Orinda Police Blotter May 18 - May 23

Multiple Residential Burglaries

Orinda Police were called out to investigate a report of a residential burglary on Jewel Court on May 18 at 7:45 a.m. The 43 year-old homeowner told police someone entered his home and stole jewelry, foreign currency and other miscellaneous items with an estimated value of $12,270.

The resident said he did not discover the missing items until the day after he believed they were taken. He told officers he noticed an exterior side garage door was partly open and he thinks the door may have been left unlocked allowing suspects to enter his home.

The case was referred to Orinda Police Investigations Unit for further investigation.

On May 23, a distraught resident in the 100 block of Estates Drive called Orinda Police to report a residential burglary. The 47-year-old homeowner told officers that unknown suspects had kicked in the front door and entered his home.

He said the thieves stole miscellaneous items from throughout the house including jewelry, electronic items, and a 52” television. According to police reports, the thieves appeared selective since the lower floor of the house did not have any items missing.

The estimated value of the missing items was $14,800 and damage to door was estimated at $1,500.

On the same day, at 8 a.m., Orinda police were summoned on a report of a residential burglary in the block of El Gavilan Road. The 43 year-old resident told officers someone had broken into her home and stole miscellaneous items with an estimated value of more than $2,000.

Crime Scene Investigators processed the scene and found an identifiable shoe print on the front door.

The next day, on May 24, at 8:15 a.m., Orinda police responded to a residential burglary in the 1000 block of El Toyonal and discovered a similar shoe print was also found on the front door.

The 34-year-old homeowner told officers that the thieves broke the front door of her home to gain entry, ransacked the home and stole a desktop computer, a digital camera, two portable game systems, a game console and miscellaneous game cartridges. The suspects may have attempted to steal the 52” television which was on a stand in the living room, but ended up leaving it in on the kitchen floor.

The estimated loss for the homeowner was $3,500 and estimated damage to the home was $1,000.

Driving Under the Influence

A report of an individual urinating on a sidewalk while holding a beer can drew police to the area of Ardith Drive and Westover Court at 8:11 p.m. on May 19, a neighbor telling officers when they arrived that a white pick-up truck had just driven off. Police found the truck heading northbound on Moraga Way, swerving in and out of traffic.

Officers stopped the 52 year-old Concord man on Moraga Way, and noticed there was a smell of alcohol coming from inside the car.

The driver failed a field sobriety test and the preliminary alcohol-screening test measured his blood alcohol level at 0.31 percent. He was taken into custody and driven to the Martinez Detention Facility, where he was charged for driving under the influence.