Police Blotter: Stolen Car, Domestic Dispute, Burglary Tools Lead to Arrests

Piedmont police deal with a fair volume of false alarms from residential security systems each week. Among the causes this week: alarm triggered by the family cat; a power outage; alarm set off by dog sitter; and a "panic button" accidentally tripped by the home's resident.

MONDAY, JAN. 30

Identity theft – Two Piedmont residents, one from Oakland Avenue and the other from Sierra Avenue, reported incidents of identity theft to the Piedmont Police Department in the morning.

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 1

Petty thefts – A resident of the first block of Fairview Avenue reported that someone rummaged through her unlocked vehicle during the night and took a GPS system. A resident of the 100 block of Nova Drive left her vehicle unlocked and found that $15 in change was missing in the morning. A Linda Avenue resident also reported that loose change was taken from his unlocked vehicle overnight.

Stolen car recovered, boys cited – PPD Officer Randy Price's suspicions were aroused by an auto with heavy damage to the front end being driven on Park Boulevard just before 10:30 a.m. The officer followed the car and asked for a license plate check, which showed the vehicle had been stolen. The two 16-year-old boys were cited and released to their parents. (Note: a PPD spokesman said juveniles suspected of non-violent crimes are sometimes not taken into custody when Alameda County Juvenile Hall is overcrowded with violent offenders.)

Domestic dispute – One person was arrested and jailed after a domestic disturbance between husband and wife shortly after 8:30 p.m.

FRIDAY, FEB. 3

Vandalism – Someone cut through a water line pipe and air hose at the Shell service station at 29 Wildwood Ave. during the night, an employee reported Friday morning.

SATURDAY, FEB. 4

Crack pipe arrest – A caller reported a man trying to open car doors on Richardson Way and Sheridan Avenue at 7:15 a.m. Police located a man matching the description, a 38-year-old San Leandro resident with a distinctive tattoo on his forehead, and, after a search, arrested him on suspicion of possessing drug paraphernalia and violating probation.

Garage burglary – A resident of the 300 block of Park Way reported reported about 10 a.m. that someone had taken guitars and a computer from his garage during the night. Police said there were no signs of forced entry. An hour or so later, a neighbor found the stolen items, including a banjo, partially hidden behind bushes in his yard.

Stolen auto – An Arbor Drive resident reported at 10:43 a.m. that her car had been stolen during the night.

Too much noise – Police broke up an evening party on Hillside Avenue with about 150 teens in attendance after neighborhood complaints of noise and drinking and marijuana smoking by juveniles.

SUNDAY, FEB. 5

Burglary tools – After a PPD officer saw a vehicle stopped in the middle of Trestle Glen Road about 11:30 p.m., police searched the car and found burglary tools, according to the police report. Two men, ages 18 and 19, both Oakland residents, were arrested.