Police Blotter: Home Burglaries, Screams in the Night, Arrests

Two men and one woman were taken into custody on a variety of charges after one of them rang the doorbell of a home on Glen Alpine Road about 1:10 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 28, a Piedmont Police Department spokesman said.

Capt. Scott Wyatt said the Glen Alpine resident reported that a bald white man wearing a striped shirt — a man unknown to the resident — was ringing the doorbell and that the man's vehicle was parked at the end of the driveway.

When police arrived, the man got out of the vehicle and approached an officer and said he was trying to drive someone home after a party in Berkeley, Wyatt said. The man gave a false name, Wyatt said.

When police searched the vehicle, they found a variety of what appeared to be illegal drugs, he said.

The man who rang the doorbell, a 33-year-old Castro Valley resident, was arrested on suspicion of of stolen property, possession of narcotics and failure to identify himself to a police officer.

A second man in the vehicle, a 28-year-old Berkeley resident, was arrested on suspicion of public intoxication, while a 33-year-old Castro Valley woman was arrested on suspicion of possession of stolen property and a probation violation.

All three were taken to the Glenn Dyer Detention Facility in Oakland, Wyatt said.

Incidents highlighted in the blotter were recorded in the Piedmont Police Department log from noon on Aug. 26 through noon, Aug. 30. Not all incidents recorded in the log are included here. Information was supplied by the police and does not indicate any convictions.

MONDAY, AUG. 26

Home burglary — An El Cerrito Avenue resident reported a break-in at 3:31 p.m. Police said it appeared that a former resident of the home had retained keys and used them to enter the house, then removed items belonging to him.

Deer rescue — A deer trapped in a fence on Indian Gulch Road was freed about 6:20 p.m. with some assistance from the Piedmont Fire Department.

TUESDAY, AUG. 27

Warrant arrest — Police arrested one person near Grand Avenue and Cambridge Way shortly after midnight on an outstanding warrant from Sonoma County.

Screams in the night — A Manor Avenue resident reported hearing a woman screaming nearby at 2:05 a.m. A police officer located the screamer, a woman living nearby whose dog had just been sprayed by a skunk. She was upset but unhurt. (Editor's note: Tomato juice doesn't work all that well. Professional skunk bath recommended.)

Lost and found — Police received a report that a green Nike backpack was stolen from Mulberry's, possibly by a teenage boy who headed into the parking lot. The backpack was turned in at the police station less than four hours later. The teen who took it thought it belonged to his younger brother, who owns an identical backpack.
Home burglary attempt — Two men attempted to break into at least one Grand Avenue home about 6 p.m. See "Piedmont Boy, 10, Gives Police Eyewitness Account of Attempted Burglary" for details.
WEDNESDAY, AUG. 28
Arrests — Three people were arrested on Glen Alpine Road after one of them rang a stranger's doorbell in the early morning. See above for details.

Is your dog missing? — A lost black-and-white dog was found on Woodland Way about 11:15 a.m.
Home burglary — Police responded to a burglary on Sandringham Road. See "Burglar Breaks Balcony Window to Enter Sandringham Road Home" for details.

THURSDAY, AUG. 29

ID theft — A Crest Road resident reported being the victim of identity theft.

Soliciting without a permit — A group of solicitors who did not have a city permit was reported to police repeatedly Wednesday and Thursday. Although a supervisor was contacted by police Wednesday and picked up some of the group, they returned on Thursday. Police issued a second warning to the supervisor.

FRIDAY, AUG. 30

Extortion — A Glen Alpine Road resident reported being the victim of a possible extortion attempt.

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