Berkeley residents left unnerved by recent spike in burglaries

An emergency meeting Monday night was packed with Berkeley residents who were looking for answers after a rash of residential burglaries has put neighbors on edge.

Just Sunday, a homeowner who lives on Carleton Street told KTVU he returned home to find a stranger in the house trying to steal various items.

The teen ran off, but police and residents fear it is only a matter of time before he tries to steal again.

The fear could be felt among the crowd that packed Monday night's last-minute meeting that was called to addressa spike in home burglaries in the past three weeks.

"They are able to get into a house said Berkeley Police Officer Cesar Melero. "They are able to find things of value and they are able to leave fairly quickly."

Police told the overflow crowd that since January 15^th there have been 20 residential burglaries in southwest Berkeley. Most of them have occurred during daytime hours when the homes are empty.

But some of the crimes have taken place with residents inside.

"[I was] cleaning up around the house and heard a noise," said area resident Joel Gunther.

Gunther lives in the house on Carleton Street that was broken into Sunday. He said he came face to face with an intruder.

"I went down to check and there was a young black man standing at the door," said Gunther. "He made eye contact with me and freaked and ran."

Gunther said the teen had broken the handle on his back door.

Police believe there are several suspects using different tactics in the burglaries. The suspects are doing everything from taking advantage of an open door or window to knocking on a homeowner's door with a made up story about a lost friend.

Authorities don't believe the intruders are armed.

"It was pretty reassuring to learn that they aren't violent crimes," said an area woman who declined to give her name. "Kind of opportunistic; kind of what I expected in these economic times."

Berkeley police have stepped up patrols in the area, but City Councilman Daryl Moore said that isn't enough Monday night.

"Ten years ago we had a lot more patrol officers, but because of budget cuts and other attrition we haven't filled those positions," said Moore. "It's critical that we feel those positions."

The next Berkeley City Council meeting will offer a better idea of the budget situation and the councilman said he'll propose hiring more officers.