Features

GTGC 

It was a vehicle theft, but it doesn’t fit as a GTA—grand theft auto. Instead, it would have to be called a GTGC, for grand theft golf cart. 

Berkeley police discovered it when they made a pedestrian stop just before 2 a.m. last Friday near the intersection of Prince and Ellis streets when they spotted an electric golf cart belonging to UC Berkeley. 

The drivers, a pair of minors, were booked on suspicion of grand theft, said Berkeley police spokesperson Officer Joe Okies. 

Shoplift Becomes Robbery 

When employees of Eastern Supplies at 2900 Shattuck Ave. stopped a 50-year-old man they’d spotted boosting paint brushes during the lunch hour last Friday, the shoplifter turned his misdemeanor into a felony when he fought with his captures. 

He compounded his crime when he gave a false name to police officers when they arrived, a crime in itself. 

One of the employees sustained minor injuries during the scuffle, which were treated at the scene by firefighter paramedics. 

Women’s Rat Pack 

Rat pack attacks—robberies staged by a band of assailants—typically involve young males, but it was a distaff crew of anywhere from four to eight young women who robbed three other women near the corner of Parker Street and College Avenue shortly before 2 a.m. Saturday. 

When last seen, some of the assailants were high-tailing it away in a red sports car, said Officer Okies. 

Domestic Knife Attack 

A family disturbance turned into assault with a deadly weapon and spousal abuse when a woman pulled a knife in her apartment just before 4 a.m. Saturday. 

Police arrived moments later and booked the 49-year-old woman on the two felony charges. Her partner, who had received a minor knife wound in the scuffle, declined medical help, said Officer Okies. 

Belated Report 

Police got a call at 7:40 a.m. Sunday from a nurse at the Kaiser Foundation Hospital in Oakland, telling of a 20-year-old South Berkeley man who had come in with a knife wound. 

Arriving at the hospital, the young man said he was attacked by a pair of men near the corner of San Pablo Avenue and Jones Street the previous midnight. 

Backpack Theft 

A 25-year-old man called Berkeley police shortly before midnight Sunday after a group of men strong-armed his backpack and its contents near the corner of Sutter and Hopkins streets. 

Solo Deuce of Fourth 

July 4 turned out to be a pretty dull day, and police think that’s just fine, said Officer Okies. Only one drunk driver—a deuce in police parlance—was taken to the hoosegow, and he was popped near the corner of Ashby and Claremont avenues when the day was just two hours old. 

About That Security 

Police were called to Econo Gas at 950 University Ave. at 10 a.m. on the Fourth to investigate a grand theft. 

Turns out it was the station’s security cameras that were swiped. 

Knife For Wallet 

A man with a knife relieved a 35-year-old pedestrian of his wallet near the corner of Adeline and Stuart streets just before 1 a.m. Tuesday. 

GTAntiques 

A woman who had lived on Wildcat Road called police Tuesday to report the theft of four antiques worth $24,000. 

The woman told officers that she had paid a Berkeley man to ship the valuables just before she moved several months ago, but they never arrived at their intended destinations. 

Police are investigating the incident, said Officer Okies. 

Gun Gang 

Four men, including at least two who were packing pistols, robbed a 19-year-old man of his wallet and cell phone about 6 p.m. Tuesday near the corner of Ashby Avenue and Otis Street, said officer Okies. 

Real GTA, Finally 

Police arrested a 48-year-old man in the 1600 block of 63rd Street after they stopped him driving a set of hot wheels.