Crime

New armed robbery brings total to six in December

December 7, 2010 3:08 pm by Tracey Taylor

California Street at Virginia: scene of an armed robbery on December 6.

A robbery which took place on California Street at Virginia at around 7.20pm on Monday December 6, brings the total number of armed robberies in the city to six in almost as many days this month. There were at least as many in November.

The incident took place north of Ohlone Park which has seen a concentration of similar hold-ups over the past few weeks.

The victim, a 47-year-old man, was walking on California talking on his cell phone when he was approached by a man holding a gun. The victim complied when asked to give up his phone, wallet and backpack. He described the suspect as black, aged 20-30, with a medium build and about 5’6″. He was wearing a blue sweatshirt and jeans.

Sergeant Mary Kusmiss of the Berkeley Police Department said there is a nexus between some of the robberies that have taken place recently, although descriptions have varied, and not all the robberies are being viewed as part of a series. Four that took place between November 13 and 21 in Berkeley share patterns in terms of the modus operandi of the suspect, she said.

“At this time of the year there tends to be an increase in the number of robberies in Berkeley,” she said. Sgt. Kusmiss attributes this partly to the end of Daylight Saving Time, which means it is darker earlier in the day, as well as the increased number of people who are out and about on the streets, shopping or socializing.

“Criminals are often opportunistic,” she said. She added that they will use the same technique if it has proven to work before. Although there is not one profile which fits all the victims of recent robberies, they have often been alone, distracted and in a dark area, she said.

Sgt. Kusmiss said the police are devoting extra resources to patrolling on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights in particular neighborhoods, and they are liaising with police departments in neighboring cities as part of their investigations.

Councilmember Linda Maio is holding a public meeting with the Berkeley Police on Thursday December 9 to discuss the recent crime wave. Many of the robberies have taken place in her north Berkeley district. The meeting, which starts at 7pm, is at the Lutheran Church of the Cross at 1744 University Avenue. Area 1 coordinator Officer Casimiro Pierantoni will attend from the police department, as will Lieutenant Andrew Greenwood.

15 Comments

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  • Lindsey

    Why do we have daylight savings again? As a gardener and a cyclist I have to say I really dislike the time change.

    I live in the neighborhood where these holdups are happening and I don’t like that I can’t walk safely in my own neighborhood. I bike fast and keep an eye on my surroundings.

  • Charles

    I’m sure Sgt. Kusmiss and the BPD understand the country went off of Daylight Saving Time early in November (as it does each year), and that it is the absence of DST that causes it to get dark earlier. I am not so sure Tracey and Lindsey understand this, but they can speak for themselves.

  • not gruntled

    Yup – daylight savings – I’m sure that caused it. Why doesn’t Linda re-implement midnight basketball – it eliminated crime in Oakland.

  • http://www.davosnewbies.com Lance Knobel

    I’ve edited the post to be clearer about daylight savings. Clearly, Sgt. Kusmiss was referring to the end of daylight savings causing problems.

  • David L

    Download a cell phone tracking application. If your phone is stolen you can tell the police where to find it. You may also be able to wipe phone’s information remotely.

    http://hubpages.com/hub/Locate-Cell-Phone

  • David L

    Verizon customers can track their stolen “smart” phones:

    https://www.mymobilerecovery.com/public/verizon/index.html

  • Paul W.

    I can’t imagine increased crime could possibly be attributed to “the increased number of people who are out and about on the streets, shopping or socializing.” We should probably all just stay in our cars and not socialize or shop, right?

    That is directly contradicted by, “they have often been alone, distracted and in a dark area.” Well which one is it? I for one will continue to present myself in public, socializing and shopping. Pay attention, be smart, and keep an eye out for each other.

  • Steve

    Don’t talk on your mobile phone while you are walking around in the dark, or sitting on a bench in a dark park. Pay attention to what’s going on around you and who is watching you. It’s pretty simple. I see people walking on the street in Berkeley every day with their heads down, typing text into their phones. That’s who muggers look for. Other folks cut off their ears with their iPods, so they are also disconnected from what’s going on around them. Texting or phoning and walking at night is not much safer than doing it while driving.

  • Frank Nachtman

    I was walking home from BART right around this time. I walk around the neighborhood often. I almost never see any police presence in the neighborhood. I’ve seen one flyer in the neighborhood, but I’d rather see more police. There are no notices at the BART station about all the crime. I wish Berkeley PD would do a sting operation. Put an undercover officer in the Ohlone Greenway with a laptop.

    There is a meeting with the police about the crime spree in District 1 this Thursday night at 7pm at the Lutheran Church, 1744 University. Who is going to protect me and my neighbors if we walk to this meeting that ironically occurs at the time these crimes are being committed?

  • Chris

    I recently moved to the east side of Sacramento from the west side and I must say, the east side is so much darker than the west side. Sometimes these streets are so dark you can barely see a fellow pedestrian. I think home owners should turn on or install lighting in front of their houses. Every little bit will help make the neighborhood safer and more inviting.

  • http://blognabbit.blogspot.com deirdre

    Chris – you got that right. SOOOOoooo dark on these streets!

  • http://www.tktaylor.com Tracey Taylor

    On the darkness issue, we hear that the Elmwood Merchants Association plans to keep its holiday lights on year-round in the evening hours starting this year. They hope it will make the shopping district more inviting and safer.

  • Toni

    I walk this neighborhood everyday. It is rare to see a police car here. I would assume a heavy presence of the law during this new spike in neighborhood crime. Two suggestions–1) Bring back the BART respect escorts who walked commuters to their cars after dark 2) Notify foreign students at Cal. Many of them do not read local crime reports, or move in circles where this is being discussed. Some proactive notification would be good. Many thanks to Linda Maio for blanketing the area with fliers about the crimes. I wish I could make the neighborhood meeting on Thursday. Let’s catch these guys!!

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