Incidents highlighted in the blotter were recorded in the Piedmont Police Department log Jan. 7-14. Information was supplied by the police and does not indicate any convictions.
A home invasion robbery in the 100 block of Indian Road the evening of Jan. 7 appears to have targeted a specific household, according to a Piedmont Police Department spokesman.
"There's no reason for the public to be concerned" that the robbers will strike again at other Piedmont homes, Detective George Phifer said.
The robbers were described as two black male adults in dark clothing, and one of them had a gun, Phifer said.
He said the robbery appears to be unrelated to a home invasion robbery on Scenic Avenue on Dec. 12. The investigation into that incident is continuing.
Vehicle Break-ins
One or more thieves targeted at least 18 parked cars in Piedmont over a three-day period. In several cases the thief rifled through the vehicles but didn't take anything. See Jan. 9, 10 and 11 below for details on where the break-ins occurred.
MONDAY, JAN. 7
Petty theft — A lost or stolen purse containing indetification and credt cards was reported to Piedmont police at 2:11 p.m.
Vandalism — A resident of the 500 block of Blair Avenue reported rocks thrown at her front window shortly before 2:30 p.m.
Grand theft — A catalytic converter was reported stolen from a vehicle in the 1100 block of Warfield Avenue.
Christmas trees in the street — Three local residents called police about 8 p.m. to report Christmas trees in the roadway near the intersection of Hampton Road and Crocker Avenue. Another Christmas tree was reported in the roadway at Oakland and Highland avenues about an hour later.
TUESDAY, JAN. 8
Stolen vehicle — A silver Acura was reported stolen from the 100 block of Mountain Avenue. The auto disappeared between 7:10 and 7:29 a.m.
Identity theft — A Blair Avenue resident reported an instance of identity theft. A second case of identity theft was reported by a Palm Drive resident.
Petty theft — A laptop computer was stolen from a vehicle parked in the first block of Sylvan Way.
Odor investigation — A Piedmont resident reported first smelling smoke, then seeing smoke rise from a backyard on La Salle Avenue about 4:15 p.m. The Piedmont Fire Department determined that the smoke was coming from an outdoor barbeque..
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 9
Vehicle break-ins — Someone broke into a vehicle parked in the 100 block of Bonita Avenue prior to 6:09 a.m., but nothing was stolen. Another vehicle break-in was reported from the 1300 block of Grand Avenue at 4:56 p.m.
Discarded bullets — An employee of Richmond Sanitary reported that bullets were found in a garbage can on MacKinnon Place. The employee asked police to stand by while she interviewed the residents at that address.
THURSDAY, JAN. 10
Stolen vehicle — A Honda CRV was stolen overnight from the 100 block of Ronada Avenue.
Vehicle incidents — Someone rifled through an unlocked vehicle in the 1000 block of Oakland Avenue during the night, but nothing was missing. Two unlocked vehicles in the 400 block of Blair Avenue were rifled as well. Again, nothing was stolen. A resident of the 100 block of Ronada Avenue wasn't as fortunate — there, someone broke into a locked vehicle and took a gym bag, gym key, gloves and tools. In yet another incident, someone rifled through a locked vehicle parked in the 300 block of Magnolia Avenue during the night and stole a watch and a GPS. Another vehicle, this time in the first block of Requa Place, was also rifled through. An iPod was stolen from a locked vehicle in the 1500 block of Grand Avenue. Two unlocked vehicles were rifled through in the 400 block of Scenic Avenue.
Defunct skunk — An animal control officer picked up a deceased skunk in the 1400 block of Grand Avenue.
Found items — A Highland Avenue resident whose stolen vehicle was recovered found items that didn't belong to her in the vehicle. She turned the items over to police.
FRIDAY, JAN. 11
More vehicle incidents — Two unlocked vehicles were rifled through in the 400 block of Scenic Avenue, but nothing was taken. A GPS and loose change were stolen from a locked car in the first block of Nace Avenue. Someone rifled through a locked vehicle in the 100 block of Sunnyside Avenue, but nothing was stolen.
SATURDAY, JAN. 12
And yet more ... — Someone rifled through an unlocked vehicle in the 1800 block of Oakland Avenue and took money. Another vehicle, in the first block of Dudley Avenue, was rifled and a bag of clothing taken. Someone took a purse and money from an unlocked vehicle in the 100 block of Alta Avenue, and this time the thief left something behind — a marijuana joint.
Vandalism and burglary — Someone sprayed a fire extinguisher around in a building at Piedmont High School, then departed with the extinguisher, school staff discovered this morning.
Mail theft — A Sandringham Road resident reported several thefts from her mailbox. The thief cashed at least four checks addressed to the resident's children.
Weapon for destruction — A citizen turned in a gun to the police department for destruction.
Suspicious noise — A Nace Avenue resident reported hearing a loud noise at the side of the house just before 11:15 p.m. It was a neighbor bringing in garbage cans.
MONDAY, JAN. 14
Vehicle chase — About 1:45 a.m., near the intersection of Sunnyside and Grand avenues, a Piedmont police officer spotted a Honda Accord reported stolen earlier that night by the Oakland Police Department. Both the vehicle and two men nearby matched descriptions given by the OPD. When the officer tried to question the men, they jumped into the vehicle and fled. The officer pursued them to to Waverly Street in Oakland, where the stolen vehicle turned onto 23rd Street and hit a telephone pole. The two men jumped out of the Honda and fled, and the officer was unsuccessful in his efforts to capture them, despite a foot chase. The suspects were described as a black male wearing a dark jacket and baseball cap and an Asian male wearing a jeans jacket. The Honda was towed and the registered owner notified.
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