The month of September saw 113 auto burglaries reported in Emeryville, which is the highest total we’ve encountered since we began posting monthly Crime reports. This is more than double the three-year average for the month, which is 56. Auto burglaries for the year are up 14%. As is typical, a bulk of these occur in our shopping centers and hotel parking lots as shoppers and visitors leave bags and valuables in plain sight. The good news is that the EPD have already made three arrests this month and is presumably stepping up patrols in these areas. The EPD issued a reminder to never leave any valuables in your car.

EPD Media Advisories:

Auto Burglary Suspect arrested in Black Bear Diner parking lot

On October 12th, at approximately 1:42 p.m., an alert security guard in the area of the Powell Street Plaza called the Emeryville Police Department to report three male subject driving in a black Acura sedan appeared to be casing vehicles in the Black Bear Diner parking lot.

Officers responded to the area and located the Acura in the Emeryville Public Market that was occupied with two subjects and the left rear passenger door open. Officers observed the third subject outside the Acura with his hands up around his face and his face pressed against the window of a Honda Element peering inside.

Officers attempted to make contact with the two occupants of the Acura and the subject peering inside the Honda Element. As the officers approached the Acura occupied with the two subjects, it fled the area. The subject peering into the Honda was stopped and detained.

Evidence at the scene indicated that the suspect was attempting to make entry into the unoccupied Honda Element. The security guard positively identified the suspect he saw get out of the Acura and looked into several vehicles in the Plaza and Black Bear Diner parking lots. 28-year-old Desmond Harris was arrested for attempted auto burglary and re-arrested for a probation violation. The two additional suspects are unknown and still at large.

Car burglar prowling/vehicle theft at East Bay Bridge Center

On October 27th at 9:39 a.m., Emeryville Police Dispatchers received a call from an East Bay Bridge Shopping Center Security Officer regarding subjects driving a red Acura SUV around the lot and peering into parked vehicles. Officers responded and located the vehicle as the driver attempted to flee the area. The rear license plate to the vehicle was covered with a paper dealer plate in an apparent attempt to thwart the ability to identify it.

Officers conducted an investigative stop on the SUV and detained the two occupants. During a search of the vehicle officers located 3 separate devices used to break car windows (window punches), a 6 inch switchblade knife, and property reported stolen in a car burglary in Fremont. Officers also located “Crack” cocaine in the possession of one of the subjects. The Acura they were driving was found to have been an unreported stolen vehicle.

The suspects were identified as 26-year-old George Nelson and 25-year-old James Craft. Nelson was arrested for possession of a switchblade, possession of narcotics, possession of burglary tools and an outstanding felony arrest warrant. Craft was arrested for prowling, possession of burglary tools, possession of stolen property and vehicle theft.

The Emeryville Police Department encourages anyone who may have information about this case to contact them at (510) 596-3700. Callers can opt to remain anonymous.

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