Piedmont police interrupted an attempted catalytic converter theft early in the morning of May 30. The suspects fled on foot, but police recovered two catalytic converters, a loaded Glock 9 millimeter “ghost” gun, suspected narcotics, and saws.
The incident on Olive Avenue was reported just before 1 a.m. Officers were nearby and responded quickly. Two suspects on the scene fled on foot.
“We are obtaining a warrant to test vehicle for DNA and other evidence of identity,” Piedmont Police Capt. Chris Monahan said.
The investigation is ongoing.
On May 24, someone allegedly pulled a gun on a victim sitting in their car on Grand. The report came in at 2:48 p.m. An unknown suspect approached the vehicle and pointed a “Glock-style firearm” at the victim and said, “I’m going to get you,” according to Monahan.
Monahan said the victim didn’t react and the suspect punched the trunk of the victim’s 2007 Lexus SC430, causing approximately $300 worth of damage.
The suspect returned to his vehicle, described as a newer gold Chevrolet Tahoe and drove off. The suspect is described as a Black male in his 30s, approximately 5 feet, 11 inches tall and weighing about 180 pounds, wearing gray jeans and a black hoodie.
On May 26, a man was reported to have entered a yard on a residence on Grand Avenue. The victim reported that the unidentified Black male in his 50s damaged a garage door and stole $100 worth of power tools from a home office. The victim confronted the suspect and the property was dropped while the suspect fled. All stolen property was recovered. Monahan said video surveillance recordings corroborate the victim’s statement.
The suspect was described as wearing a blue cap, black face mask, blue button-up shirt, dark jeans, and dark shoes.
On May 23, a wheel was reported stolen from a 2015 Audi Allroad parked in front of a residence on Lake Drive. The victim had parked the car around 2:30 p.m. the previous afternoon and found the wheel missing at 9:30 a.m.
On May 24 or 25, a swastika and “Hitler markings” were drawn in an area near Binks Gymnasium at Piedmont High School. Police said they are working with the Piedmont Unified School District to investigate. Police will increase their presence at school facilities “out of an abundance of caution” for the near future.
I occasionally notice how prowlers in cars will sometimes park at the Piedmont-Oakland border ( Oakland side ) on Kingston Ave. in the middle of the night. I believe they do this to avoid the police department’s camera that the city has on its side. The prowler/s then advance towards the Piedmont side where the streets appear darker due to heavy tree foliage on that stretch of street on Kingston Ave. They or he/she will eventually return to their vehicle and drive away quietly with their lights off. I have mostly given up on calling the police because they usually have their hands full on other calls. By the time they arrive the suspicious visitors are usually gone.
The cameras are definitely needed to help detect stolen vehicles.