Woman rappelled into North Face for burglary, police say

DNA helped Berkeley police catch a woman who forced her way into North Face via a skylight then "rappelled down a nylon strap onto the floor" to commit burglary last year, according to court papers.

The woman, 29-year-old Brezjana Wilson, and two unidentified accomplices stole 10 iPhones and North Face merchandise valued at $20,000, Berkeley police wrote in charging papers.

In recent weeks, the Alameda County DA's office charged Wilson after the investigation turned up the DNA results, police wrote.

The break-in took place Jan. 11, 2024, at the North Face Outlet at 1238 Fifth St. at about 2:20 a.m.

BPD said Wilson climbed down from the skylight onto a support beam before rappelling to the floor.

Then she "extensively prowled the store" with a flashlight in hand, police wrote, loading a cart with clothing and shoes and opening cash registers.

After spending more than an hour at North Face, the trio left a safe containing $7,500 behind along with another $30,000 in gear that had been loaded into bags and boxes, according to BPD.

During the subsequent investigation, police found surveillance footage that showed Wilson using a screwdriver to pry open the office door, BPD said.

When the DNA from the screwdriver was analyzed, it came back to Wilson, according to charging papers.

Wilson told BPD during an interview that she remembered the North Face burglary but never went inside, acting as a lookout and giving the burglars tools, police wrote.

She said she also alerted one of the burglars when BPD arrived, police wrote.

On Jan. 30, the DA's office charged Wilson with commercial burglary in relation to the Jan. 11, 2024, break-in at North Face.

According to charging papers, she has a 2023 conviction from Sonoma County for grand theft, which landed her on probation.

BPD also wrote that Wilson has "an extensive arrest history with convictions for grand theft and vehicle theft," and was on probation at the time of the North Face burglary and her subsequent arrest about a year later.

On Jan. 31, Judge Elena Condes released Wilson on her own recognizance, as requested by the public defender's office, over the the prosecutor's objection, according to court records.

She is scheduled to enter a plea Feb. 28.

Past coverage of North Face thefts in Berkeley

• Thieves steal $25,000 in gear from Berkeley North Face
• Man charged with $10,000 retail theft from Berkeley North Face
• Police catch 'prolific' North Face retail theft suspect
• Woman charged with stealing $10,000 in North Face jackets
• BPD: Man hit North Face Outlet twice in 1 day, took $5,500 in goods
• Man charged with Berkeley North Face thefts of $24,000
• Group of 7 makes off with $19,000 in North Face goods