Full Notification

The following is a summary of criminal activity in El Cerrito. It does not include all crimes. It also does not include non-criminal events such as missing persons, traffic collisions, non-criminal deaths, non-criminal disputes, nor many other police activities that do not result in arrest.

May 24^th

Grand theft- 200 block of Ramona Avenue:

An unknown suspect stole the catalytic converter from a Ford F-250 during the course of the past several weeks.

Grand theft- Liberty Street at Central Avenue:

An unknown suspect stole a catalytic convertor from a Honda Accord between the hours of 5:45 am and 1:50 pm.

Burglary- 6400 block of Fairmount Avenue:

An unknown suspect entered a business over the weekend and stole several laptops. The theft took place between Friday the 21^st at 7:00 pm and the 24^th at 8:15 am.

May 25^th

Grand theft- 1700 block of Ganges Avenue:

An unknown suspect stole the catalytic converter from the victim’s vehicle some time during the past 3 weeks.

May 26^th

Grand Theft- 1700 block of Arlington Boulevard:

An unknown suspect contacted the victim following an online job application and convinced him to send $6K in money orders to an account provided by the suspect.
 
Shoplifting- 11565 San Pablo Avenue:
 
At 1:34 pm, an unknown suspect stole a lighter and cigarettes from the business.
 
May 27^th
 
Battery- 6009 San Pablo Avenue:
 
At 9:00, an officer accepted the citizen’s arrest of a female who assaulted a person during an argument. The female was identified and then released at the scene with a citation.
 
Battery- 11450 San Pablo Avenue:
 
At 4:50 pm, a man entered Safeway and assaulted the security guard when being confronted about not wearing a mask. The man punched the security guard and in turn was pepper sprayed. The man was placed under citizen’s arrest and released from the scene with a citation.
 
Grand Theft – 500 block of Elm St:
 
At 6:42 pm, an officer reports that an unknown suspect stole the catalytic converter from the victim’s Honda Accord. The theft occurred between 9am-6:30pm.
 
Petty Theft – 2000 El Cerrito Plaza (Ross):
 
At 9:04pm, an officer reports that a known suspect stole $250 worth of clothing and bags from the business. The suspect was gone prior to the officer’s arrival.
 
DUI – 11299 San Pablo Ave:
 
At 9:05pm, an officer reports the arrest of a 57-year old male from Richmond for driving under the influence of drugs after he drove his vehicle into a business and 3 parked vehicles. The suspect was transported to ECPD for booking and released on a citation to a sober relative.
 
Possession of Burglary Tools, Narcotics, Drug Paraphernalia and Warrant Arrest:
 
At 3:10am, an officer conducted a traffic stop on vehicle that he recognized as the suspect vehicle involved in a catalytic converter theft a few days ago. The driver was in possession of shaved keys and a pipe used to smoke narcotic drugs. The passenger was in possession of narcotics and had a failure to appear warrant for burglary from Santa Clara County. The driver was released on scene on a citation and the passenger was transported to the Martinez Detention Facility.
 
May 28^th

Suspicious Vehicle / Evading – 5700 block of El Dorado Ave:

Officers were dispatched to a suspicious vehicle detail at this location.  The reporting party believed the vehicle was associated with the recent spate of catalytic converter thefts in the area.  When an officer located the vehicle and attempted contact with the occupants, the suspect drove the vehicle onto the sidewalk to get around the patrol vehicle then fled eastbound on El Dorado Avenue.  A brief pursuit took place but was discontinued due to excessively dangerous driving by the suspect.
 
Petty Theft – 1000 El Cerrito Plaza:

License plates were stolen from a vehicle parked in the El Cerrito Plaza parking lot some time during the day.  This theft occurred later in the day and is not believed to be associated with the suspicious vehicle detail above.
 
Possession of controlled substance – 670 El Cerrito Plaza (CVS):

At 11:31 pm, officers were dispatched to the store for the report that two people were walking around the store eating food items and placing items into their pockets.  Officers arrived and contacted the subjects who were still walking around the store.  One of the subjects was found to be on Parole and during a parole search the officer found suspected methamphetamine in their possession.  They were placed under arrest and issued a citation and released from the scene. 
 
May 29^th

Possession of controlled substance – Navellier Street at Schmidt Lane:

At 5:31 am an officer saw a vehicle that was stopped facing the wrong direction in the lane of traffic.  The officer contacted the subjects in the car who were both found to be on active probation.  A probation search was conducted, and suspected Methamphetamine and Fentanyl were found in the car.  The driver was arrested, issued a citation, and released at the scene.  

Vehicle Burglary - Kearney St / Conlon Ave:
 
An unidentified suspect gained access to the victim vehicle by cutting the convertible top.  Take was a tool bag and cologne.  The burglary occurred between 9PM Friday night and 7:30AM Saturday morning.
 
Vehicle Tampering – 5200 block of Potrero Ave:

An unidentified suspect shattered the right rear window of the victim vehicle and ransacked the interior some time overnight.  No known loss.
 
May 30^th
 
Shoplifting & Battery – 5805 Cutting Blvd. (Sketchers):

At 6:35 pm an officer was sent to the store regarding a theft that had occurred earlier in the day.  The suspect entered the store and left with two pairs of shoes that they did not pay for.  Two workers ran after the suspect and he assaulted one of the store employees and then fled the scene. 
 
Petty Theft – 3050 El Cerrito Plaza (Kyoto Ramen):

At 6:57 pm officers were sent to the report that someone had just grabbed the tip jar and ran to a vehicle and drove away.  The suspects were not located.
 
Attempt Petty Theft – 174 El Cerrito Plaza (Burger IM):

At 8:47 pm, officers were sent to a call where two suspects had attempted to take the tip jar and run out of the business.  An employee grabbed the suspect who had the tip jar and held onto him until he dropped it.  This crime had occurred 2.5 hours earlier and the same two suspects were also responsible for the theft at Kyoto Ramen. 
 
Warrant Arrest – Cutting Blvd. at I-80:

At 9:18 pm, an officer conducted a traffic enforcement stop and discovered the driver had an outstanding warrant for their arrest for arson issued by the Richmond Police Department.  The subject was arrested and transported to the Martinez Detention Facility. 
 
Robbery – El Cerrito Plaza:

At 9:25 pm, officers were sent to the El Cerrito Plaza for the report that a Robbery had occurred.  The victim reported that they were speaking on their cell phone in front of CVS when a suspect forcibly stole the phone from her hands and ran off. 
 
May 31^st
 
DUI / Hit and Run / Driving on a Suspended License – San Pablo Avenue at Manila Avenue:

At 1:08 am officers were dispatched for the report of a vehicle collision. When officers arrived, they found the person who had caused the collision had fled the scene, leaving behind their car.  An officer found the suspect a few blocks away and noticed they were exhibiting signs of being under the influence of a controlled substance and in possession of controlled substance paraphernalia.  The subject was transported to the county jail.