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Crime & Safety

Two Robberies Around Albany Hill in Recent Weeks

Sunday, a woman was accosted at gunpoint, and her purse and car were stolen, police said. In late June, a man was mugged on Cerrito Path as he walked toward Pierce Street.

Two muggings on or near Albany Hill since late June have some Albany residents on alert.

The most recent incident took place Sunday at about 12:30 p.m., said the , when a woman parked in front of 555 Pierce St. and began to walk toward the building. 

According to police Lt. John Geissberger, a dark, maroon-colored vehicle pulled up beside the woman. A man in his 30s got out, ran up to her and "attempted to grab the victim's purse." The woman resisted, "and the suspect pulled out a handgun and forcefully removed" the purse.

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The man got back in the car, which began to leave, but stopped a short distance away, then backed up toward the woman. A different man got out of the car, entered the woman's car, and drove away in it. 

The woman wasn't injured, Geissberger said. 

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Later that night, El Cerrito police found the car in a pursuit that ended in Fremont, and three people were taken into custody, he said. 

El Cerrito police were not available for comment Monday. 

It was the second robbery in the neighborhood in as many weeks. 

On June 26, an Albany man was mugged by three young men at 9:30 p.m. while walking with his wife on the . 

"One of them stepped in front of me just after my wife had passed him. Presumably it was he who hit me in the mouth, then two other guys joined in pushing me to the ground," he wrote in an email, which he shared with Albany Patch. "I got up and tried to run, either tripped on the curb by the driveway there or was shoved down again. They either had no weapons or chose not to use them."

The man said neighbors from homes nearby came out to help when they heard the couple yelling and, "At that time the three youngsters took off running, crossed the creek behind the auto body shop next to Old West Guns, (and) ran across San Pablo" from the  area into the El Cerrito Plaza parking lot.

The group took a jacket from the man, but he said he had left his wallet at home that night.

Three possible suspects were briefly detained, but they were released after being photographed by El Cerrito police officers, Albany police said.

The couple was not able to provide a detailed description beyond the thieves' estimated ages of 18 to 20, said Detective Sgt. Scott Cliatt of the El Cerrito Police Department.

"I would like to remind folks to use all of their senses to be aware of their surroundings at all times," Cliatt added. "Pay close attention to suspicious activities and persons and carry yourself with confidence and alertness. Don’t be afraid to call the police department if you see any suspicious activity. If you are robbed, try to remain calm and cooperate with the suspects. Your wallet or purse isn’t worth getting injured over."

Anyone with further information about suspicious activities can call the Albany Police Department at 510-525-7300.

Everybody makes mistakes ... ! If there's something in this article you think should be corrected, or if something else is amiss, call editor Emilie Raguso at 510-459-8325 or email her at emilier@patch.com. 

CORRECTION: The first incident in this case took place in late June. The story has been corrected to reflect this.

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