Crime & Safety

3 Home Burglaries, 6 Shoplifting Arrests in One Day, 3 Stolen Cars

The El Cerrito Police Blotter for Feb. 19-21 includes three home burglaries, six people arrested in four instances of alleged shoplifting on Feb. 19, and three stolen car cases with a Daly City man arrested for being in possession of one of the cars.

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

February 19, 2013 

Shoplifter / Burglary – Lucky’s, 1000 El Cerrito Plaza 
A 33 year-old Oakland resident was arrested for stealing alcohol and consuming it while inside of the business. The subject was booked at the ECPD and then transported to the MDF. 

Shoplifter / Burglary and delaying/obstructing a police officer – Safeway, 11450 San Pablo Avenue 
A 40 year-old San Francisco resident was arrested for stealing numerous bottles of baby formula and then fleeing upon the arrival of the police. The suspect discarded the stolen merchandise during the foot pursuit and was taken into custody one block away. The subject was booked at the ECPD and then transported to the MDF. 

Shoplifter / Burglary – Safeway, 11450 San Pablo Avenue 
A 28 year-old Oakland resident was arrested in the parking lot after stealing items from the business. The subject was booked at the ECPD and then transported to the MDF. 

Battery - 5800 block of El Dorado Street 
Officers responded to a single family dwelling on the report of an argument between two people. Upon arrival at the residence, officers located two siblings who had been involved in a physical altercation. Neither party wanted prosecution so officers stood by until one of the parties left the scene. 

Shoplifter / Petty Theft – CVS, 10650 San Pablo Avenue 
Officers arrested a 25 year-old Oakland man, a 19 year-old Oakland man and a 19 year-old Hercules man after they stole a bottle of alcohol from the business. The three individuals were booked at the ECPD and then released with a citation. 

Stolen Vehicle, Possession of Stolen Property and Burglary Tools – Del Norte Plaza, 11299 San Pablo Avenue 
A 29 year-old Daly City resident was arrested for being in possession of a stolen Honda Accord. At the time of his arrest, the subject was also in possession of burglary tools. The subject was booked at the ECPD and then transported to the MDF. 

February 20, 2013 

Vehicle Theft - 2500 block of Tulare Avenue 
A 1994 Honda Accord was reported stolen between the 19th at 2000 hours and the 20th at 0832 hours. 

Driving on a Suspended License and Obstructing an Officer - South 50th St. @ Cutting Blvd. 
During a traffic enforcement stop the driver of the vehicle fled on foot when officers attempted to contact him. Officers gave chase but were unable to locate the driver. The passenger, a 28 year-old Richmond resident was arrested on an outstanding arrest warrant. After further investigation, the driver was identified as a 19-year-old Richmond resident wanted for a warrant. 

Warrant Arrest - Blake Street @ San Pablo Avenue 
A 50 year-old San Francisco man was arrested on an outstanding warrant during a pedestrian contact. The subject was booked at the ECPD and then transported to the MDF. 

Residential Burglary - 6900 block of Wilson Way 
A resident reports that between the hours of 1645 and 1705 on the 20th a suspect kicked in the front door to the residence and then stole property. Residents in the area saw two suspicious subjects near the victim’s house, during the time of the burglary. The individuals were adult black males and were driving an older dark colored Lexus coupe, similar to an SC300 or SC400. Residents are encouraged to be on the lookout for this vehicle. In this incident, the suspects likely saw the victim leave the house to run an errand. 

Grand Theft - 2200 block of Tamalpais Avenue 
A resident reports an unknown subject entered their residence by unknown means and stole a laptop and two jewelry boxes. The incident occurred on the 19th between the hours of 1000-1803. 

Driving Under the influence - 10400 block San Pablo Avenue 
A 41 year-old Foster City man was arrested for DUI after he attempted to drive on the sidewalk. The subject was booked at the ECPD and then transported to the MDF. 

Vehicle Theft- 5200 block of Cypress Avenue 
A 1998 Acura Integra was stolen between the 20th at 1800 and the 21st at 0537 hours. 

February 21, 2013 

Misappropriation of Lost Property - Cutting Boulevard @ Peerless Avenue 
A 37-year-old El Sobrante resident was arrested for being possession of checks belonging to another person. The subject was booked at the ECPD and then released pending further investigation into the origin of the checks. 

Residential Burglary - 2600 block of Brooks Avenue 
A resident reports an unknown suspect removed a section from a windowpane, opened the window and then entered the residence. The loss is unknown at this time. The incident occurred between 2/19 at 1700 hours and 2/21 at 1850 hours. 

Driving under the influence - San Pablo Avenue @ Madison Avenue 
A 27 year-old Richmond woman was arrested for DUI during a traffic enforcement stop. The woman was booked at the ECPD and then released to a friend. 

Other Information 

Patrol Response 
The El Cerrito Police Department continued to focus enforcement activities on commercial districts and specific. This week, the department deployed marked, unmarked, plainclothes and bicycle units to these areas to counter theft and violent crime trends. 

Crime Definition – Burglary vs. Robbery 
Often, people use the words, “Burglary,” and “Robbery,” interchangeably. In fact, these two words describe very different crimes. Broadly, a robbery occurs when a person takes the property of another from their person, against their will, in a violent manner or accompanied by the threat of violence. A burglary involves the entering of a structure or vehicle with the intent to commit theft or any other felony. A burglary does not necessarily involve violence or the threat of violence against a person, but it may. 

In the context of crime this week, the reader might note that three burglaries occurred in commercial areas. These crimes involve shoplifters that entered the businesses with, officers believe, specific plans to steal from the business. These crimes are classified in much the same way as residential burglaries. In the two incidents in which houses were unlawfully entered, the suspects either kicked down the doors or entered through a window with, officers believe, the intent to steal from the residence.

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

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