Crime & Safety

"Water Company" Thieves Steal from Elderly Resident, Armed Robbery on San Pablo

The El Cerrito police blotter for Sept. 24-30 includes two men in hooded sweatshirts with a gun robbing a victim on San Pablo Ave., and two thieves gaining entry to a home after claiming to be water company employees.

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

SEPTEMBER 24 

Auto Burglary – 6400 Block Fairmount Ave 
Officer Wong reports between 9/23/12 at 10:00 pm & 9/24/12 at 6:30 am, an unknown suspect shattered the passenger window to a 2012 Honda Civic and stole a blue backpack. 

Domestic Violence – Pinehurst Ct 
Officers responded to a domestic violence incident and arrested a man for battery on his spouse/co-habitant. 

Grand Theft – 11780 San Pablo Ave (Common Area) 
Officer Wells reports that a thief cut the cable lock securing two Schwinn 5 speed bicycles. The bicycles were locked to a bicycle rack in the common area and were stolen between 09/20/12 at 5:30 pm and 09/22/12 at 5:40 pm. 

Residential Burglary - 500 block of Albemarle St. 
Officer Strang reports that unknown suspect(s) entered a residence located in the 500 block of Albemarle St. via an unlocked front door and removed property. 

Driving under the Influence - Fairmount Ave/ San Pablo Ave. 
Officer Elder conducted a traffic enforcement stop and arrested a 49-year-old man from San Leandro for DUI. After booking, the man was transported to the Martinez Detention Facility. 

Armed Robbery - 10600 block of San Pablo Ave. 
Officer Strang reports that two men approached the victim and brandished a firearm. They stole the victim’s cellular telephone and fled. The suspects were both in their early twenties and wore black hooded sweatshirts and blue jeans. 

SEPTEMBER 25 

Stolen vehicle - near 670 El Cerrito Plaza 
Officer Strang reports the victim’s 1990 Honda Accord was stolen between 1745 and 1833 hours. 

SEPTEMBER 26 

Check Fraud – 6000 block of Central Ave. 
Officer Jacala reports that the victim sold gold coins to the suspect, in August. Unfortunately, the suspect paid for the coins with a check from a closed account. 

Stolen Vehicle Arrest – 11450 San Pablo Ave. 
Officer Cheng located an occupied stolen Nissan Maxima, at 1214 hours. The vehicle was stolen from the City of Pleasant Hill on 09/18/12. The vehicle stopped in the Safeway parking lot and Officer Cheng arrested the driver. The driver was booked and transported to Martinez Detention Facility. 

Driving under the Influence - San Pablo Ave. @ Blake St. 
Officer Thepkaysone stopped a car and arrested the driver after discovering that she was intoxicated. The officer booked the 26-year-old from San Pablo and released her to a friend. 

SEPTEMBER 27 

Residential Burglary – 2000 Block Harper St 
At 0900 hours, two suspects tricked an elderly resident into allowing them to enter the home. They claimed to be working for a water company and needed to check the water pressure in the house. Once inside, the burglars ransacked the bedrooms. The victim described the suspects as Middle Eastern or Hispanic men, in their twenties. One suspect wore a long sleeve white sweater, white pants and white shoes. The other suspect wore a gray sweater and dark pants. Use caution when confronted at your door by people claiming to be from a utility company, particularly if a utility vehicle is nowhere in sight. Do not hesitate to call the police, if you feel that something suspicious is afoot. 

Petty Theft - 1700 block of Julian Ct. 
Officer Elder reports a thief entered victim’s unlocked vehicle and removed a Craftsman pressure washer and other property. The theft occurred between 0800 and 1130 hours.

SEPTEMBER 28 

Stolen Vehicle – 6700 block of Snowden Avenue 
Corporal Wahrlich reports the victim’s 1997 Honda CRV was stolen sometime between 9/27/12 at 2100 hours to 9/28/12 at 0800 hours. 

Driving under the Influence - Lassen Street @ Santa Clara Avenue 
Sgt. Wong arrested a 41-year old Albany resident for DUI during a traffic enforcement stop. The subject was arrested and booked at the ECPD. 

SEPTEMBER 29 

Driving under the Influence - San Pablo Avenue @ Bayview Avenue 
Officer Evans arrested a 34-year old Vallejo resident for DUI during a traffic enforcement stop. The subject was arrested and booked at the ECPD. 

Driving under the influence - South 55th Street @ School Street 
Officer Arnaiz arrested a 28-year old Richmond resident for driving under the influence of alcohol after being involved in a solo vehicle collision. The subject was arrested and booked at the ECPD. 

SEPTEMBER 30 

Theft and Stolen Vehicle – 1400 block of Liberty St. 
Officer Leone reports that an unknown suspect entered the victim’s unlocked vehicle and ransacked it. The suspect located a spare key for the victim’s other vehicle, a 1998 Honda Accord, and stole it. The crime occurred between 2300 hours on 9/29 and 0900 hours on 9/30, 

Warrant arrest - 11555 San Pablo Avenue 
Officer Wong arrested a 19-year old Richmond resident for a warrant during a traffic enforcement stop. The subject was booked at the ECPD and then transported to the Martinez Detention Facility.

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

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