TBS Today, July 7

Three Berkeley crime stories for you today as we work on some more in-depth policy stories that should be coming soon.

First: Two separate women were followed home and robbed on Thursday. We hope it's not the start of a new Berkeley trend.

One woman, 68, was dragged down her stairs on Panoramic Hill and the other was carjacked at gunpoint on Parkside Drive in the Claremont neighborhood.

Armed carjacking on Parkside: Men followed woman home

The carjacking appears to be the first robbery of any kind this year in the typically safe Berkeley neighborhood east of Claremont Avenue.

Emilie RagusoThe Berkeley Scanner

Berkeley woman, 68, followed home and robbed

The culprit dragged the woman down three flights of stairs and then took her purse, phone and keys before fleeing the scene, Berkeley police said.

Emilie RagusoThe Berkeley Scanner

We also shared new details today about last week's attempted murder case in which a 68-year-old man was set on fire by a 24-year-old stranger.

Police: Witnesses likely saved life of Berkeley burn victim

BART police arrested Bradley Marcrum on suspicion of fare evasion. Then they saw he was wanted in connection with attempted murder.

Emilie RagusoThe Berkeley Scanner

The Berkeley Scanner was the only news outlet to report on this disturbing attack when it happened. Other news outlets have been catching up today, nearly two weeks later, now that BPD has issued a press release.

In case you missed it

We took an in-depth look at the automated license plate reader proposal that will be going before council with a few tweaks, possibly later this month. Make sure you're up to speed.

Should Berkeley get license plate readers? Weigh in tonight.

The new automated license plate readers, which would be mounted not mobile, would be the city’s first to focus on criminal investigations.

Emilie RagusoThe Berkeley Scanner

As for the Alameda County district attorney's office, we're looking into training last week that focused on "white victims," the DA's new approach to juvenile defendants, and sustained misconduct allegations against one of Pamela Price's top deputies before he came to Alameda County.