Berkeley police investigate Claremont car break-in spree
Police spotted the involved vehicle speeding southbound and running red lights on Claremont Avenue, according to preliminary reports.
Thieves broke into at least eight vehicles in Berkeley's Claremont neighborhood on Friday night, leaving shattered glass littering the street as rain fell through the open windows.
The break-ins happened sometime before 10:30 p.m. Friday, according to emergency dispatches reviewed by The Scanner.
Police found cars with broken windows on multiple streets in the typically quiet neighborhood east of Claremont Avenue, including on The Plaza Drive, Nogales Street and Parkside Drive.
According to emergency radio traffic, police spotted the involved vehicle speeding southbound and running red lights on Claremont at 10:40 p.m. Friday.
Officers kept an eye on the black SUV for several minutes until it left the city but did not initiate a pursuit. BPD's pursuit policy does not allow chases for property crimes.
Police are investigating a spate of auto burglaries in the Claremont neighborhood on Friday, March 29, 2024. Ariel Nava Photo
There have been more than 300 auto burglaries in Berkeley this year, according to BPD's Transparency Hub data portal.
That's up 21% compared to last year over the same period.
According to the Transparency Hub, there had only been two auto burglaries in the Parkside neighborhood this year prior to Friday night.
Last year, there was only one auto burglary in the neighborhood up through March 30, according to BPD data.
The Scanner has asked BPD for more details and will update this story if more information becomes available.
