Burglary crew targets Berkeley cafes, including original Peet's

Berkeley police are investigating seven overnight break-ins that took place within just 30 minutes this week at local eateries all over the city.

The burglary crew hit the original Peet's Coffee location on Vine Street along with Berkeley Espresso on Shattuck Avenue.

They also broke into two other coffee or tea shops, Li's Knife Cut Noodle and a burger shop on Center Street, and Helacio's Deli & Cafe on Sacramento Street.

In each case, the crew got inside by smashing glass windows or doors, police said.

All the break-ins took place between about 1:30 and 2 a.m. Monday.

"Broken glass, a messy counter, and a tough moment when we opened the door this morning," Li's Knife Cut Noodle wrote on Instagram. "It’s never easy to see something you’ve built with so much effort get damaged."

"Because what we really do here isn’t just serve food. We serve warm bowls for students, friends, late-night study breaks, and homesick moments," they wrote. "If you’re nearby, come by for a bowl of noodles and support a small local business. The soup is hot, the kitchen is ready, and we’re not going anywhere."

Details were limited as of publication time, but the involved businesses were in the following locations.

• The 2100 block of Center Street (two reports)
• The 2100 block of Allston Way
• The 2500 block of Sacramento Street
• The 2100 block of Vine Street
• The 1900 block of Shattuck Avenue
• The 1500 block of Hopkins Street

Overall, there have been at least 26 other commercial burglaries in Berkeley this year (through Feb. 19, the most recent date available), according to preliminary BPD data.

That's about the same number of commercial burglaries in Berkeley as during the same period last year.

No arrests have been made but the investigation remains active, police said.

Stay tuned for updates.

Editor's Note: This story was updated with information to include additional details and video from Li's Knife Cut Noodle.