Features

Two heisters 

Two men in their late teens found threats of violence were enough to convince a Berkeley man to surrender his wallet and backpack after they confronted him near the intersection of Le Conte and Euclid avenues at 1:15 a.m. last Monday. 

The suspects are described as two skinny fellows between the ages of 17 and 20, one standing about 5'5" and the other between 5'8" and 6', said Berkeley Police spokesperson Officer Ed Galvan. Both were wearing black sweatshirts. 

Serious weaponry 

A 24-year-old Oakland man burst into Whole Foods Market about 1 a.m. Wednesday to report that he had just been robbed by a robber who struck him over the head with what he described as “a large submachine-gun-type rifle” in the store’s parking lot near the corner of Telegraph Avenue and Webster Street. 

The bandit made off with his cell phone and wallet.  

Another duo 

Another pair of bandits, one of them packing a long-barreled pistol, confronted an 18-year-old UC Berkeley student near the corner of Parker and Etna streets just before 11 p.m. Wednesday and demanded her purse, cell phone and wallet. 

The report was transferred to Berkeley Police from the California Highway Patrol, which currently receives all 911 cell phone calls made in the area. 

Many residents may not be aware that they can reach Berkeley emergency dispatchers directly from their cell phones by calling 981-5911, the way to insure the promptest response. 

Another citizen called in later with report that the young woman’s purse had been found, minus the cash it had contained. 

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