Teen on scooter escapes armed robbery attempt in Berkeley

A teenager escaped an armed robbery attempt near UC Berkeley on Monday night by riding away on his scooter, authorities report.

The armed robbery attempt took place at about 7:25 p.m. near Parker and Etna streets in the Southside neighborhood near campus.

The Berkeley Police Department said the 19-year-old, an El Cerrito resident, was riding westbound on Parker when the driver pulled up and pointed a gun with an extended magazine at him.

The driver told the teenager to put his scooter and bag in the car, police said.

Instead, the teen fled on the scooter while the driver followed him.

The 19-year-old was able to escape and the driver was last seen heading south on Etna just after the robbery attempt, police said.

The teen flagged down a police officer at Telegraph Avenue and Blake Street, about six blocks away, to report what happened, Berkeley police said.

(UCPD put out a WarnMe notice about the robbery at 7:55 p.m. Monday but several of the listed details were incorrect.)

There has been at least one other robbery in Berkeley this year, according to BPD data. The Scanner has asked BPD for details.

There were 389 robberies in Berkeley in 2023 compared to 299 in 2022, a 30% increase.

UCPD safety tips for the campus community

• Travel with a trusted friend or in a group, take a taxi, or use free night safety services for the campus community, such as BearWalk and the night safety shuttle
• If you need help, dial 911 or use a blue light emergency phone (located throughout the campus and identified by a blue light on the phone box or column)
• Electronic devices are popular robbery targets: Be aware of surroundings and keep devices out of view to help reduce safety risks
• Call law enforcement promptly: UCPD strongly encourages the reporting of criminal or suspicious activity in a timely manner
• Read more safety tips from UC Berkeley