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 30^th to September 5^th, 2026.     
 
August 30th
Driving Under the Influence - San Pablo Ave / Knott Ave:
At 1:40 AM, an officer conducted a traffic enforcement stop and arrested the driver for Driving Under the Influence. After the driver was booked at the El Cerrito Police Department, they were issued a citation and released to a sober relative.

Hit and Run / Driving Under the Influence – 11821 San Pablo Ave (McDonalds):
At 4:17 AM, officers were dispatched to the business for a vehicle that had collided into the building. While officers were responding, they were advised the suspect vehicle had fled the scene, and a license plate number was provided. Officers responded to the registered owner’s residence and contacted the driver. A witness identified the driver as the responsible and placed the driver under Citizen’s Arrest for the Hit and Run. During the investigation officers determined the driver was under the influence of alcohol. After the driver was booked at the El Cerrito Police Department, they were issued a citation and released to a sober relative.  

Driving Under the Influence - San Pablo Ave / Carlson Blvd:
At 11:35 PM, an officer conducted a traffic enforcement stop and arrested the driver for Driving Under the Influence. The driver was transported to the El Cerrito Police Department for booking. After booking, the driver was issued a citation and released to a sober relative.

Recovered Stolen Vehicle / Brandishing – San Pablo Ave / Eastshore Blvd:
At 2:42 PM, an officer reports that the victim located their stolen vehicle via a tracking app. The victim followed the vehicle and confronted the occupants. The occupants stopped the vehicle on San Pablo Ave near Eastshore Blvd and fled in multiple directions. The victim followed one of the occupants who pulled a black handgun out and pointed it at the victim before fleeing the area.

August 31st
Vandalism – 6100 block of Barrett Ave:
At 12:06 PM, an officer reports that an unknown suspect cut AT&T wires to steal the copper. The suspect was unable to complete the theft and fled the scene.

Shoplifting – 6000 El Cerrito Plaza (Marshall’s):
At 12:13 PM, an officer reports the suspect entered the business on 8/29/26 and stole merchandise.  

Arson - 5800 block of El Dorado Ave:
At 7:23 PM, an officer reports an unknown suspect started a fire and burned the victim’s property.

Auto Burglary – 1600 block of Everett Ave:
At 11:31 PM, an officer reports the victim noticed the suspect breaking into his vehicle. The victim was able scare the suspect off.

September 1st
Vehicle Theft – 100 block of Carmel Ave:
At 7:56 AM, an officer reports theft of a vehicle from the street between midnight and 7:45 AM. 

Vehicle Tampering – 800 block of Pomona Ave:
At 11:26 AM, an unidentified suspect punched the driver door lock of the victim vehicle and triggered the window roll-down feature between 4:30 AM on 8/31 and 10:00 AM on 9/1 and ransacked the interior.  No known theft.

Vandalism – 10650 San Pablo Ave.
At 10:12 PM, the victim was seated in their vehicle when an unknown suspect vandalized their vehicle and fled prior to police arrival.

September 2nd
Robbery Attempt  – Carmel Ave / Curry Ave:
At 11:32 AM, an unidentified suspect approached the victim in a vehicle and held money out the window in an attempt to get him to approach.  When the victim declined, the passenger got out of the vehicle and attempted to pull a bracelet off the victim’s wrist, but the victim was able to pull his hand away and the suspect returned to the vehicle  without stealing anything.

Warrant Arrest – 6000 El Cerrito Plaza (Marshall’s):
At 11:49 AM, an officer arrested a suspect on a warrant. Officers were responding to a report of a someone shoplifting in the store. As soon as the suspect saw an officer enter the store, they discarded all of the selected merchandise and started to leave the store. Officers detained the suspect for the theft investigation. Officers determined that the suspect did not complete the crime today. The suspect was transported to the Martinez Detention Facility on the warrant. 
 
September 3rd
Vandalism – 10800 block of San Pablo Ave:
At 5:46 AM, the victim’s ex-boyfriend came to the victim’s apartment to pick up property. The suspect became angry and kicked the victim’s door several times, causing damage. They also broke the glass door of a fire extinguisher enclosure in the common hallway. The suspect had fled before police arrived.

September 4th
Prohibited weapon - 7125 Donal Ave (Korematsu Middle School):
At 8:56 AM, an officer reports that a student brought a black BB gun resembling a handgun onto the school campus. The student showed it to other students. School staff was notified of the incident, and the BB gun was removed and given to law enforcement.

Battery / Vandalism – 10598 San Pablo Ave (Baskin Robbins):
At 12:36 PM, an officer reports the suspect entered the business and became upset. The suspect threw a hard plastic display case at the victim, hitting the victim’s hand. The suspect also damaged property before fleeing. The suspect was located two blocks away on Portola Ave and positively identified by the victim. The suspect was placed under arrest and transported to the El Cerrito Police Department for booking. After booking the uspect was transported to the Martinez Detention Facility.

Petty Theft – 3090 El Cerrito Plaza (Starbucks):
At 3:36 PM, an officer reports the suspect entered the business and stole merchandise. The suspect fled the area in an unknown direction.

Trespass / Public Intoxication – 11299 San Pablo Ave (Little Cesars):
At 10:38 PM, officers responded to the business for an unwanted subject. The subject complied with officers’ orders and left the area. Approximately thirty minutes later the subject returned after the business was closed and refused to leave when employees asked them several times. The subject was placed under Citizen’s Arrest. While officers were taking the subject into custody, officers determined the subject was intoxicated. The subject was transported to the Martinez Detention Facility.

September 5th
Tampering with a Vehicle – 3200 block of Belmont Ave:
At 7:05 AM, an officer reports that the rear window of the victim’s vehicle was smashed. The victim did not report any personal property missing.

Auto Burglary – 3400 block of Belmont:
At 8:49 AM, an officer reports that the rear window of the victim’s SUV was smashed and property was stolen from inside the vehicle.

Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – 8000 EL Cerrito Plaza (Macaroni Grill):
At 10:25 AM, an officer reports that a subject was loitering outside of the business smoking illegal narcotics. The subject was in possession of drug paraphernalia. The subject was arrested and transported to the El Cerrito Pollice Department for booking. They were later released on citation.