Features

Police Seek Couple in Home Invasion 

An armed couple forced their way into a Berkeley woman’s home Tuesday morning, tying her up before they ransacked the house and fled with a large assortment of valuables, leaving her bound. 

The woman, who lives near the intersection of Hill Road and Grizzly Peak Boulevard, managed to free herself and call police. 

“We are very concerned about the brazen nature of this crime and are seeking the public’s assistance in identifying the suspects,” said Berkeley Police Detective Chris Stines. 

The first suspect is described as a thinly built black man in his 30s, approximately 6’1” tall. He was wearing a black watch cap. The second suspect is a black woman in her 30s, about 5’3” tall with a medium build. She was wearing a dark leather jacket and beige pants and hid her face behind a scarf. 

Police said the crime appears to be an isolated incident. 

Anyone with information should call the Berkeley Police Robbery Detail at 981-5742 or send tips by e-mail to police@ci.berkeley.ca.us. 

Assailant Uses Scooter to Bash Juvenile 

A 21-year-old Berkeley man was arrested on charges of assault, assault with a deadly weapon, making a threat, and vandalism after he battered a teenager with a foot-powered scooter near the corner of Harrison and Fifth streets shortly before 1 p.m. last Thursday. 

Purse Snatcher Uses Stolen Card  

A strongarm robber grabbed the purse of a woman walking along Prince Street near the Fulton Street intersection about 4 p.m. last Thursday, then proceeded to use one of her credit cards to make a purchase, 

Knife-Wielder Earns Cellular Domicile  

A 48-year-old Berkeley man found himself with a new and tightly confined residence after police busted him for flashing a knife at a fellow citizen near the corner of Center Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Way at 9:37 a.m. Friday. 

The felon seems to have overlooked that building on the corner and all those blue-clad badge-wearing folks who pass through its portals en route to their black-and-white cars. 

Robbery Sought for Assault With Deadly Car  

Police are seeking a blue meanie robber who attempted to run down a pedestrian near the market at the corner of Martin Luther King Jr. Way and Derby Street about 7 p.m. Friday. 

The suspect is described as a tall, thin African American man in his mid-30s who was wearing a blue baseball cap, blue jacket, and blue jeans as he sat behind the wheel of a light blue car, according to Berkeley Police spokesperson Officer Joe Okies. 

Man Jailed in Spousal Battery Case 

A 41-year-old Berkeley man was arrested just after 4 p.m. Friday on charges of violating a protective order issued after an earlier assault in which his spouse suffered significant injury. Other charges include witness intimidation and probation violation. 

Robbers Hit San Pablo Avenue Popeye’s  

Berkeley Police are looking for two men, one armed with a handgun, who robbed the till of a San Pablo Avenue Popeye’s Chicken at 10:50 p.m. Friday. 

Teenagers Busted for Assault, Booze Burglary  

Two 18-year-old men were arrested late Saturday night for assault with a deadly weapon, possession of an illegal weapon, and the theft of alcohol from the 1440 Shattuck Ave. Safeway, according to Police spokesperson Officer Joe Okies. 

One of the assailants swiped two bottles of liquor, which he then used to batter one of the store employees, and his compatriot was charged with using their car to try to run down a store employee who tried to prevent their escape. 

The weapons charge resulted from the brass knuckles found in the pocket of one of the suspects after their arrest. 

Victim Delays Reporting Robbery  

A Berkeley man relieved of his cash by an armed gunman Saturday didn’t report the crime until Tuesday. 

Alleged South Berkeley Pusher Busted 

Police arrested a 38-year-old man on Martin Luther King Jr. Way near the corner of Russell Street at 9:45 p.m. Monday on charges of possession of drugs for sale, using a minor to peddle his drugs, and attempted flight from arresting officers. 

Woman Arrested for Drugs, Conspiracy 

Armed with a warrant, police arrested a 22-year-old Berkeley woman Tuesday afternoon on charges of conspiracy and possession for sale of marijuana and rock cocaine. 

Bike-Mounted Robbers Busted on Telegraph 

A young man and four juveniles found their bicycles slower than police cars Tuesday night after they flashed a handgun to relieve a pedestrian of his cash. The 19-year old was taken to a cell at city jail and the minors were dispatched to Juvenile Hall, all sans their wheels. 

Strongarm Pair Makes off with Wallet 

Police are seeking two men, described as in their late teens or early 20s, who relieved a pedestrian of his wallet near Chestnut and Virginia Streets about 8:30 Wednesday evening.