The Berkeley Scanner
@berkeleyscanner.com
Authoritative daily crime and safety news for Berkeley, California. Founder: Emilie Raguso, 2017 SPJ NorCal journalist of the year.
A man was taken to the hospital Wednesday night after crashing into a tree on a steep section of Marin Avenue in the Berkeley Hills.
Berkeley man, 76, crashes into tree on Marin Avenue
Marin was closed between Spruce Street and Santa Barbara Road for the emergency response.
www.berkeleyscanner.com
January 8, 2026 at 1:49 AM
A man was taken to the hospital Wednesday night after crashing into a tree on a steep section of Marin Avenue in the Berkeley Hills.
Berkeley started the year with a surge in catalytic converter thefts. Here's what we know.
Catalytic converter theft is having a moment in Berkeley
Berkeley started the year with a surge in catalytic converter thefts. Here's what we know.
www.berkeleyscanner.com
January 8, 2026 at 1:08 AM
Berkeley started the year with a surge in catalytic converter thefts. Here's what we know.
EXCLUSIVE: A local father who lost control of his electric scooter while riding through the UC Berkeley campus in December has died, authorities report.
Man dies 1 month after scooter crash on UC Berkeley campus
The crash was previously unreported.
www.berkeleyscanner.com
January 6, 2026 at 3:55 PM
EXCLUSIVE: A local father who lost control of his electric scooter while riding through the UC Berkeley campus in December has died, authorities report.
Berkeley police arrested two people Monday after getting a Flock alert about their wanted vehicle, authorities report. Officers found large quantities of cash and illegal narcotics in the car, according to initial reports.
2 arrested with drugs, cash after Flock alert in Berkeley
Police found large quantities of cash and illegal narcotics in the car, according to initial reports.
www.berkeleyscanner.com
January 6, 2026 at 5:59 AM
Berkeley police arrested two people Monday after getting a Flock alert about their wanted vehicle, authorities report. Officers found large quantities of cash and illegal narcotics in the car, according to initial reports.
Catalytic converter thieves brandished a gun at a Berkeley resident early Monday morning on Tremont Street, authorities report. Police said there have already been eight catalytic converter thefts in Berkeley this year.
Resident threatened at gunpoint amid catalytic converter theft
Police said there have already been eight catalytic converter thefts in Berkeley this year.
www.berkeleyscanner.com
January 6, 2026 at 1:34 AM
Catalytic converter thieves brandished a gun at a Berkeley resident early Monday morning on Tremont Street, authorities report. Police said there have already been eight catalytic converter thefts in Berkeley this year.
SCOOP: A burglary crew in a pickup truck rammed its way into the Berkeley Cotopaxi on Fourth Street early Monday morning and stole more than $20,000 in merchandise, authorities report.
Berkeley Cotopaxi closed after drive-through burglary
Limited details were available as of publication time.
www.berkeleyscanner.com
January 6, 2026 at 12:59 AM
SCOOP: A burglary crew in a pickup truck rammed its way into the Berkeley Cotopaxi on Fourth Street early Monday morning and stole more than $20,000 in merchandise, authorities report.
With a potential budget shortfall of $29 million looming, Berkeley leaders are looking at how to cut General Fund spending by 10% across the board.
Berkeley considers 10% budget cuts, with $29M deficit possible
That's on top of the hiring freeze that began last year and is projected to continue.
www.berkeleyscanner.com
January 1, 2026 at 1:52 AM
With a potential budget shortfall of $29 million looming, Berkeley leaders are looking at how to cut General Fund spending by 10% across the board.
Take emergency preparedness classes with fellow Berkeleyans to learn practical skills you can use in your neighborhood before, during and after disasters.
Learn skills to help Berkeley get through disasters
Take free disaster preparedness classes to learn how to extinguish fires, rescue victims, perform first aid and help others cope with stress.
www.berkeleyscanner.com
December 30, 2025 at 11:25 PM
Take emergency preparedness classes with fellow Berkeleyans to learn practical skills you can use in your neighborhood before, during and after disasters.
An elderly woman was knocked unconscious Monday night when a driver struck her in a Berkeley crosswalk, according to early reports.
Female pedestrian, 95, critical after Berkeley crash
Police said the woman had been in the crosswalk on the west side of the intersection when the driver hit her.
www.berkeleyscanner.com
December 30, 2025 at 4:34 AM
An elderly woman was knocked unconscious Monday night when a driver struck her in a Berkeley crosswalk, according to early reports.
A Berkeley woman in her 80s was taken to Highland Hospital in critical condition after a fire in her apartment Sunday night, authorities report.
Berkeley woman critical after fire at senior living complex
Paramedics treated her at the scene then transported her to Highland Hospital. Her dog appears to have escaped injury.
www.berkeleyscanner.com
December 29, 2025 at 2:49 AM
A Berkeley woman in her 80s was taken to Highland Hospital in critical condition after a fire in her apartment Sunday night, authorities report.
Berkeley police seized a robbery suspect's vehicle at a local gas station Saturday evening but the suspect himself got away, authorities report. It started with a Flock camera hit.
Robbery suspect escapes amid Berkeley police search
Local residents told The Scanner police set up flares in the street and were walking through the neighborhood with flashlights.
www.berkeleyscanner.com
December 28, 2025 at 2:12 AM
Berkeley police seized a robbery suspect's vehicle at a local gas station Saturday evening but the suspect himself got away, authorities report. It started with a Flock camera hit.
For the second year running, Berkeley crime was down — a lot. Here's our 2025 recap along with the year's biggest public safety stories.
What happened in Berkeley crime and safety in 2025?
For the second year running, Berkeley crime was down — a lot. Here's our 2025 recap along with the biggest stories.
www.berkeleyscanner.com
December 27, 2025 at 1:13 AM
For the second year running, Berkeley crime was down — a lot. Here's our 2025 recap along with the year's biggest public safety stories.
Berkeley REI is back in business just in time for last-minute holiday shopping. "A structural engineer has completed an evaluation and confirmed the building is safe," REI told us.
Berkeley REI has reopened, building is safe, company says
"A structural engineer has completed an evaluation and confirmed the building is safe," REI Co-op said in a prepared statement.
www.berkeleyscanner.com
December 24, 2025 at 9:59 PM
Berkeley REI is back in business just in time for last-minute holiday shopping. "A structural engineer has completed an evaluation and confirmed the building is safe," REI told us.
UPDATE: REI Co-op has just confirmed that the recent closure of its Berkeley store was to allow structural assessments related to the roof. We've added the company's statement to our story. No word yet on re-opening.
UPDATE: Berkeley REI closed due to roof issue; structural assessments needed
Customers say they struggled to pick up orders, some of which were dispensed from the side door on Camelia Street on Monday.
www.berkeleyscanner.com
December 23, 2025 at 8:05 PM
UPDATE: REI Co-op has just confirmed that the recent closure of its Berkeley store was to allow structural assessments related to the roof. We've added the company's statement to our story. No word yet on re-opening.
A Berkeley woman who called 911 during an armed conflict in the street Monday became a target of crime herself, authorities said.
Berkeley woman threatened at knifepoint while calling 911
Police closed Ninth and Delaware streets during the investigation.
www.berkeleyscanner.com
December 23, 2025 at 7:39 PM
A Berkeley woman who called 911 during an armed conflict in the street Monday became a target of crime herself, authorities said.
Authorities in Berkeley asked community members to avoid Gilman Street at Second Street on Tuesday due to a building that caught fire shortly before 4 a.m. There was also a fire in the area two months ago.
Abandoned building catches fire in northwest Berkeley
Arriving crews found fire close to the railroad tracks and forced open a gate for access, according to emergency dispatches.
www.berkeleyscanner.com
December 23, 2025 at 1:13 PM
Authorities in Berkeley asked community members to avoid Gilman Street at Second Street on Tuesday due to a building that caught fire shortly before 4 a.m. There was also a fire in the area two months ago.
Berkeley's REI store has been closed since Saturday due to undisclosed "safety reasons" related to a "facilities concern," local residents report. Here's what we know so far.
Berkeley REI closed 'until further notice' due to 'safety reasons'
Local customers say they have struggled to pick up orders, some of which were dispensed from the side door on Camelia Street earlier in the day.
www.berkeleyscanner.com
December 23, 2025 at 12:52 AM
Berkeley's REI store has been closed since Saturday due to undisclosed "safety reasons" related to a "facilities concern," local residents report. Here's what we know so far.
Berkeley firefighters quickly put out a large fire behind an apartment building Saturday night, according to early reports.
Fire behind Berkeley apartment building under investigation
Firefighters found flames coming from a shed behind the property.
www.berkeleyscanner.com
December 21, 2025 at 5:33 AM
Berkeley firefighters quickly put out a large fire behind an apartment building Saturday night, according to early reports.
Could not be MORE EXCITED to announce that we're launching a local news site in Albany, California. And we'll need your help! This will be a true community effort. Here's what you need to know.
The scoop on Albany's new local news site
We’re excited to update you on our plan to launch a news site for Albany in 2026.
This year, we’ve been hard at work thinking through everything that needs to happen to make the site a reality. And w...
www.albanyscanner.com
December 19, 2025 at 10:04 PM
Could not be MORE EXCITED to announce that we're launching a local news site in Albany, California. And we'll need your help! This will be a true community effort. Here's what you need to know.
A man went to the hospital Thursday after a hit-and-run collision at a busy South Berkeley intersection, authorities report. The incident began just after 6 p.m. when an unhoused person pushing a shopping cart in the street hit a passing car, police said.
Hit-and-run crash in stolen car sends man to hospital
An odd sequence of events resulted in a number of strange reports from witnesses, police said.
www.berkeleyscanner.com
December 19, 2025 at 5:43 AM
A man went to the hospital Thursday after a hit-and-run collision at a busy South Berkeley intersection, authorities report. The incident began just after 6 p.m. when an unhoused person pushing a shopping cart in the street hit a passing car, police said.
A UC Berkeley student has been charged in connection with reports of antisemitic graffiti at a Cal housing complex and in Albany nearby.
UC Berkeley student charged after antisemitic graffiti reports
Sean Ceballos, 35, was charged Tuesday with one count of felony vandalism, authorities said today.
www.berkeleyscanner.com
December 18, 2025 at 7:07 PM
A UC Berkeley student has been charged in connection with reports of antisemitic graffiti at a Cal housing complex and in Albany nearby.
SCOOP: A former UC Berkeley student accused of stalking his ex-girlfriend after she broke up with him is now facing child pornography possession charges, court papers show.
UC Berkeley stalking case leads to child porn charges
Daniel Eric Mangum, 25, is now facing charges in two separate cases: felony stalking as well as possession of child sexual abuse material.
www.berkeleyscanner.com
December 18, 2025 at 2:16 AM
SCOOP: A former UC Berkeley student accused of stalking his ex-girlfriend after she broke up with him is now facing child pornography possession charges, court papers show.
Authorities are investigating a gas leak Wednesday morning at UC Berkeley that has closed multiple streets downtown.
UC Berkeley gas leak closes several downtown streets
Campus officials have asked people to avoid the area.
www.berkeleyscanner.com
December 17, 2025 at 5:16 PM
Authorities are investigating a gas leak Wednesday morning at UC Berkeley that has closed multiple streets downtown.
A young woman who was paralyzed after a catastrophic fall at a UC Berkeley fraternity during a "grossly overcrowded" party on Cal Day in April has filed a lawsuit seeking damages, court papers show.
UC Berkeley student files lawsuit after frat party fall
Bandna Bhatti, then 21, was just weeks from graduating when she fell 14 feet from a backyard stairway landing onto the concrete below.
www.berkeleyscanner.com
December 16, 2025 at 11:49 PM
A young woman who was paralyzed after a catastrophic fall at a UC Berkeley fraternity during a "grossly overcrowded" party on Cal Day in April has filed a lawsuit seeking damages, court papers show.
UPDATE: The man who died in Saturday's solo scooter crash in Berkeley was identified as Jorge Eduardo Velazquez Sosa, 34, of Oakland.
Man dead after solo scooter crash in Berkeley
The police investigation is underway.
www.berkeleyscanner.com
December 15, 2025 at 5:40 PM
UPDATE: The man who died in Saturday's solo scooter crash in Berkeley was identified as Jorge Eduardo Velazquez Sosa, 34, of Oakland.