Berkeley police investigate carjacking on Ellis Street
Several people in masks who claimed to have a gun took a white Mercedes-Benz E 450 from its owner at 9:50 p.m.
Berkeley police responded to Ellis Street in South Berkeley on Tuesday night for a carjacking report.
Several people in masks who claimed to have a gun took a white Mercedes-Benz E 450 from its owner at 9:50 p.m.
No weapon was seen, the Berkeley Police Department said in response to a Berkeley Scanner inquiry.
The incident took place just north of Alcatraz Avenue.
The group also took the owner's cellphone but ditched it on Ellis Street as they fled, according to the Berkeley Police Department.
They managed to escape before police arrived. Officers searched the area but were unable to find them.
There have already been at least three other carjackings in Berkeley this year.
Emilie Raguso
Last year there were five in total, BPD has said.
Between BPD and UCPD, there were at least 45 robberies reported in Berkeley from Jan. 1 through Feb. 15, the most recent date available, according to CrimeMapping.com.
In the past six months, there have been about 140 robberies in Berkeley that were reported to BPD, UCPD or BART police.
