Aug 11-24: El Cerrito Police Calls

The following is a summary of criminal activity in El Cerrito police calls between August 11-24 according to the El Cerrito Police Department.

The following is a summary of criminal activity in El Cerrito. It does not include all crimes. It also does not include non-criminal events such as missing persons, traffic collisions, non-criminal deaths, non-criminal disputes, nor many other police activities that do not result in arrest.

Aug 11 -24: El Cerrito Police Calls

August 11^th

Petty Theft – 1100 block of Liberty St. At 9:21 AM, a suspect stole a bag of groceries off of the victim’s front porch.

August 12^th

Indecent Exposure – 11150 San Pablo Ave. (St. John Baptist Church): At 8:38 AM, an officer reports a suspect exposed themself while participating in lewd conduct. The suspect fled prior to police arrival.
Burglary – 215 El Cerrito Plaza (Great American Dry Cleaners): At 9:23 AM, an officer reports a suspect gained entry into the closed business and stole merchandise.
Burglary – 540 Ashbury Ave. (El Cerrito High School): At 10:42 AM, an officer reports a suspect gained entry into the concession stand and stole items.
Grand Theft – 600 block of Richmond St. At 10:38 AM, a victim reports a suspect stole the catalytic converter from their vehicle sometime overnight.
Lewd Conduct – 11965 San Pablo Ave. At 11:48 AM, officers were dispatched to the area for a subject who was participating in lewd conduct in public. Officers located the subject who then was arrested, booked at the El Cerrito Police Department, and released with a citation.
Shoplifting – 670 El Cerrito Plaza (CVS): At 2:10 PM, an officer reports a suspect entered the store and stole merchandise.
Petty Theft / License Plate Recovery – Schmidt Ln. / San Pablo Ave. At 4:02 PM, patrolling officers received a FLOCK notification of a stolen license plate on a vehicle. An officer located the vehicle, and the driver was detained. Further investigation found the license plate did not match the vehicle it was attached to. The driver’s real license plate was stolen by the suspect and replaced with a license plate belonging to a different stolen vehicle with a matching vehicle make and model.
Petty theft – 7100 block of Cutting Blvd. At 4:05 PM, an officer reports the theft of a license plate that occurred on 08/11/2024.
Recovered Stolen Vehicle – 11939 San Pablo Ave. (Home Depot): At 12:40 AM, officers located an unoccupied stolen vehicle.
Driving Under the Influence, Possession of Brass Knuckles, Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Fireworks – Arlington Blvd. / Rifle Range Rd. At 4:00 AM, officers located a vehicle with a driver asleep in the driver’s seat. A DUI investigation was conducted and found the driver to be under the influence of alcohol. After further investigation, officers found the driver to be in possession of brass knuckles, marijuana, and fireworks. The driver was booked at the El Cerrito Police Department and later released with a citation.
Commercial Burglary – 10180 San Pablo Ave. (Tobacco Outlet): At 5:06 AM, officers were dispatched to a burglary in progress. The suspects fled in a vehicle prior to police arrival.

August 13^th

Grand Theft – 2100 block of Junction Ave.
At 9:33 AM, an officer reports a suspect stole the victim’s catalytic converter sometime over the past week.

Stolen Vehicle – 6400 block of Schmidt Ln.
At 4:16 PM, an officer reports a suspect stole the victim’s vehicle.

August 14^th

Nothing to report.

August 15^th

Shoplifting / Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – 670 El Cerrito Plaza (CVS): At 8:47 PM, officers were flagged down regarding a theft that had just occurred. Officers accepted the citizen’s arrest of the subject. During the investigation, officers found the subject to be in possession of drug paraphernalia. The subject was booked at the El Cerrito Police Department and transported to the Martinez Detention Facility.
Driving Under the Influence – San Pablo Ave. / MacDonald Ave. At 3:26 AM, officers conducted a traffic enforcement stop. During the investigation, officers found the driver to be under the influence of alcohol. The driver was arrested, booked at the El Cerrito Police Department and later released with a citation to a sober friend.

August 16^th

Grand Theft – 1300 Block of Lawrence St. Between 08/15/2024 at 6:00 PM and 08/16/2024 at 10:00 AM, a victim reports a suspect stole the victim’s catalytic converter.
Indecent Exposure / Possession of a Controlled Substance / Possession of Drug Paraphernalia / Parole Violation – 6000 block of Avila St. At 7:32 AM, an officer accepted the citizen’s arrest of a suspect who was participating in lewd conduct while on the victim’s front porch. During the investigation, officers found the suspect to be on parole and under the influence of a controlled substance. Officers conducted a search of the suspect and found 1.1 grams of methamphetamine located inside the suspect’s pants pocket. The suspect was arrested, booked at the El Cerrito Police Department and transported to the Martinez Detention Facility.

August 17^th

Robbery – El Cerrito Plaza Parking Lot: At 8:14 PM, an officer reports the victim and suspect agreed to meet for the sale of a laptop. As the victim was showing the suspect the laptop, the suspect grabbed it from the victim’s hands and ran away.
Evading – Potrero Ave. / San Pablo Ave. At 2:21 AM, patrolling officers received a FLOCK notification of a stolen license plate on a vehicle. An officer circulated the area and located the vehicle. A traffic enforcement stop was attempted, after the driver failed to pullover and fled from the officer. The officer disengaged after the stolen vehicle exited the city’s limits.
Petty Theft – 6700 block of Glenwood Way: At 11:30 AM, an officer reports theft of a rear license plate between 08/13/2024 and 08/16/2024.
Petty Theft – 10636 San Pablo Ave. (24 Hour Fitness): At 11:46 AM, a suspect cut a lock and stole a bicycle from in front of the business between the hours of 10:00 AM and 11:30 AM.
Grand Theft – 11450 San Pablo Ave. (Safeway): At 11:49 AM, a suspect cut locks and stole an electric scooter and an electric unicycle from in front of the store between the hours of 11:20 AM and 11:30 AM.
Warrant Arrest – BART Path / Blake St. At 2:45 PM, an officer contacted a subject known to have a warrant for their arrest. The subject was arrested, booked at the El Cerrito Police Department, and transported to the Martinez Detention Facility.

August 18^th

Felon in Possession of a Firearm / High-Capacity Magazine / Short Barreled Rifle / Ghost Gun / Possess Controlled Substance / Suspended Driver License – San Pablo Ave. / Moeser Ln. At 3:17 PM, an officer conducted a traffic enforcement stop. During the search of the vehicle, officers located an unloaded short-barreled “AR-type” rile with a 3D printed lower receiver along with a 40-round magazine. A K-9 officer was called in whose canine alerted to an area within the vehicle. Officers conducted a search of the alerted area and located 3 grams of suspected heroin/fentanyl, syringes, and other drug paraphernalia. A records search of the driver found the driver to have several prior felony convictions. The driver was arrested, booked at the El Cerrito Police Department and transported to Martinez Detention Facility.
Battery – 11565 San Pablo Ave. (Walgreen’s): At 4:50 PM, an officer reports two suspects confronted and struck a Walgreen’s security guard. Both suspects fled prior to police arrival.
Battery – 3230 Carlson Blvd. (Shield’s): At 7:04 AM, an officer reports two employees of Shield’s Nursing Home had an argument and shoved each other. A report was taken, and the employees were encouraged to speak with management.
Shoplift – 670 El Cerrito Plaza (CVS): At 7:38 PM, officers were dispatched to a theft that had just occurred. A witness was able to provide dispatch with a license plate and description of the suspect vehicle. An officer utilized the FLOCK system and located the vehicle. Officers caught up with the vehicle and conducted a traffic enforcement stop. Officers contacted the occupants and found the suspect to be in possession of the stolen merchandise. The suspect was placed under citizen’s arrest and was issued a citation before being released from the scene.
Warrant Arrest – 11344 San Pablo Ave. (Denny’s): At 1:51 AM, officers were dispatched to the business for a subject that called dispatch and was rambling incoherently. Officers located and contacted the subject. A records check of the subject found the subject had two active theft warrants for their arrest. During a search incident to arrest, the subject was found to be in possession of several credit cards in the names of other people. The subject was booked at the El Cerrito Police Department and transported to the Martinez Detention Facility. Officers will conduct further follow-up of the credit cards and will forward the case to the District Attorney’s Office for review.

August 19^th

Grand Theft – 8800 block of Terrace Dr. At 0909 hours, a victim reports their catalytic converter was stolen between 08/18/2024 at 5:00 PM and 08/19/2024 at 5:30 PM.
Grand Theft – 2300 block of Mira Vista Dr. At 1040 hours, a victim reports their catalytic converter was stolen between 08/17/2024 at 09:30 PM and on 08/19/2024 at 0530 AM.
Grand Theft – 1500 block of Norvell St. At 12:57 PM, a victim reports their catalytic converter was stolen between 08/17/2024 at 09:30 PM and on 08/19/2024 at 0530 AM.
Drunk in Public – 500 Block of Lexington Ave. At 12:32 AM, officers responded to a subject who was inside the victim’s vehicle. During the investigation, officers determined the subject was intoxicated while being in public. The subject was arrested and transported directly to the Martinez Detention Facility.

August 20^th

Grand Theft – 1400 Block of Arlington Blvd. At 9:52 AM, an officer reports the suspects stole cooper wire from the telephone poles.
Warrant Arrest – San Diego St. /Carlson Blvd. At 4:16, PM, an officer conducted a pedestrian stop and discovered the subject had two outstanding warrants. The subject was arrested, booked at the El Cerrito Police Department and transported to the Martinez Detention Facility.

August 21^st

Tampering with a Vehicle – 8600 Block of Don Carol Dr. At 9:12 AM, a victim reports a suspect broke into their vehicle and ransacked the interior. Nothing was taken from within. The suspect fled prior to police arrival.

August 22^nd

Warrant Arrest – Barrett Ave. / Brooks Ave. At 8:09 AM, officers responded to a report of a suspicious subject. Officers contacted the subject and discovered the subject had four outstanding warrants out of Alameda County. The subject was arrested, booked at the El Cerrito Police Department and transported to the Martinez Detention Facility.
Shoplift – 1000 El Cerrito Plaza (Lucky): At 10:24 AM, officers were dispatched to an in-progress shoplifting. Upon arrival, an officer located the suspect and detained them. The suspect was positively identified by the witness and placed under a citizen’s arrest, booked at the El Cerrito Police Department and was transported to the Martinez Detention Facility.
Possession of a Stolen Vehicle – Lexington Ave. / Moeser Ln. At 7:08 PM, patrolling officers received a FLOCK notification of a stolen license plate on a vehicle. Officers searched and located the vehicle with two suspects standing near the vehicle. During the investigation, one of the suspects admitted to driving the vehicle. The vehicle was released on scene and the suspect was arrested, booked at the El Cerrito Police Department and transported to the Martinez Detention Facility.
Felony Evading – San Pablo Ave. / Potrero Ave. At 11:28 PM, an officer briefly pursued a stolen truck until the suspect entered the freeway in the wrong direction to escape being arrested.
Vandalism – 11450 San Pablo Ave. (Safeway): At 2:21 AM, a suspect was arrested and transported straight to Martinez Detention Facility after causing damage to the front doors of the business by pounding on the glass with their hands.

August 23^rd

Vehicle Theft – 7500 block of Leviston Ave. At 01:34 AM, a victim reports their vehicle was stolen. The suspects fled prior to police arrival.
Grand Theft – 900 block of Galvin Dr. At 3:19 PM, an officer reports the theft of a catalytic converter between 3:00 PM on 08/22/2024 at 3:00 PM and 08/23/2024 at 2:30 PM.

August 24^th

Warrant Arrest – San Pablo Ave. / Cutting Blvd. At 6:41 PM, an officer conducted a traffic enforcement stop and discovered the driver had two outstanding citable traffic warrants. The driver was arrested and issued a citation for the warrants with a new court date. The driver was released at the scene.
Warrant Arrest – 11821 San Pablo Ave (McDonalds): At 3:24 AM, officers were dispatched to the business for a driver who had passed out in a vehicle in the drive thru. During the investigation, officers discovered the driver had two outstanding warrants for their arrest. The driver was arrested, booked at the El Cerrito Police Department, and transported to the Martinez Detention Facility.
Driving Under the Influence – Cutting Blvd. / Peerless Ave.
At 3:37 AM, an officer conducted a traffic enforcement stop. During the investigation, officers found the driver to be under the influence of alcohol. The driver was arrested, booked at the El Cerrito Police Department and released with a citation to a sober friend.

Previous El Cerrito Police Calls