Police Blotter: Home Burglaries, Gunshots, Fires

Updated March 7, 2012, 9:13 a.m.

MONDAY, FEB. 27

Warrant arrest – A Piedmont police officer discovered during a traffic stop on Grand Avenue at 11:53 a.m. that the driver had an outstanding warrant for failure to appear on a BART Police Department matter. The PPD officer issued a new appearance date and released the driver.

TUESDAY, FEB. 28

Auto burglaries – Two Piedmont residents reported shortly before 7 a.m. that someone had proken into their vehicles overnight – one on the 900 block of Kingston Avenue, the other on the 400 block of Jerome Avenue.

Family dispute – One person was arrested and both parties received treatment for lacerations after an evening dispute between a father and his adult son, who police say has mental health issues. The son was arrested and remains in custody.

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 29

Briefcase found – A Bonita Avenue resident reported finding a briefcase in front of his stairs.

Stolen vehicle – A Honda sedan was stolen from the first block of Olive Avenue during the night.

Deceased skunk – A Greenbank Avenue resident called the police department at 10:56 a.m. and asked to have an animal control officer pick up a dead skunk. The caller had already placed the unfortunate animal in a trash receptacle by his driveway.

Residential burglary – A home in the first block of Caperton Avenue was burglarized shortly after 11 a.m. Police said the lower panel of a basement door was pushed or kicked in, but no property appears to have been taken. It appears the burglar may have been scared off by a home security system alarm.

THURSDAY, MARCH 1

Vehicle burglary – A resident near the corner of Monte and Moraga avenues reported at 4:51 a.m. that someone broke into his car during the night.

Residential burglary – A woman returned to her home in the 200 block of Carmel Avenue about 12:10 p.m. and found that burglars had broken into the residence sometime after 9 a.m. A laptop computer was taken and jewelry was strewn about; it's not known yet whether any jewelry was stolen. Police said the burglar broke the glass on a window, then reached in and cranked the window open to gain entry.

Found vehicle – Sonoma County authorities notified the PPD that they had located a vehicle reported stolen from Piedmont.

Opossum watch – A Cambridge Way resident reported seeing an opossum in his backyard at 5:21 p.m. The animal appeared healthy.

FRIDAY, MARCH 2

Child in car – A child managed to lock himself in a car on Highland Avenue about 12:30 p.m.. A police officer was able to extricate him.

Dishwasher in flames – A dfishwasher in a Boulevard Way home malfunctioned about 8 p.m., spewing forth smoke and flames. The fire did not spread.

Yard fire – A fire that may have started in a rubbish pile behind a home on San Carlos Avenue spread to nearby vegetation shortly before 9 p.m. Firefighters brought the blaze under control with 10 minutes but remained on the scene for more than an hour to mop up and make sure it was out.

SATURDAY, MARCH 3

Gunshots – Two callers, one on Calvert Court and one on Bellevue Avenue, reported hearing what sounded like gunshots in the area around 2 a.m.; one reported seeing four men wearing backpacks. Police were unable to locate the men or determine the source of the sounds.

Noisy, but for a good cause – At 11:18 p.m., a resident of Sandringham Avenue complained of noise from a party, which turned out to be fundraiser for Havens School. To their credit, the party-goers turned the music down immediately.

SUNDAY, MARCH 4

Oh, deer! – Two neighbors on Hampton Road heard rustling in the bushes around 10:30 p.m.; one also heard a crashing noise. The intruders turned out to be a pair of deer.

MONDAY, MARCH 5

Credit card fraud – A Dracena Avenue resident reported fraudulent use of his credit card.