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Police Blotter: On the Trail of Stolen Checks

A stolen car and a number of vehicle break-ins, but otherwise a rather quiet week in Piedmont.

Incidents highlighted in the blotter were recorded in the Piedmont Police Department log Sept. 17-24. Information was supplied by the police and does not indicate any convictions.

Hayward police believe they have identified the person who attempted to cash checks stolen from a Piedmont resident's mailbox on Sept. 17, according to Piedmont Police Department Detective George Phifer.

The thief stolen two envelopes containing signed personal checks from the mailbox on St. James Drive, then attempted to cash one of them at a U.S. Bank branch in Hayward, Phifer said. He said a bank employee did not cash the check but did keep the personal ID of the person trying to cash it — leading Hayward investigators to identify a suspect the following day.

The week also saw a number of thefts from parked vehicles, including one that set off an SUV's alarm and led to a brief, unsuccessful police chase, Phifer said.

A resident of the 200 block of Sunnyside Avenue reported at 4:55 a.m. that someone had smashed a passenger side window on the SUV and the alarm was sounding, Phifer said. A few minutes later, a police officer spotted a man running on Lake Avenue and chased him, but lost sight of the man on Olive Avenue, he said. The runner lost one shoe — a black Nike with an orange "swoosh" — along the way, he said.

Police later questioned a man spotted sleeping in a car nearby but were not able to tie him definitely to the vehicle burglary, Phifer said.

A GPS device was stolen from the SUV, he said.

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 19

Vehicle burglaries — A resident of the 600 block of Blair Avenue reported at 7:57 a.m. that someone had broken the rear window of a vehicle and stolen a backpack containing books. At 1:26 p.m., a resident of the first block of Dudley Avenue repoted a vehicle window smashed and a GPS device stolen.

THURSDAY, SEPT. 20

Truck found — Police helped a woman locate her parked truck.

Unfamiliar truck — A local resident reported that a large white truck parked in the first block of Greenbank Avenue about 10 p.m. "looked out of place."

FRIDAY, SEPT. 21

Vandalism — Someone smashed a passenger-side window of a vehicle parked in the first block of Lake Avenue between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m. Nothing was stolen from the vehicle.

Sidewalk parking — A caller told police during the afternoon that a blue SUV was parked on the sidewalk in the 300 block of Wildwood Avenue and was making it difficult for pedestrians to get by. A police officer checked and reported that the SUV was, indeed, partially on the sidewalk, but there was plenty of room for pedestrians.

Move on, skateboarders — A group of juvenile skateboarders set up a ramp on the sidewalk of Winsor Avenue about 4:40 p.m. At the suggestion of a police officer, they decided to move the ramp onto private property owned by one juvenile's family.

Patrol car vs. stationary object — A police vehicle was involved in a minor collision on Abbott Way about 8:40 p.m. No other vehicles, pedestrians or animals were involved, police said.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 22

Petty theft — A thief rifled through an unlocked vehicle in the 100 block of Greenbank Avenue and took loose change.

Suspicious? — A Cambridge Way resident reported that a black male adult was sitting in an SUV about 9:35 a.m.

SUNDAY, SEPT. 23

Stolen car — A blue Volvo parked in the 1200 block of Oakland Avenue was stolen sometime during the past two days.

Rescue — Public safety personnel freed a child accidentally locked inside a vehicle in the 300 block of Highland Avenue about 8:20 a.m.

Possibly defunct fox — A caller reported seeing a dead fox near the intersection of Moraga Avenue and Maxwelton Way about 8:40 a.m. An animal control officer was unable to locate the fox, dead or alive.

Water line break — A caller reported an apparent water main break at Davies Tennis Stadium shortly after 3 p.m. The City of Oakland, which maintains the stadium, was notified.

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