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 August 6^th to August 12^th.

August 6^th

Vehicle Tampering – 900 block of Everett St:
At 7:00 AM three suspects wearing ski masks attempted to steal the catalytic converter from a vehicle, but they were scared off by a neighbor.  All three fled in a vehicle prior to police arrival. 

Assault with a Deadly Weapon / Prowling – 6500 block of Waldo Ave:
At 12:14 PM officers were dispatched to a second-hand report of a male entering through the front door of an unlocked apartment and fighting with a resident.  Upon arrival it was determined there was no fight, and the man had entered the apartment and spoken briefly with the occupants, then left when he was asked.  The residents pointed down the path at the man, who was still walking away from the location. 

A sergeant recognized the man as having been in the area during a suspicious person investigation the day before on Cypress Avenue.  Based on the behavior pattern, the sergeant stopped and identified the man who claimed he was trying to rent one of the apartments, and picked the wrong one to enter.  When no crime could be substantiated, the man was released with an admonition to stop going on to people’s property.

At 1:42 PM, the residents called again and said the man was back, and was trying to enter their apartment again.  After finding the door and windows locked, the man refocused his attention on the apartment next door, trying all the doors and windows but again not able to make entry.  This apartment was also occupied at the time, but the resident did not notice the man.  When the original caller confronted the man, a brief argument ensued during which he picked up a 12 inch long brick garden border and raised it at the victim as if he was going to hit him over the head with it.  When the victim started recording with his cell phone, the suspect dropped the brick in the street and fled on foot.  The suspect was detained by an officer a short distance away and was positively identified during an in-field.  He was placed under arrest, booked at ECPD, then transported to the Martinez Detention Facility.

Grand Theft / Vandalism – 670 El Cerrito Plaza (CVS):
At 3:38 PM a suspect entered the CVS store pulling a rolling duffle bag.  The man walked straight to the liquor aisle, broke the glass door to the high-end liquor cabinet and stuffed the duffel with assorted bottles of Hennessy and Courvoisier.  He then left the store without paying.

August 7^th

Robbery – 670 El Cerrito Plaza (CVS):
At 2:37 PM, an unidentified suspect stole food items, and threw an open pocket knife at a Loss Prevention agent as she left the store, striking the agent in the face and causing cuts. 

Shoplift – 2000 El Cerrito Plaza (Ross):
At 4:27 hours, an unidentified suspect stole merchandise and fled on a bike.

August 8^th

Petty Theft – 11755 San Pablo Ave. (El Cerrito Honda)
At 6:12 AM the suspects stole a tire rack and fled.  Officers located the tire rack and returned it to Honda.

Petty Theft and Tampering with a Vehicle – 10200 block of San Pablo Ave.
At 10:20 AM the suspect attempted to steal the car battery by cutting the wires.  The suspect stole the vehicles registration and jumper cables. 

Possession of Controlled Substance / Possession of Stolen Property – 6600 Block of Cutting Blvd.
At 12:42 AM officers were dispatched to a prowler in the backyard of a residence.  The subject was located a few blocks away and detained.  During a probation search, the subject was found in possession of narcotics and stolen property.  The subject was arrested and booked at ECPD and later cite released.

August 9^th

Possession of a Controlled Substance and Drug Paraphernalia – 11319 San Pablo Ave (Chevron)
At 7:14 AM an El Cerrito Police Officer made a traffic stop.  During a search of the vehicle, the officer found 38.5 grams of suspected crystal methamphetamines and a meth pipe.  The suspect was arrested and released on a citation.   

Stolen Vehicle – 11600 block of San Pablo Ave  
At 1:35 PM the victim reported that their vehicle was stolen overnight. 
 
Possession of Counterfeit Money – 11775 San Pablo Ave. (Frannie Express)
At 2:47 PM a customer presented a counterfeit $20.00 bill to the cashier. 

Stolen Vehicle – 7000 block B St.
At 2:48 PM the victim reported that their vehicle was stolen sometime last night.

Auto Burglary – 600 block of Richmond St.
At 3:01 PM the victim reported that the suspect stole miscellaneous tools from the victim’s truck.

Armed Robbery and Parole Violation – 11555 San Pablo Ave. (DD’s Discount’s)
At 4:17 PM the suspect attempted to steal items from the store.  When employees confronted the suspect he threatened them with a hatchet.  The suspect was arrested and found to be on parole for Assault with a Deadly Weapon.  The suspect was booked at ECPD and transported to the Martinez County Jail. 

Vandalism – 1600 Block of Arlington Blvd.
At 1:21 PM two subjects threw a rock through the victims’ garage door window. 

Theft by False Pretenses – 11565 San Pablo Ave (Walgreens).
At 8:28 PM the suspect called the business and identified himself as a representative from the corporate helpdesk.  The employee was instructed to start the “Updating Processes” and in doing so, wired $2,789.00 to an unknown business.

Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – 11565 San Pablo Ave (Walgreens).
At 9:40 PM employees at the business flagged down officers regarding a theft.  The subject was detained and found in possession of drug paraphernalia.  The subject was arrested, issued a citation, and released at the scene.

Vehicle Tampering – El Dorado Ave / Yolo Ave.
At 12:44 AM officers responded to a vehicle tampering.  The subject arrived in a truck and was checking car doors in the area.  The subject entered one vehicle but did not steal anything.  The subject fled in the truck prior to police arrival.
 
August 10^th

Sexual Battery – 2300 Block of Tulare Ave.
At 10:34 AM the victim reported a sexual battery which occurred last month.

Auto Burglary – 6000 El Cerrito Plaza.
At 11:12 AM the suspect smashed the victim’s window and stole her purse.

Attempt Commercial Burglary – 3509 Carlson Blvd (Old West Gun Room).
At 12:50AM, the suspect attempted to pry open the front doors to the business but was unsuccessful.   

Shoplifting – 2000 El Cerrito Plaza (Ross).
At 2:08PM, the suspect stole shoes and fled the store.

Stolen Vehicle Recovery – 2700 Block of San Mateo St.
At 2:56 PM an officer located an unoccupied stolen vehicle.

Commercial Burglary – 7200 Schmidt Ln (Solano Community Church).
At 1:00 PM the suspect pried open a shed and stole miscellaneous tools.

August 11^th

Vehicle Burglary – Barrett Ave / Harris Ave:
At 8:16 AM, an officer reports an unidentified suspect shattered several windows of a white commercial van sometime overnight.  No known property loss.

Organized Retail Theft- 11794 San Pablo Ave( Marshalls):
At 9:21 PM, an officer was patrolling in the area and was flagged down in regards to a theft that had just occurred involving two suspects. The officer detained one of the suspects with unpaid merchandise. The second suspect fled the area after a loss prevention agent retrieved the stolen property from her. The first suspect was placed under Citizen’s Arrest by an employee. After booking, she was issued a citation and released.

Hit and Run/ DUI- Wall Ave/San Pablo Ave: 
At 4:26 AM, officers were dispatched to the area for a suspicious vehicle that was involved in a collision. Upon arrival, officers located the vehicle with frontend damage and a male in the driver’s seat exhibiting signs of intoxication. An officer conducted a DUI investigation and determined the driver was under the influence. The driver was placed under arrest and transported to the ECPD for booking. After booking, the male was issued a citation and released to a sober family member.

August 12^th

Petty Theft – 1700 block of Julian Ct:
At 6:20 AM, two unidentified suspects stole a Bicycle from the rear bike rack of the victim’s vehicle, which was parked in their driveway.  The suspects were also captured on a nearby ring doorbell camera rooting through the property on the front porch of a neighbor’s residence but it appeared they were scared off before stealing anything else.

Residential Burglary – 2600 block of Arlington Blvd:
At 1:12 PM unidentified suspect(s) entered the residence by shattering a rear window.  The suspect(s) tore the alarm panel off the wall, but the homeowner was unsure if there was a property loss.