Berkeley man charged with car theft, commercial break-ins
Flock cameras helped police identify suspect Geoffrey Cossen, BPD said.
A man linked to three commercial burglaries is now facing felony charges after his arrest this week by Berkeley police.
Authorities say Flock camera technology helped identify suspect Geoffrey Cossen, a 55-year-old man from Berkeley.
One of the burglaries took place over the recent holiday weekend. The others took place over a June weekend last year, BPD said.
DNA and other other evidence linked Cossen to the crimes, which included two counts of auto theft, according to police and court papers.
The most recent break-in took place Sunday shortly before midnight at three.one four pizzeria at 1329 Gilman St. (the former Lalime's space).
"Security cameras captured a suspect emerging from an older model silver Volvo," police said.
He went in and out for hours, shop owner Brandon Wilson told TBS earlier this week.
"The suspect forcibly opened one safe and stole another," authorities said. He also made off with "numerous alcohol bottles and tools and broke numerous items."
Wilson said the losses tallied in the thousands of dollars.
Geoffrey Cossen. BPD
On Tuesday, investigators identified Cossen after zeroing in on his car with the help of the Flock camera system, police said.
After securing an arrest warrant for him, they determined he was already wanted in connection with two other commercial burglaries, according to BPD.
Those burglaries, at neighboring businesses on San Pablo Avenue south of Page Street, took place in June 2024.
During that incident, BPD said, a two-person crew broke into one business and then "went through the adjoining wall" between Auto Options tire shop and Oak Barrel Winecraft, a local homebrew supply shop.
According to police, Cossen's DNA was found at the scene.
"In addition to stealing thousands of dollars’ worth of tools, the suspects also stole two vehicles parked inside the auto shop," BPD said in a prepared statement.
At this point, authorities said, police do not believe Cossen is linked to other recent commercial burglaries.
Emilie Raguso
On Wednesday, BPD arrested Cossen in the parking lot of his apartment complex.
Inside his unit, "they found a pry bar and other stolen property," police said.
The Alameda County district attorney's office charged Cossen on Thursday with three counts of commercial burglary and two counts of auto theft.
Friday morning, he was set for arraignment.
As of publication time, he remained in custody, according to jail records, but his next court date was not available.
