Police Blotter: Cemetery Campers, Burglaries, Fireworks and Popcorn Fires

MONDAY, MARCH 19

Non-injury accident – Police responded to a non-injury accident that occurred at Craig and Highland avenues about 9 a.m. The drivers exchanged insurance information.

Cemetery campers – Just after 10 a.m., a Maxwelton Road resident reported seeing a teenage boy and girl climb the Mountain View Cemetery fence carrying pillows and sleeping bags. The cemetery was notified, but police could not locate the teens.

False alarm – At 10:44 a.m., a possible fire at Piedmont High School, 800 Magnolia Ave., turned out to be burned popcorn in a microwave oven that triggered a fire alarm.

Residential burglary – A resident of the 200 block of Sunnyside Avenue reported at 1:15 p.m. that she had just returned home to find that someone had broken in. The burglary occurred sometime during the three hours just before her call.

Identity theft – A Requa Road resident reported at 7:56 p.m. that someone had used his credit card number.

Out of gas – A truck was blocking one lane of traffic on Grand Avenue at Arroyo Avenue at 10:23 p.m. A bit of gasoline got the truck up and running again.

TUESDAY, MARCH 20

Non-injury accident – A 9:19 a.m. report of an auto accident "at Oakland Avenue and Pleasant Valley" had police officers hunting a bit for the site, which turned out to be at the intersection of Oakland and Grand avenues. Piedmont Public Works Department staff cleaned up broken glass from the crash.

Home again – A "medium-large brown dog" reported as a stray on Sandringham Road just after 10 a.m. was located and returned to its home by an animal control officer.

Auto burglaries – A resident of the first block of Estates Drive reported at 2:38 p.m. that someone had broken into her vehicle. Another auto burglary was reported in the 200 block of Sandringham Road at 3:02 p.m.

Theft – A resident of the first block of Sea View Avenue called police at 3:46 p.m. to report that her gardener's leaf blower and weed eater had just been stolen.

Breaking glass – A Nova Drive resident reported hearing the sound of breaking glass just before 10:30 p.m. It turned out to be a neighbor putting glass into a recyclables bin.

Fist fight – A Linda Avenue resident told police at 11 p.m. that "guys are fighting on the corner." The police report calls it "mutual combat" and says no weapons were involved. The two combatants broke it up and went their separate ways.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 21

Car tow – Police called Berry Brothers to tow a Toyota Camry after a resident of the 600 block of Highland Avenue reported at 9:07 a.m. that the vehicle was blocking his driveway.

Identity theft – A Wildwood Avenue resident reported an instance of identity theft to the PPD at 2:04 p.m.

Sewer camera stolen – A sewer camera and assorted tools were stolen from a job site on Hampton Road. The theft apparently happened on March 20.

THURSDAY, MARCH 22

Barefoot trance – An Artuna Avenue resident reported at 2:32 p.m. that a man was "sitting in the grass with his shoes off and is staring at his feet. He appears to be in a trance." The man was described as white, in his 50s, wearing a black beanie, shirt and jeans. PPD responded and spoke with the barefoot man.

Traffic problem – An anonymous caller told police at 2:59 p.m. that parents picking up their children from Corpus Christi School were blocking the intersection at Wyngaard Avenue and Estates Drive and described it as "an ongoing problem." The police officer who responded did not see any traffic violations.

FRIDAY, MARCH 23

Theft – A FasTrak pass and change were reportedly taken from an unlocked vehicle parked in the 100 block of Estates Drive sometime between 1 a.m. and 8:30 a.m.

Dog on the run – A caller reported a small beige poodle "on the loose" near the intersection of Vista and Bonita avenues at 1:43 p.m. The dog's owner was able to catch the errant pooch, according to the police report.

Identity theft – At 2:06 p.m., a Sharon Avenue resident reported unauthorized charges on his credit card.

Not trapped, dear – A Blair Avenue resident reported at 2:06 p.m. that a deer was possibly trapped in a yard. The apparently agile animal was gone when an animal control officer arrived a few minutes later.

Fireworks, then a fire – The Piedmont fire Department extinguished a small fire in tall grass on Pala Avenue shortly after 9:30 p.m. The blaze was apparently started by someone setting off fireworks.

SATURDAY, MARCH 24

Stolen auto found – A silver Toyota Camry reported stolen in Oakland was located on Kempton Way at 8:50 a.m.

Bike found – A Fairview Avenue resident reported finding a red bicycle in the parking strip near his home. The bike was apparently left there between 7:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m.

Street light out – Police notified the Public Works Department of a malfunctioning street light in the 100 block of Richardo Avenue about 7:30 p.m.

And the band played on – A noisy party in the first block of Indian Gulch road prompted several complaints from neighbors. Although security personnel working at the party site told police the event would break up by midnight, it was 1 a.m. when the band stopped playing and party goers dispersed, following a second visit from the PPD.

SUNDAY, MARCH 25

Residential burglary – Someone broke into a home in the 100 block of Woodland Way on Saturday and stole a camcorder, the resident reported to police.

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