Crime & Safety

"Suspicious Persons Call" Leads to Arrest

El Cerrito police Wednesday credited "an observant citizen" for reporting suspicious activity that led to the arrest of a parolee, and issued a public reminder to report any suspicious activity immediately to police.

El Cerrito police Wednesday said they were able to arrest an Oakland parolee the day before, thanks to a call from a watchful citizen.

About 9:44 a.m. Tuesday, officers went to the area of Central and Kearney avenues on a report that two men "were checking the windows and doors of parked vehicles in the area," police said in a news release prepared by Detective Sgt. Gilbert Tang.

Responding officers found two men in 10000 block of San Pablo Avenue, including an Oakland man on parole for a weapons violation, police said. The parolee was "found to be a felon in possession of pepper spray and a counterfeit bill" and was "taken into custody without incident" and taken to the county jail in Martinez, the news release said.

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"This arrest was made possible due to the reporting of the suspicious activity from an observant citizen," police said. "The El Cerrito Police Department would like to remind citizens to report any suspicious activity immediately to the non-emergency line @ (510) 237-3233 and any crimes in progress to call 911. When calling, please provide as much information as possible (detailed description of suspects, vehicles, direction of flight.)"

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