A fast-moving burglary crew tore through Berkeley on Monday, smashing glass and breaking into seven cafés and restaurants in roughly 30 minutes, according to police. By sunrise, shattered storefronts stretched across downtown and North Berkeley, from the original Peet's on Vine Street to neighborhood spots along Shattuck, Center and Sacramento streets.
The crew struck between about 1:30 and 2 AM, with officers saying the burglars used the same smash-and-enter approach at each stop. It was a whirlwind half-hour that left small-business owners waking up to a mess instead of morning coffee crowds.
Seven Break-ins in Half an Hour
The Berkeley Scanner reported that the break-ins hit businesses in the 2100 block of Center Street (two reports), the 2100 block of Allston Way, the 2500 block of Sacramento Street, the 2100 block of Vine Street, the 1900 block of Shattuck Avenue and the 1500 block of Hopkins Street.
Police told the outlet that all seven incidents occurred within about 30 minutes and that, in each case, the crew entered by smashing windows or doors. According to preliminary Berkeley Police data cited by the Scanner, there have already been at least 26 other commercial burglaries this year through last Thursday, roughly on pace with the same period last year.
Organized Hits Mirror Regional Trend
The Berkeley spree is not happening in a vacuum. Similar coordinated break-ins have been reported elsewhere in Northern California, where crews sometimes hit multiple businesses in quick succession.
In Sacramento, police recently investigated a string of seven business burglaries in mid-February involving suspects who used hammers and worked as a team, KCRA reported. Prosecutors in Santa Clara County have also described multi-city burglary rings and say they are using new tools to go after organized retail theft, according to a release from the county district attorney’s office.
Boards, Insurance Calls and a Historic Coffee Shop
Owners told local outlets they spent the day boarding up windows, dealing with insurance and trying to get back open as quickly as possible. The original Peet's on Vine Street, the brand's first location, was among the targets. Peet's notes the shop’s historic status on its store page, which only adds to the frustration for regulars who treat the café as a neighborhood landmark as much as a coffee stop.
Business groups and public-safety advocates say the latest incidents highlight the ongoing need for visible alarms, good camera coverage and fast reporting to police to help investigators piece together who is behind the hits.
Investigation Ongoing, Police Seek Tips
The investigation remains active and no arrests had been reported as of Tuesday afternoon, according to The Berkeley Scanner. Anyone with surveillance video or information about the break-ins was asked to contact the Berkeley Police Department’s property crimes unit, the outlet reported.
