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.

The following is a summary of criminal activity in El Cerrito from May 14^th , to May 20^th.

May 14^th
 
Warrant Arrest- 11700 block of San Pablo Ave:
Officers were dispatched to a disturbance. During the investigation, officers conducted a records check of the involved subjects and discovered one of them had an outstanding warrant. The subject was placed under arrest and transported directly to the Martinez Detention Facility.

May 15th

Nothing to report

May 16^th
 
Forgery and Possession of a Controlled Substance – 9996 San Pablo Ave (Mechanics Bank)
At 10:09AM the suspect deposited several fraudulent checks into the ATM and immediately withdrew money.  The suspect was also in possession of possible fentanyl.  The suspect was taken to Kaiser Richmond after complaining of chest pains, and was released to the hospitals care.  The case will be sent to the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office for review. 

Counterfeit Check – 11000 block of San Pablo Ave. (Bank of the West)
At 9:32AM the suspect fraudulently placed their business name on a pre-signed check and deposited the check into their account.

Tampering with a Vehicle – San Pablo Ave at Fairmount Ave.
At 4:39PM two suspects shattered the driver side window to the victim’s vehicle, rummaged through the interior but was nothing was stolen. 

Identity Theft and Unlawful Use of Debit Card – 1400 block of Liberty St.
At 4:41PM an unknown suspect withdrew money from the victims EDD card at different ATM’s in the Bay Area. 

Negligent Discharge of a Firearm – San Pablo Ave / Conlon Ave.
At 10:06PM Officers responded to the report of shots fired in the area.  The suspect vehicle was stopped at the intersection and when the light turned green, the driver fired a gun three times into the air and fled northbound on San Pablo Ave.  No injuries or property damage reported.  Three shell casings were located in the intersection.  
 
May 17^th
 
 Petty Theft – 5030 El Cerrito Plaza (Jamba Juice)
At 1:13PM the suspect stole the victim’s motorized scooter while it was parked outside the business. 

Attempted Kidnapping and Parole Violation – Ohlone Greenway at Manila Ave.
At 1:42PM the suspect demanded a female give them their child, and attempted to grab the child from their mother’s arms. The victim ran away.  The suspect then attempted to open a door to a vehicle, while the driver was still inside, demanding to be let in, but the driver drove away. The suspect was detained by Police Officers on Manila Ave. near Kearney Street.  The suspect was found to be a parole-at-large.  The suspect was arrested, booked at the police station and transported to the Martinez Detention Facility.  

Harassing Phone Call – 800 block of Kearney St.
 At 2:46PM an officer was sent to a report that the suspect sent the victim over fifty threatening text messages earlier in the day.  

Attempt Grand Theft – 6500 block of Barrett Ave. 
At 6:54PM an officer was sent to the report that a suspect was unsuccessful in attempting to steal the catalytic converter from the victim’s vehicle.  
 
May 18^th

Nothing to report
 
 May 19^th
 
Grand Theft – 300 block of Pomona Ave:
At 8:12 AM an officer reports the theft of a catalytic converter from a 2005 Toyota Corolla between 8:00 PM on 5/18/2023 and 8:00 AM on 5/19/2023.

Grand Theft – 430 El Cerrito Plaza (Foot Locker):
At 12:31 PM an officer reports two unidentified suspects stole $1000 worth of shoes and clothing, and fled in a silver Kia van reported stolen to the San Francisco Police Department on 5/11/2023. 

Petty Theft – 6700 block of Blake St:
At 2:52 PM an officer reports the theft of a FedEx package from the front porch of a neighbor’s house after FedEx delivered it to the wrong address at 12:30 PM on 5/10/2023, confirmed by a FedEx delivery photo.  By the time the victim got to the neighbor’s porch at 5:30 PM that evening, the package was gone.
 
May 20^th
 
Shoplift – 11450 San Pablo Ave (Safeway):
At 8:22 AM two unidentified suspects loaded up a shopping cart with $889 worth of frozen shrimp, pushed the cart out the rear doors of the store, and loaded it in to a waiting car and fled. 

Theft by False Pretenses – 1300 block of Brewster Dr:
At 1:07 PM, an officer responded to a fraud detail in the ECPD lobby.  The victim was swindled out of $7500 via a computer technical support gift card scam.

Recovered Stolen Vehicle – Schmidt Ln / Norvell St:
At 3:13 PM an officer recovered a maroon Ford Mustang reported stolen to Berkeley PD on 5/12/2023. 

Battery – 11545 San Pablo Ave (Ross):
At 5:00 PM an officer reports a male suspect, who happened to be a regular thief from Ross, lost his temper when store employees wouldn’t allow him to come into the store to steal.  The suspect punched two loss prevention agents and spat on a third before fleeing the store.  One of the punched employees suffered a split lip and was treated by medical staff at the scene. 

Commercial Burglary- 10636 San Pablo Ave (24 Hour Fitness): 
At 7:48 PM an officer reports the suspect broke into the victim’s secured locker and stole property.
 
Shoplift- 11565 San Pablo Ave (Ross): 
At 9:16 PM an officer reports the suspect entered the business and concealed items into a bag. Employees confronted the suspect and was able to recover some of the merchandise however, the suspect fled with approximately $200 worth of merchandise.