Features

Armed Duo Cops Cash 

A pair of gun-toting baddies confronted a civilian outside Lee’s Market at 2700 Martin Luther King Jr. Way at 12:39 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct., 14, demanding money. 

Having received same, they boogied. 

Gang of Four Scores Cellular 

A hapless pedestrian was relieved of his cell phone by a gang of four robbers near the corner of Hearst Avenue and Sacramento Street just after 5 p.m. on the 14th. 

The threat of an unseen gun was enough to convince their victim to surrender to their demand. 

BART Lot Purse Snatch 

A strongarm artist grabbed the purse of a woman walking through the east parking lot of the Ashby BART station shortly before 7 p.m. on the 14th. 

Freeway Shooting Probed 

A troubled San Pablo man rushed into the Berkeley Police Station just before 2 a.m. on the 15th to report that he’d been shot at while driving along Interstate-80 on the University Avenue overpass. 

Investigating officers found immediate verification in the bullet holes newly ventilating his vehicle. 

The driver told officers he was fired on by one of three occupants of a white Acura two-door sedan. The incident is still under investigation, said Berkeley Police Officer Steve Rego. 

Robbery by Intimidation 

A scruffy-looking fellow waited patiently in line at the Mechanics Bank branch at Shattuck Avenue and Bancroft Way just before 10:30 a.m. Saturday. 

When he reached the teller, his intimidating demand for cash was sufficient to enforce compliance. 

He was last seen beating the pavement northbound along Shattuck, police said. 

Hooded Gunman Robs Driver 

A man in a black hooded sweatshirt approached the driver in a car on San Luis Road near the corner of Arlington Avenue about 1:30 p.m. Saturday. He departed with a red satchel containing her wallet and other items, said Officer Rego. 

Scissors Stabber Grabbed 

After a disturbed homeless man stabbed him with a pair of scissors near the corner of Telegraph Avenue and Haste Street early last Sunday afternoon, the victim and an eyewitness chased down the 39-year-old suspect and held him down until police could escort him to new quarters devoid of sharp and cutting things. 

The victim received only minor injuries, said Officer Rego. 

Barefoot Butt Booster 

A barefoot bandit, desperate for a smoke, strong-armed a pack of butts away from a hapless pedestrian walking along Shattuck Square at University Avenue just after 5:30 p.m. last Sunday. 

He was last seen bounding eastbound along University. 

Surly Book Booster 

A man with a thirst to read and an apparent shortage of cash helped himself to a bagful of books at the Barnes and Noble outlet at 2352 Shattuck Ave. around 4:30 p.m. Tuesday. 

When a store employee followed him out the door, the book-booster’s surly threat turned a mere shoplift into a robbery. 

Police are still seeking the avid reader, described at a white male in his 50s wearing gray shorts and a black jacket. 

Gunman Hits Smog Pros 

A bandit stormed in Smog Pros at 3000 Shattuck Ave. just after 7 p.m. Wednesday, flashed the pistol he was carrying beneath his jacket and demanded cash. He was last seen fleeing on foot.Ã