Ave. / S. 56th St. 
Officers conducted a pedestrian stop and arrested a 42-year-old Richmond woman for an outstanding warrant. The woman was booked at the El Cerrito Police Department and transported to the Martinez Detention Facility. 

Vehicle Theft – 700 block of Elm St. 
An unknown suspect stole the victim’s green 1998 Honda Civic sometime between 2300 and 2340 hours. 

Recovered Stolen vehicle – Victor Ave. / S. 52nd St. 
Officers located a white Toyota Camry that had been reported stolen to Albany PD on 3/27/13. 

Driving under the Influence – Central Ave. / Yolo Ave. 
Officers conducted a traffic enforcement stop and subsequently arrested the driver, a 26 year-old Hercules 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 31, 2013 

Vehicle Theft – 5200 block of Gordon Avenue 
An unknown suspect stole the victim’s Honda sometime between 9 pm and 10:30 am. 

Vehicle Theft – 100 block of Behrens Street 
An unknown suspect stole the victim’s Nissan sometime between 5 pm and 11 am 

Driving under the influence, Warrant arrest – San Pablo Ave. / Macdonald Ave. 
Officers conducted a traffic enforcement stop and subsequently arrested the driver, a 31 year-old Richmond man, for driving under the influence of alcohol and an outstanding warrant. The man was booked at the El Cerrito Police Department and transported to the Martinez Detention Facility. 

Possession of forged driver’s license, Possession of a controlled substance, under the influence of a controlled substance, Warrant Arrest – 11299 San Pablo Ave.

Officers conducted a suspicious vehicle check in front of Computer Time and subsequently arrested the passenger, a 38 year-old Richmond woman, for an outstanding warrant. The driver, a 40 year-old Berkeley woman, was arrested for possession of methamphetamine and was under the influence of the same substance. The passenger was found to be in possession of several forged driver’s licenses. Both women were booked at the El Cerrito Police Department. The Richmond woman was transported to the Martinez Detention Facility. The Berkeley woman was cited and released to a sober friend. 

April 1, 2013 

Under the Influence of a Controlled Substance and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – 1600 Liberty St. 
At 11:16am officers responded to a report of suspicious person in the parking lot of Giovanni’s Grocery store. Officers contacted a 36-year-old female from Richmond and learned that she was under the influence of methamphetamines and was in possession of a meth pipe. The female was arrested, booked at the El Cerrito Police Department released 

Petty Theft (shoplifting)/Conspiracy - DB Shoes, 460 El Cerrito 
At 12:39pm, plaza security notified officers of a theft that occurred at DB Shoes. The plaza security guard followed the three suspects to CVS Pharmacy. Upon seeing the plaza security, two of the suspects fled on foot. Officers ran after the two suspects but lost sight of them near the Plaza BART station. A 16-year-old female juvenile from San Francisco was detained. The female was transported to the El Cerrito Police Department and released to her guardian. 

Auto Burglary – 1300 block of Contra Costa Dr. 
An unknown suspect broke the front, driver side window of the victim's 2008 Smart Car and rummaged through the vehicle. The burglary occurred between March 28 at 8:30pm and March 30 at 3:00pm. 

Drunk in Public – Ross, 2000 El Cerrito Plaza 
At 3:37pm, El Cerrito police officers located a 42-year-old male from Kensington, passed out to the rear of Ross. The male was so intoxicated that he was unable to care for himself. The man was arrested and transported to the Martinez Detention Facility. 

Drunk in Public/Warrant – 10690 San Pablo Ave. 
At 4:14pm, El Cerrito police officers responded to a male and female arguing. Officers located a 43-year-old female from San Pablo, who was intoxicated and had a warrant for her arrest for DUI. The female was arrested and transported to the Martinez Detention Facility. 

Vandalism – 6900 block of Wilson Way 
An unknown suspect shot a BB at a residence and shattered the front window. The incident occurred sometime between March 30 at 10:00 pm and March 31 at 10:00am. 

Theft of License Plate – 500 block of Bonnie Dr. 
An unknown suspect stole the rear license plate from the victim’s vehicle sometime between 3/31/13 at 1200 hours and 4/1/13 at 0900 hours. 

Attempted Residential Burglary – 6600 block of Gatto Ave. 
Officers responded to a residential burglary alarm in the neighborhood at 0433 hours. They found that an unknown suspect used a rock to smash a rear window of a residence. The alarm appeared to have deterred the burglary. 

Miscellaneous 

Two officers attended a neighborhood watch meeting on Saturday at the Canyon Trail Clubhouse to speak with residents about crime trends and solutions. 

This week officers contacted numerous El Cerrito students who were truant from school. Officers issued tickets to the students for violating daytime curfew and returned them to their schools.

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

For other police-related news in El Cerrito, click "El Cerrito police" next to Related Topics below. For alerts to updates on future police-related articles, click Keep me posted.