Police Blotter: Traffic Signal Damaged, Stolen Cars Found, Squirrel Triggers Alarm

Piedmont had a rash of auto burglaries (thefts from vehicles) last week, with one arrest made and some stolen items recovered. You may read about them in this article.

Piedmont police are continuing to investigate a home invasion robbery that took place on Park Boulevard April 1, Detective George Phifer said. Lab results from latent fingerprints lifted at the scene aren't in yet, but police are reviewing surveillance video from a gas station where one victim's credit card was used, he said.

MONDAY, APRIL 2

Cock-a-doodle-doo – As you may know, Piedmont shares its animal control officers with the City of Emeryville. That's where they picked up a stray rooster shortly after noon and took it to the Berkeley Animal Shelter

Truck vs. traffic signal – A large moving van hit a traffic light at the corner of Moraga and Highland avenues shortly before 2 p.m. The driver left without reporting the incident, but the Piedmont Police Department is getting in touch with the moving company. Damage to the signal was minor, police said.

Found property, unlikely to be claimed – A Pacific Avenue resident reported at 8:08 p.m. that he had found drug paraphernalia in his backyard.

TUESDAY, APRIL 3

Stolen truck recovered – A Piedmont police sergeant driving on Park Boulevard about 1:25 p.m. spotted a tan pickup truck with no front license plate and followed it onto St. James Drive. The driver ditched the truck on St. James and took off on foot. The truck contained burglary tools and had recently been stolen, police said. The driver was not apprehended.

Identity theft – An Oakmont Avenue resident notified police of a case of identity theft at 9:49 a.m.

Canine escapee – An animal control officer picked up a dog that had escaped from its home and returned the pooch to its owner shortly after 10 a.m.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4

Vandalism – A caller reported at 2:17 p.m. that occupants of a white SUV threw something at a gold SUV parked near the intersection of Oakland and San Carlos avenues, breaking its rear window.

FRIDAY, APRIL 6

Stolen vehicle recovered – A Piedmont police officer spotted a stolen car parked near the intersection of Monte Cresta and Kingston avenues shortly before 8 a.m.

Squirrel power – A squirrel triggered a power outage at Piedmont High School that tripped an alarm system at 11:24 a.m. The squirrel, unfortunately, did not survive the incident.

SATURDAY, APRIL 7

Stolen vehicle recovered – At 12:15 a.m., police located a vehicle that had been stolen from Oakland near the intersection of Kingston and Greenbank avenues.

Noisy – A group of young people – but all legally of age – making loud noises in their vehicles near the Piedmont Reservoir triggered a complaint from a Blair Avenue resident at 2:16 a.m. They dispersed when a police officer arrived.

Under-age drinking – An intoxicated teen was located in Crocker Park about 2:40 a.m., taken to the hospital for possible medical treatment and later released to a parent.

Suspicious solicitor – Police took a man in his 30s into custody briefly in the afternoon after he told two Fairview Avenue residents in separate incidents that "he could tell they didn't like black people" and made an obscene gesture at one of them. The man was later given a courtesy ride to the Temescal area of Oakland.

SUNDAY, APRIL 8

Found money – A Sylvan Way resident reported at 9:25 a.m. that he had found a car ashtray and pennies in the street.

Stolen bike – A resident of the 100 block of Dudley Way reported shortly after noon that his bicycle had been stolen from his garage sometime since Friday. Police said the thief entered the garage through an unlocked door. The bike was valued at close to $2,000, police said.

Wildwood buzz – A Wildwood Avenue resident reported in mid-afternoon that bees "from next door" were swarming in his yard.

Found vehicle – The Oakland Police Department advised the PPD via teletype at 6:13 p.m. that they had located a vehicle reported stolen from Piedmont.