Community
Korematsu Middle School Vandalism and Theft Investigation
Korematsu Middle School Vandalism and Theft Investigation 
The El Cerrito Police Department is seeking the community’s help to solve incidents of vandalism and theft at Korematsu Middle School.
Since Monday 11/15, Korematsu Middle School has experienced incidents of vandalism and theft. Beginning last week, school staff noticed damage to some of the school windows, likely caused by a BB gun or sling shot. This morning, school staff discovered additional damaged windows along with other vandalism. All told, school staff found at least 14 damaged windows on the campus.
In addition, a vandal used a pen to write derogatory messages about the principal as well as race-based messages directed toward Black people on the concrete near the upper basketball court. School staff have already begun the graffiti removal process. The suspects also broke a light fixture in the quad and stole the letter “L” from the sign in front of the school. The principal has estimated the total damages to the school to be at least $16,000.
The ECPD has assigned detectives to this case and are investigating this incident as a hate crime.
Community members around Korematsu Middle School are asked to check their surveillance cameras for any suspicious activity during the time of occurrence. If you locate any video, it can be uploaded to the following link: https://elcerritopdca.evidence.com/axon/citizen/public/kmsvandalism
If you have any information regarding these incidents, please contact Detective Ryan Trac at (510) 215-4419 or Acting Detective Sergeant Gilbert Tang at (510) 215-4446. Anonymous tips can be provided by phone or by email at [email protected] or Crime Stoppers Tip Line: (510) 799-8255.
Since Monday 11/15, Korematsu Middle School has experienced incidents of vandalism and theft. Beginning last week, school staff noticed damage to some of the school windows, likely caused by a BB gun or sling shot. This morning, school staff discovered additional damaged windows along with other vandalism. All told, school staff found at least 14 damaged windows on the campus.
In addition, a vandal used a pen to write derogatory messages about the principal as well as race-based messages directed toward Black people on the concrete near the upper basketball court. School staff have already begun the graffiti removal process. The suspects also broke a light fixture in the quad and stole the letter “L” from the sign in front of the school. The principal has estimated the total damages to the school to be at least $16,000.
The ECPD has assigned detectives to this case and are investigating this incident as a hate crime.
Community members around Korematsu Middle School are asked to check their surveillance cameras for any suspicious activity during the time of occurrence. If you locate any video, it can be uploaded to the following link: https://elcerritopdca.evidence.com/axon/citizen/public/kmsvandalism
If you have any information regarding these incidents, please contact Detective Ryan Trac at (510) 215-4419 or Acting Detective Sergeant Gilbert Tang at (510) 215-4446. Anonymous tips can be provided by phone or by email at [email protected] or Crime Stoppers Tip Line: (510) 799-8255.
Address/Location
El Cerrito Police Department
10900 San Pablo Ave
El Cerrito, CA 94530
Contact
Emergency: 9-1-1
Non-emergencies: 510-237-3233