Features

Box cutter attack 

A 46-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon after he allegedly attacked an 18-year-old man with a box cutter shortly before 5 p.m. on Dec. 29. 

Berkeley Police spokesperson Officer Shira Warren said the young man was taken to Highland Hospital for treatment of his injuries. Reports listed no reason for the attack. 

Cells, cash taken 

Two hours later, three armed robbers burst into the Hi-Tek Communications store at 1008 University Ave., where they stole cash and a collection of cell phones. 

Hospital fray 

One of two visitors who had dropped in to visit a patient at Alta Bates Summit Medical Center in Berkeley just after 8 p.m. on the 29th lost her cool and assaulted the other. She was booked on suspicion of battery. 

Restaurant heist 

A gunman burst into La Bayou Cajun, a restaurant at 3278 Adeline St., and demanded cash just after 8 p.m. on Dec. 30, then took flight after his unlawful appetite was satisfied. 

Purse snatch injury 

A 34-year-old woman was rushed to the emergency room after a purse-snatching in the 900 block of Addison Street on Dec. 30, said Officer Warren. 

Police were alerted to the crime by a caller who had heard the woman’s screams for help. 

Robbery washout 

Three suspects, at least one of them armed, entered the Bing Wong Wash Center in the 2400 block of Parker Street moments after 11 p.m. on the 30th and demanded cash—then left before accomplishing their aim.  

Another washout 

Another gang of three failed in their attempt to the rob a 25-year-old man of his valuables in the 1700 block of Channing Way shortly after 1 a.m. on New Year’s Eve. 

Knife attack 

An 18-year-old woman was injured when one of a group of four women attacked her with a knife in the 1200 block of Ashby Avenue about 12:20 a.m. on Jan. 2. 

Robbery 

A lone gunman in his mid-20s walked into Car Quest at 900 Gilman St. five hours later and demanded cash, received same, then fled. 

Arson 

Person or persons unknown rifled through the glove box of a car parked in the 3000 block of Ellis Street on the evening of Jan. 2, then set the car’s interior alight. 

Park crime 

An unknown vandal drove a vehicle through Cedar Rose Park sometime before 1 a.m. last Wednesday and left deep tracks in the turf atop the parks grassy knoll, said Officer Warren. 

Barracuda caper 

Police arrested 38-year-old man after bartenders at Thalassa, the new bar and billiards parlor at 2367 Shattuck Ave., reported he’d walked off with the joint’s prize plastic barracuda just before closing time early Saturday morning. 

The ersatz fish was recovered and restored to its former place of honor. 

Shots fired 

Responding to multiple “shots fired” calls at 12:27 p.m. Saturday, Berkeley Police arrived in the 1600 block of 62nd Street to find the apparent victim, a 19-year-old man, was unhurt in the attack. 

Hit with stick 

A 42-year-old man was struck in the head by a stick-wielding assailant in the 2300 block of Webster Street about 4:20 p.m. Saturday. 

The attacker was gone by the time officers arrived. 

Armed robbery 

Two robbers, at least one carrying a pistol, robbed a 25-year-old woman of her cash and ID as she walked along the 2000 block of Shattuck Avenue shortly after midnight Sunday. 

Witness hit 

A witness to a fight between a man and a woman in the 800 block of Spruce Street just before noon Sunday was abruptly assaulted by the male half of the battling duo, who hit him in the head with a street barricade. 

A witness called police, but the disputatious couple had fled the scene by the time they arrived.?