Crime Log: Thefts; Crashes; And Guess Why Man Can't Activate His Craigslist Purchase

The following is a summary of significant crime and incidents reported in Newark between July 28 to Aug. 3 as released by the Newark Police Department. 

Saturday, Aug. 3

• Multi-car crash on Thornton and Mayhews Landing. A four-vehicle, non-injury collision at 12:15 p.m. at Thornton Avenue and Mayhews Landing Road was a chain reaction when one car collided with another, which then collided with two other vehicles. One of the drivers, a Fremont man, 25, was unlicensed and uninsured, and issued citations.

•  Domestic-violence suspect flees. A suspect involved in domestic violence and terrorist threats at a Windemere Drive residence fled on foot at 2:24 a.m. prior to officers' arrival and was not located during an extensive area check.  

• K-9 detects meth. A Fremont man, 23, was arrested at 1:44 p.m. along St. Isabel Avenue after canine officer Eliot located methamphetamine in the subject's vehicle.

• More meth. A pedestrian stop at 10:38 p.m. at the Chevron Station on Thornton Avenue resulted in the arrest of a transient male, 49, for suspected possession of methamphetamine. 
  

• Suspects in theft at Pick-N-Pull. Two men carrying large backpacks were stopped on Cherry Street around 6:30 a.m. fitting descriptions of two suspects who had just exited Pick-N-Pull auto store on Mowry Avenue after a theft. An employee saw the pair walk from the rear of the yard through a fence opening. The men, 42 and 41, were found with 42 air-conditioning cores from the wrecking yard, and were arrested. 

• Park theft. An estimated $1,000 of wire was reported stolen at 2:51 p.m. from a pump station at Newark Community Park. The theft occurred between July 24 and July 26. 

• Hit-and-run suspect. A 17-year-old female was arrested at 9:02 a.m. as the suspected driver that caused a multi-vehicle hit-and-run at Westlake Lido Faire Shopping Center on July 26.  
   
  

• Man charged in theft of autistic girl’s favorite toy. Charles “Chucky” Boukis, 23, admitted to stealing the girl’s precious whirligig. Story here.

• AC Transit Bus catches fire on I-880 S: Local resident, girlfriend stop to help. More here.

• Pedestrian hit at mall. A vehicle hit a female pedestrian at 6:23 p.m. in the parking lot of NewPark Mall. The woman complained of back pain.  
  

• Three juveniles arrested in attempted home burglary. Police believe the suspects may be linked to at least one other burglary attempt on Tuesday. Story here.

• Chain-saw thief. A white man in his 30s with a goatee and wearing a black shirt, blue jeans and black baseball cap was seen at 6:23 p.m. reportedly stealing a chain saw from Orchard Supply Hardware.
  

• Attempted thievery. A thin Hispanic, 5'10" and in his 20s, attempted three thefts of an iPad and bicycle from a home on the 6200 block of Mayhews Landing Road. The first try occurred July 27, with two attempts hours apart on Monday. The suspect was chased away by a witness each time.  
  

• Man struggles with locked iPad from Craigslist. A man met at police headquarters after unsuccessful attempts to activate the Apple iPad he purchased from a Newark individual through a Craigslist ad. Employees at an electronics store had advised him the iPad was likely stolen -- which police confirmed it was. Through Apple, officers located the original owner who said the device was stolen out of San Jose. The iPad was returned to the original owner, and the investigation is continuing.

•  Subjects throw rock at geese. A citizen called police at 7 a.m. reporting men were throwing rocks at Lake Park geese. Two suspects, ages 26 and 24, were located, and one was cited for an outstanding misdemeanor warrant. 
  

• Vandal mob hits cars. A group of males in dark hooded clothing used baseball bats and sticks to smash 22 windows on 13 vehicles parked on Reina Place at about 10:45 p.m. One motorcycle was pushed over. 

• Man down; beer, too. A man was found lying on Thornton Avenue around 4:30 p.m. after having fallen and cutting his arm while carrying his beer across the street. He was issued a citation for public intoxication and transported to a hospital for his injury.