Features

Police Blotter: By RICHARD BRENNEMAN

Friday October 01, 2004

Bank Robbers Strike 

Two different robbers hit Berkeley banks Wednesday and Thursday. 

A man in his mid-20s walked into the Wells Fargo branch at 1095 University Ave. abut 4:45 p.m. Wednesday and threatened a teller, demanding cash. 

After the teller complied, the robber fled. Witnesses said the suspect, his hair braided into cornrows, was about six feet tall and estimated his weight at 185 pounds. 

Another felon, this one in is late 30s, struck the Union bank branch at 2333 Shattuck Ave. at 11:09 a.m. Thursday, threatening a teller and demanding cash. 

Witness described the second fellow as an thinly built male in his late 30s. He was wearing a long sleeved white pullover shirt and dark jeans. 

Anyone with information on this crimes is requested to call the Berkeley Police Robbery Detail at 981-5742 or e-mail tips to police@ci.berkeley.ca.us.  

 

Needs Better Wheelman 

A would-be purse snatcher not only failed to steal the purse she tried to grab from a young woman walking along Telegraph Avenue near Prince Street early on the evening of Sept. 23, but she chose the wrong way to flee. 

The young bandit, an underaged girl, leapt on the handlebars of her accomplice’s bicycle, who couldn’t pedal fast enough to evade the officers who responded to the would-be victim’s call, said Berkeley Police spokesperson Officer Joe Okies. 

 

Gardener’s Nasty Surprise 

A Berkeley man received a rather nasty shock when he walked into his back yard shortly before 1:30 p.m. on Sept. 24. He discovered a young man with a passion for gardening tools who attempted to lay into him with one of his own trowels. 

The would-be assailant had fled by the time officers arrived. 

 

Unkindest (Hair) Cut of All  

A 50-something fellow sat through his haircut at a Sacramento Street barbershop last Friday afternoon. 

When it came time to settle the tab, the customer walked out. And when the barber tried to confront him, the customer flashed a knife. 

The barber wisely relented and the recalcitrant barbee departed. 

 

Alarming Awakening 

It was just before 4 a.m. last Saturday when a Russell Street resident was awakened by a loud percussive sound outside his window. 

Roused from his slumber, he looked out his window to investigate, only to discover a fresh bullet hole through his glass. He called police, but the shooter had already departed, said Officer Okies. 

 

Friendly Fracas Turns Mean 

An Monday night argument among friends took a decidedly unfriendly turn when one of the disputants slammed another into an ice machine, causing enough injury to send the victim trudging off for medical care. 

Police were summoned and the 23-year-old pusher was charged with felony battery. 

 

Beer-Booster Busted 

When a 33-year-old fellow attempted to walk out of Fred’s Market at Telegraph Avenue and Dwight Way Wednesday night with beer he hadn’t bought, a clerk took exception and a fracas followed. 

Police arrived in time to offer the bandit new accommodations, sans the brewskis. ª