The Piedmont Police Department responded to a pair of carjackings late March 27 and early March 28.
An Automated License Plate Reader alert on a stolen vehicle came in on March 27. The blue 1999 Lexus RX 300 SUV had been stolen in a carjacking on March 24 at Estates Drive and Park Boulevard in Oakland, according to the PPD.
Piedmont police found the vehicle in the area of Sunnyhills Road and Downey place. A “high risk” stop was initiated, according to Piedmont Police Captain Chris Monahan. Six juvenile suspects were taken into custody. The vehicle was searched and police found a 9mm semi-automatic handgun, and credit cards and ID of someone else. One of the juveniles had an active warrant.
All were booked into juvenile hall. The vehicle was towed and returned to the owner.
Just after midnight, Oakland Police reported a carjacking on Linda Avenue. Piedmont Police spotted the vehicle at Oakland and Jerome, according to the PPD. A second vehicle with no license plates was following the carjacked vehicle.
The vehicles took off at a high rate of speed and police lost them. However, the second vehicle was then found unoccupied at Lincoln and Crocker. Police found that it had also been taken in a carjacking in Oakland. The investigation is ongoing.
On March 19, Piedmont Police responded to a report of shots being fired from a resident near Lexford and Hampton roads. Police searched the area and found nothing.
Partying minors result in DUI
On March 20 at 12:26 a.m., several juveniles were found in a car on Bellevue Avenue after a report of loud music. The juveniles were out after curfew and alcoholic beverages were found in the vehicle. Police determined the driver was showing signs of intoxication, according to Captain Monahan. The driver was processed for driving with a blood alcohol content over 0.1 percent, provision license violations, curfew violations and a minor in possession of alcoholic beverages.
Another catalytic converter theft
At 6:03 a.m. on March 23, an off-duty Piedmont Police officer observed an attempted theft of a catalytic converter on Moraga Avenue. The officer reported the alleged crime to dispatch and a silver BMW with no license plates was stopped on Redwood Road in Oakland. The suspects, Leonardo Vargas (born 1978 in Hayward) and William Esteban Molina Alba (born 1998 in Hayward), were arrested for possession of stolen property, possession of illegal narcotics, possession of burglary tools and grand theft. They were transported to Santa Rita Jail in Dublin.