Alameda police urge citizens to help curb vehicle break-ins

Alameda police are reminding people to take steps to protect their property from thieves who break into vehicles in the wake of recent thefts throughout the city.

In many cases, valuables were left visible, making them easy targets for thieves, police said. Police recommend people practice "TLC" to help curb the thefts. The "T" stands for taking out valuables; the "L" stands for locking the vehicle; and the "C" stands for closing all windows, police said.

Police are also reminding people to park in visible locations and well-lit areas. Commonly stolen items include cellphones, GPS devices, laptops, purses and briefcases. On just Jan. 30 alone, thefts from vehicles were reported on Haight Avenue, Third Street, Broadway, Channing Way and Pearl Street. Police also ask anyone who notices suspicious activity to immediately call 911.

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 30

COMMERCIAL BURGLARY -- Gardening equipment was reported stolen at 11:05 a.m. from a storage shed in the 2300 block of Blanding Avenue.

SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES -- A man told staff at Alameda Hospital on Clinton Avenue that someone shot him in Oakland. Police learned about the incident about 3:10 p.m.

BURGLARY -- A burglary was reported about 5:25 p.m. in the 1500 block of Mound Street. The thief entered the home through an unlocked rear window, police said.

THURSDAY, JAN. 31

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COMMERCIAL BURGLARY -- Someone forced open two doors of a building in the 2600 block of Barbers Point Road and stole copper piping from four restrooms, police said. The break-in was reported about 7:30 a.m.

OUTSTANDING WARRANT -- A traffic stop about 11:20 a.m. in the 600 block of Eagle Avenue led to the arrest of the driver, 21, after a background check showed he was wanted on an outstanding misdemeanor warrant. His 35-year-old passenger was also arrested on two outstanding misdemeanor warrants.

RECOVERED STOLEN VEHICLE -- Police arrested a man, 19, about 2:20 p.m. after he was allegedly found driving a vehicle stolen in Oakland in the 300 block of Cypress Street. The man was also accused of driving with a suspended license.

VEHICLE THEFT -- A vehicle was reported stolen just after 3 p.m. in the 500 block of Haight Avenue.

BURGLARY -- A residential burglary was reported about 3:10 p.m. in the 1800 block of Union Street, where someone got inside after breaking a glass panel on a side door. Someone also entered a storage shed in the 1900 block of Sherman Street in what police have classified as a burglary. It was reported about 4:35 p.m.

FRIDAY, FEB. 1

BURGLARY -- A burglar stole two rings from a residence in the 1100 block of Fontana Drive after entering the home through an unlocked rear door, police said. The theft was reported just before 9 a.m.

VEHICLE THEFT -- A vehicle was reported stolen just before 11 a.m. in the 1600 block of Benton Street, while another vehicle was reported stolen at 7:10 p.m. in the 2500 block of Webb Avenue. A vehicle was also reported stolen about 8:15 p.m. in the 1900 block of Pacific Avenue. Police recovered a vehicle reported stolen in San Francisco about 2:40 p.m. in the 2000 block of Buena Vista Avenue.

IDENTITY THEFT -- A resident of the 400 block of Cola Ballena told police that someone used his personal information to open credit cards in his name.

SATURDAY, FEB. 2

ATTEMPTED BURGLARY -- Someone tried to open the front door of a home in the 900 block of Regent Street through the door's mail slot, police said. Police learned about the attempt at 2 p.m.

MARIJUANA POSSESSION -- A man, 20, whom an officer contacted as a suspicious person as he sat in a vehicle in the 200 block of Central Avenue, was arrested on suspicion of possessing marijuana for sale. Police searched the car after the officer smelled the marijuana before arresting the man at 7 p.m.

SUNDAY, FEB. 3

DRUNKEN DRIVING -- A traffic stop just after midnight at Buena Vista Avenue and Grand Street led to the arrest of a woman, 35, on suspicion of drunken driving, police said. Another motorist was arrested for the same offense about 9:45 p.m. in the 1500 block of Walnut Street, where a patrol officer pulled over the 31-year-old man for speeding and straddling lanes, police said.

VEHICLE THEFT -- A vehicle was reported stolen about 7:20 a.m. in the 2100 block of Marina Drive.

MONDAY, FEB. 4

DRUNKEN DRIVING -- Police arrested a man, 24, about 3:10 a.m. on suspicion of drunken driving in the 200 block of Brighton Court, where he allegedly failed field sobriety tests after he was involved in a traffic collision. Another motorist involved in a traffic collision at Sixth Street and Santa Clara Avenue about 5:15 p.m. was also arrested on suspicion of drunken driving. The 53-year-old man fled the scene and was arrested later at his residence after a witness identified him as the driver, police said. A woman, 32, was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving after she was also involved in a collision in the 1800 block of Grand Street. Officers found the woman, who was arrested about 11:30 p.m., in the driver's seat with the engine running, police said.

VEHICLE THEFT -- A vehicle was reported stolen just before 4 p.m. in the 1400 block of Broadway.

POSSESSION OF STOLEN PROPERTY -- A 62-year-old man whom police contacted about 10:35 p.m. as a possible suspicious person in the 3100 block of Marina Drive was allegedly carrying five stolen 2014 vehicle registration tabs. The man was also carrying a crack pipe and a spring loaded knife, plus he was wanted on an outstanding warrant, police said.

Alameda police urge citizens to help curb vehicle break-ins

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