Features

Deliveryman’s watch  

and pizza stolen 

A pizza deliveryman was robbed while making his rounds on the evening of Jan. 17, according to Lt. Cynthia Harris of the Berkeley Police Department. 

The victim was on a delivery in the 1600 block of Parker Street at around 8:45 p.m. when three men jumped out of some bushes and told him to hand over his money. One of the suspects reportedly said that he had a gun. 

The suspects went through the victim’s pockets and took his money. They also gained possession of his watch – and the pizza – before fleeing on foot. 

The three are described as black males around the age of 21. One suspect was approximately five feet, six inches tall and was wearing a light gray jacket or sweater with a hood and jeans. 

Access denied 

A woman tried and failed to cash a stolen check at the Shattuck Avenue branch of Calfed Bank Saturday afternoon, according to Lt. Harris. 

At around 12:25 p.m., the woman asked a teller to cash a check for more than $1,600. The teller began to process the transaction, but found that the account was flagged. As the teller went to consult with a manager, the woman sat down next to a man in the lobby. 

After a short time, the woman asked the teller why the transaction was taking so long. The teller replied that they were checking the account. The woman asked the teller to return the check and her identification. The teller said that she could not. 

The woman and the man she was sitting next to then calmly left the bank. 

Later, police determined that both the check and the identification used by the suspect had been stolen from two San Francisco residents. Apparently, the suspect had written out the stolen check to the person described in the stolen I.D. card, then attempted to cash the check with that I.D.  

The suspect is described as a black female between the ages of 28 and 32. She was around 5 feet, 4 inches tall and was of medium build. She had orange hair, and she was wearing a lime-green T-shirt, a heavy black jacket with a hood and black pants. 

There was no description of her suspected accomplice. 

The BPD is conducting an investigation of the case. 

Man takes video at  

gunpoint 

A video rental store was held up at gunpoint Sunday afternoon, according to Lt. Harris. 

At around 3 p.m., the suspect asked the clerk at Videomaniacs, 1484 University Ave., if the store carried a particular movie. The clerk directed the suspect to the section where the movie was located. 

Upon returning to the register, the suspect pulled up his shirt to reveal the video tucked into his waistband next to a large, silver semiautomatic handgun. 

The suspect told the clerk to empty her cash register. The clerk complied, handing the money to the suspect. The suspect then fled the store. 

The suspect is described as a black male of medium complexion in his late 20s. He was approximately 6 feet, 1 inch tall and weighed about 175 pounds. He was wearing a plaid shirt, dark jeans and a red beanie cap.