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# Purse snatched from woman dining outside on College Ave.
- URL: https://www.berkeleyscanner.com/2023/08/30/crime/berkeley-purse-snatched-college-avenue-woman-dining-outside/
- Published: 2023-08-30T13:30:08.000Z
- Updated: 2023-08-30T13:30:07.000Z
- Description: The woman left her purse hanging on her chair while she ate. Police said the culprit walked by and snatched it, then took off running.
- Author: Emilie Raguso
- Tags: Crime, Claremont-Elmwood, Elmwood, BPD, Robberies, #articles

A woman eating outside on College Avenue in Berkeley had her purse snatched by a stranger in a ski mask Tuesday night, authorities report.

The incident happened shortly before 7 p.m. in the 3200 block of College Avenue, at Casa Barotti, just south of Alcatraz Avenue, [Berkeley police](https://www.berkeleyscanner.com/topic/berkeley-police-department/) said.

The woman left her purse hanging on her chair while she ate. Police said the culprit walked by and snatched it, then took off running. 

He jumped into a light-colored Kia and fled.

Police said BPD may classify Tuesday's incident as felony theft rather than a robbery, which requires the use of force or fear.

But there have been four robberies at the College and Alcatraz intersection already this year, on Feb. 2 just after 5 p.m., on May 15 at 2 p.m., on July 25 just before 9:45 p.m. and on Aug. 20 at 11:45 a.m.

**Read more about [robberies](https://www.berkeleyscanner.com/topic/robberies/) in Berkeley.**

A felony theft was also reported at the intersection in May.

There have been about 570 felony thefts this year in Berkeley, up 13% from the same period last year. 

Robberies in Berkeley are up 5% this year, with about 220 reported so far.

### Elsewhere in the Elmwood: A CHP helicopter

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8e/3b/8e3bb516-9b88-46c2-aa85-566ed9c3647c/content/images/2023/08/berkeley-elmwood-helicopter.jpg)

A CHP helicopter followed a man into Berkeley before detaining him. *[FlightRadar24](https://www.flightradar24.com/?ref=berkeleyscanner.com)*

Readers also asked The Scanner about helicopter activity Tuesday night in the Elmwood neighborhood.

Police said that was a CHP operation that led to the stop of a driver on Russell Street east of College, in front of the firehouse, around 10:20 p.m.

The Scanner has asked the CHP for details and will update this story if additional information becomes available.

💡

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