Crime Log: Napping Man Wakes To Hoodlum Staring At Him; Plus, 22 Catalytic Converters Swiped from Pick-N-Pull

The following is a summary of significant crime and incidents reported in Newark between April 7 to 13 as released by the Newark Police Department.

SATURDAY, APRIL 13

• Amtrak derails near Fremont, but no one hurt. Story here.

FRIDAY, APRIL 12

• Lumber company chemical spill. Read more. 

• Man hit by car last week in Union city dies in hospital. Story here.

THURSDAY, APRIL 11

• Home burglary. A residential burglary on the 35100 block of Blackburn Drive was reported at 2:27 p.m. Entry was through a rear window sometime between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., with cash taken.
• And another ... A break-in was logged at 3:33 p.m. at a home on the 36800 block of Spruce Street. The resident returned home to find his doors unlocked, with reported losses of a document-style safe containing jewelry and cash. The burglary occurred between 7 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. 

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10

• That can't be - 22? Yup, 22.  Twenty-two catalytic converters were stolen from the Pick-N-Pull auto parts store on the 7400 block of Mowry Avenue. The suspect, or suspects, cut a hole in the perimeter fence, entered the yard and made off with the goods sometime between 3 p.m. April 9 to 5:10 a.m. Wednesday.
• He thought they wouldn't notice? A Gilroy man, 30, was arrested at a Fremont Cushing Parkway auto dealership for suspected grand theft after returning his loaner vehicle with its insides totally stripped and replaced with parts from other cars. The suspect reportedly removed -- and in some cases replaced -- the seats, door panels, a portion of the passenger side dash including the airbag, plastic molding around the front doors, rear speakers, spare tire, jack kit, rear plastic molding, screws from the engine compartment cover and an air-intake hose. The damage was estimated at $15,000 to $25,000.

TUESDAY, APRIL 9

• Bomb squad case. A suspected pipe bomb was discovered on Union Street in Fremont and the Alameda County Sheriff's Office Bomb Squad was brought out to investigate. The device was determined to be non-explosive.

MONDAY, APRIL 8

• Driver remix. A gray 1995 Pontiac Bonneville was stolen at 12:45 p.m. from the front of an auto dealership on the 6700 block of Thornton Avenue while the owner was inside. The owner had left the keys in the vehicle and the car running. 

• Suicide averted. Story here.
• Armed robbery on Sycamore. Click link.

SUNDAY, APRIL 7

• Not a dream. A man asleep in a home on the 6200 block of Lido Court at 10:13 a.m. had his bedroom door kicked open by an apparent teenager burglar. The resident initially assumed downstairs  noises were being made by his landlord, until the juvenile was in the doorway staring at him. The victim watched as the teen turned and fled down the stairs and out the front door. A witness spotted two suspects running to a black, four-door, 15- to 20-year-old sedan. The male suspect was described as Hispanic, 13 to 16 years old, in dark clothing, accompanied by a female, also in dark clothes.

• Dog bites dog. Read more.

Anyone with information about crimes in Newark is asked to call Newark Police non-emergency line at (510) 578-4237 or the Silent Witness Hotline at (510) 578-4000, ext. 500.