TBS Today, Oct. 30

Police are investigating two carjacking reports in Berkeley in just two days.

The incidents were unusual: There have been only six other carjackings reported in Berkeley this entire year, according to BPD data.

2 carjackings reported in Berkeley in recent days

The incidents were unusual: There have been only six other carjackings reported in Berkeley this entire year, according to BPD data.

The Berkeley ScannerEmilie Raguso

We also have a short story on a work crew robbed at gunpoint on McGee Avenue.

Work crew robbed at gunpoint on McGee Avenue in Berkeley

The workers had been using a camera to inspect the sewer pipes when the armed robbery happened, they told police.

The Berkeley ScannerEmilie Raguso

The good news is that robberies are down significantly in Berkeley this year — but the recent reports are still concerning. Let's hope it's not a trend.

Yesterday, we attended a special Berkeley council meeting focused on the city's work to reimagine policing since 2020.

The meeting also included a recently completed staffing study and workload analysis focused on BPD.

We're aiming to have a story on that report tomorrow.

We did tweet some highlights Tuesday afternoon but you can only see them if you have an X account.

For those who have left X, we are routinely posting our stories now on Mastodon, Bluesky, Threads, NextDoor, Facebook and Reddit — but the engagement level continues to be much higher on X (despite its limitations).

In other news

The Scanner was featured today in a story on Nieman Lab as part of a broader look at crime reporting.

Is the crime news people crave the crime news they <em>need</em>?

“We need to better understand what people mean when they say ‘safety.’”

Nieman LabSophie Culpepper

In case you missed it

He was charged with 4 murders. Pamela Price gave him a deal

“Why would I want to forgive him?” said the mother of one of the victims. “To me, it was like a serial killer.”

The Berkeley ScannerEmilie Raguso

Where do Berkeley mayoral candidates stand on crime?

The candidates have similarities, but their positions on policing, the Police Accountability Board and cameras reveal key differences.

The Berkeley ScannerEmilie Raguso

Fall 2024 election guide for Berkeley and Alameda County

Here are many of the key races you’ll find on the ballot in Berkeley on Nov. 5, 2024. We’ll keep this voter guide updated as it gets closer.

The Berkeley ScannerEditor’s desk

See all our recent stories. Learn more about our work.

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