Crime & Safety

Police Blotter: Home Invasion, Seven Burglaries

The holiday season was no deterrent to criminals last week, with a home invasion robbery at gunpoint, seven residential burglaries and at least one attempted burglary.

Incidents highlighted in the blotter were recorded in the Piedmont Police Department log Dec. 10-17. Information was supplied by the police and does not indicate any convictions.

Piedmont police have interviewed a "person of interest" in connection with a home invasion robbery on Scenic Avenue on Dec. 12 and have recovered the car used by the robbers in their escape, according to PPD Detective George Phifer. For details, see "Police Question 'Person of Interest' in Scenic Avenue Home Invasion Robbery."

Burglars hit Piedmont hard during the week, with three break-ins on Winsor Avenue, one on Parkview Avenue, two on St. James Drive, and one on Monticello Avenue. A probable attempted burglary was reported on Trestle Glen Road. Details are in the log below.

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MONDAY, DEC. 10

Residential burglaries — Burglars broke into a home in the 1000 block of Winsor Avenue sometime between 9:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. The intruders broke a glass door and stole a variety of items, police said. The same afternoon, police discovered that a neighboring home had also been burglarized. The intruders broke a back window and left the front door unlocked.

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TUESDAY, DEC. 11

Identity theft — A Magnolia Avenue resident reported that she had been the victim of identity theft.

Petty theft — Someone stolen a medical table and a hospital ID badge from a vehicle parked in the 100 block of St. James Drive. 

Home burglary — Police responding to a security system alarm in the 1100 block of Winsor Avenue at 1:52 p.m. discovered that the home had been burglarized. The intruders broke a side window and left a door open when they fled.

Suspicious circumstances/burglary — A Parkview Avenue resident reported that when she arrived home shortly before 6 p.m., she found the burglar alarm going off, a light turned on in a bedroom and two dogs let out of the house. Police officers who investigated found the front door and two back doors were open. 

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 12

Lost dog? — A Maxwelton Road resident reported seeing a large gray poodle that appeared "confused" shortly after 8 a.m. An animal control officer was unable to locate the dog.

Home invasion robbery — Three men held the residents of a home in the 100 block of Scenic Avenue at gunpoint while stealing jewlery, computers and cell phones from the house. See "Police Question 'Person of Interest' in Scenic Avenue Home Invasion Robbery" for details.

THURSDAY, DEC. 13

Home burglary — A home in the 100 block of St. James Drive was burglarized between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

FRIDAY, DEC. 14

Burglary attempt — A resident of the 1800 block of Trestle Glen Road told police that a man "popped his head in" through an unlocked door shortly before 10 a.m. but fled when he saw the homeowner. The intruder, described as an African American man about 6' 4" tall, drove off in a dark-colored sedan.

ID theft — A Piedmont resident reported that someone opened credit card accounts in her name.

Suspicious circumstances — Two teenage boys — one blond, one dark-haired —reportedly tried to enter the library building at Piedmont High School about 10:40 p.m., possibly using a key. The boys took off toward Piedmont Park when spotted by a witness.

SATURDAY, DEC. 15

Disorderly conduct — A person who pounded on the door of a home in the first block of Wildwood Avenue about 12:45 a.m. was arrested on suspicion of disorderly conduct and booked into the Glenn Dyer Detention Facility in Oakland.

Residential burglary — A burglar kicked in the front door of a home in the 100 block of St. James Drive sometime during the day. The break-in was reported at 5:40 p.m.

SUNDAY, DEC. 16

ID theft — A Piedmont resident reported that she and two other people were victims of identity theft.

MONDAY, DEC. 17

Residential burglary — Someone broke into a home in the 100 block of Monticello Avenue between 9:20 and 10:20 a.m. by smashing a back door window. A neighbor reported seeing two men leave the home bwtween 9:45 and 10 a.m. and drive off in a silver four-door Honda Civic, police said.

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