Berkeley police: Home-invasion robbery suspects in custody

A man and his girlfriend are in custody this week following a "series of violent home invasion robberies and residential burglaries" in Berkeley, authorities report.

The crime spree began Sept. 17 and ran through Oct. 1, Berkeley police said Friday in a prepared statement. Six homes around the city were targeted.

Police said the crimes were "part of an escalating pattern that detectives quickly recognized and linked together."

The suspects "primarily targeted women in their homes, causing significant concern," BPD said.

Some of the victims were college students. Fortunately, authorities said, none of the women were hurt "despite the threatening nature of these incidents."

The primary suspect and his girlfriend were arrested in Hayward on Thursday in a "coordinated operation" to take them into custody, BPD said.

Police identified the pair as Albert Decoto of Oakland, a convicted felon, and Christina Osborne of Hayward, both 46.

According to BPD, Decoto "rammed multiple vehicles and drove at an officer" when police tried to stop him at about 3:30 p.m. Thursday. The officer "had to jump out of the way to avoid being struck."

Decoto then fled on foot and tried to carjack a vehicle, BPD said. He was arrested after "a brief struggle."

Officers arrested Osborne nearby "without incident."

Police said the pair has now been linked to numerous crimes, from home-invasion robberies and home burglaries to assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer and attempted carjacking, along with "several outstanding warrants."

BPD said detectives worked with patrol officers and the department's Bike Unit to investigate and solve the case.

In one of the incidents, according to police, Decoto "threatened to shoot a resident."

In others, he "used threats, demanded personal belongings, and fled in stolen vehicles," authorities said. "Victims were confronted in their bedrooms or living spaces, with incidents occurring at all hours, including late at night and early in the morning."

Berkeley police said "modern investigative tools," such as license plate reader technology, e.g. Flock cameras, helped solve the case.

According to booking records, Decoto is being held without bail at Berkeley Jail. Osborne is being held at Santa Rita Jail on $200,000 bail.

They are scheduled for arraignment next week.

As of publication time, charges had not been filed, according to available court records.

This story may be updated as additional details become available.

Berkeley home-invasion robbery, home burglary crime spree

• Sept. 17, 9:40 p.m. A woman was on her phone in her bedroom in the 2600 block of College Avenue when a man came in through her window, "ordered her to hang up" and then smacked the phone from her hands and threatened her. He stole her keys and took her car.
• Sept. 19, 4:40-7:20 p.m. A burglar climbed a fence in the 2800 block of Stanton Street, entered a home through the patio door and stole documents as well as "cash, electronics, clothing and bicycles."
• Sept. 20, 9:15-10:05 p.m. Someone stole jewelry, clothes and keys during a burglary in the 2500 block of Benvenue Avenue, then stole the resident's vehicle and fled.
• Sept. 23, 5:40 p.m. A resident surprised a man who was burglarizing her home in the 1400 block of Arch Street. She "saw a backpack beside the window and jumped out the window in fear." When the woman grabbed the man's backpack and yelled at him to leave, he threatened to shoot her before fleeing on a motorcycle.
• Oct. 1, 1 a.m. A woman was in her bedroom in the 1500 block of Tyler Street when she heard someone in her living room. She discovered a man in the room and told him to leave, then later realized he had taken her keys and vehicle.
• Oct. 1, 2:30 p.m. A man climbed into a woman's window in the 1600 block of Julia Street. When she confronted him, he "told her not to say anything and demanded her phone so she couldn't call the police." The man stole thousands of dollars in jewelry as well as a purse, Apple AirPods and multiple wallets before fleeing the scene on a mountain bike.

Note: Details about each incident were added to the story after publication.