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Crime & Safety

Catalytic Converter Disappearing Act: 24 Thefts over 9 Days in Novato

Selected calls from the log books of Novato PD, May 1-4

May 1 

1:56 a.m. – Shoplifting was reported at the Safeway on Nave Drive in Hamilton. A woman was seen taking some Gold Fish Crackers and leaving the store without paying for them.  The woman was arrested and booked for petty theft. 

2:35 a.m. – Several people were reported hanging out in the vicinity of South Novato Boulevard and Redwood Boulevard playing loud music.  Some minors were cited for possession of alcohol and released without incident. 

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10:35 a.m. – A welfare check was requested for a 2-year-old child in the vicinity of Hamilton Meadow Park School on Main Gate Road. The unsupervised child was spotted wearing only a diaper and a T-shirt.  It was determined that the child walked out a backyard gate undetected along with the family dog. The child’s 8-year-old brother was charged with watching his sibling while the parents slept. The parents were admonished for the incident. 

11:06 a.m. – A catalytic converter was taken from a Toyota 4Runner in the 1400 block of Dawes Street.  

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12:57 p.m. – Shoplifting was reported at the Target store on Vintage Way. A boy refusing to identify himself was held in custody for taking two video games.  He was returned to St. Vincent’s School for Boys in San Rafael and released to staff there. 

1:17 p.m. – An aggravated assault was reported in the 300 block of Alameda del Prado in Ignacio. A woman’s boyfriend pulled her hair while having an argument in the pool. An emergency protection order was granted to the victim. 

4:10 p.m. – A vehicle was reported stolen at the Wyndover Apartments on Diablo Avenue.  An ’81 rust-red Toyota Celica was reported stolen sometime between 11:30 p.m. the previous night and 3:50 p.m. that afternoon.  All keys were accounted for. 

4:19 p.m. – Suspicious circumstances were reported when a suspected intoxicated man called 911 for a cab from a phone in the vicinity of the 7-Eleven store on Diablo Avenue and told dispatchers he had been shot. The store clerk was contacted.  There was no merit to anyone being shot.  

May 2

2:24 a.m. – A woman was arrested for an outstanding Marin County warrant in the 800 block of Diablo Avenue. 

3:47 a.m. – An argument was reported between a woman and a man who broke her window in the 2200 block of Center Road.  One person was determined to be a danger to self or others and placed on a psychiatric hold at Marin General Hospital. 

11:45 a.m. – A catalytic converter was stolen from a ’95 Toyota 4Runner in the 500 block of Arthur Street.   

1:24 p.m. – A man laying on the sidewalk next to the Marin Humane Society on Bel Marin Keys Boulevard was booked for public drunkenness. 

5:02 p.m. – A catalytic converter was stolen from a vehicle on Blara Drive. 

5:22 p.m. – A burglary was reported in the 100 block of Landing Court.  The reporting party witnessed a suspect stealing from a storage locker.  The thief cut the padlock from a storage locker and left the scene in a white Honda Civic with California plates 6REA241.  

6:21 p.m. – A man was arrested for two outstanding Marin County warrants on Verdad Way. 

10:41 p.m. – An assault and battery was reported in the vicinity of Brown’s Binyerd on First Street.  The reporting party said a girl in the emergency room said an unknown person outside of the bar had bitten her the previous day.

May 3 

6:52 a.m. – A catalytic converter was stolen from a ’99 Toyota Tacoma over night in the 1000 block of Ignacio Boulevard. 

 9:22 a.m. – An employee of Lyons Automotive on Redwood Boulevard came to work to find a previously reported stolen U-Haul had been returned overnight.  

10:04 a.m. – A resident on Hilary Court reported that the driver of a three-wheeled motorcycle ran into a fence on the property last Friday evening without making any attempt to make contact.  The reporting party believes a neighbor knows who is responsible.  All parties will handle the incident among themselves. 

10:24 a.m. – A catalytic converter was stolen from a Toyota 4Runner in the 1000 block of Ignacio Boulevard.  

10:53 a.m. – Suspicious circumstances were reported at the Ann Taylor Loft store at Vintage Oaks when employees received a return item in a box that contained a bag of marijuana.  

3:18 p.m. – An 8-year-old boy was reported throwing rocks at passing cars in the vicinity of Center Road and Ormond Court.  The boy and his father were contacted, admonished and advised. 

5:13 p.m. – A person in the 1300 block of Leafwood Drive was reported to have been drinking and then took a handful of pain relief pills.  The person was placed on a psychiatric hold at Marin General Hospital. 

10:12 p.m. – A missing boy was reported on Roca Court.  A woman said that her son ran away from rehab and then entered her home through a sliding door.  She had advised him that the police had been called.  The boy was located and advice was provided. 

May 4 

9:16 a.m. – Graffiti vandalism was reported in the 600 block of Manuel Drive.  A trash container was tagged. 

9:52 a.m. – A grand theft was reported in the 600 block of Canyon Road.  A resident claims that unknown(s) entered her apartment and took her belongings. 

1 p.m. – Assistance was requested by the Novato Fire District in the 300 block of Enfrente Road.  A resident was locked out with a pot on the stove.  

2:30 p.m. – Extra patrols were requested in the vicinity of the 800 block of Diablo Avenue.  Approximately 15 to 20 kids from San Jose Middle School were congregating outside the store. Students from nearby Hill Middle School about to get out of school. The reporting party requested that officers stand by so there were not any problems.  Extra patrols were provided and no violations were seen. 

3:43 p.m. – An assault and battery was reported at Vintage Oaks shopping center.  Two people were cited for assault.  The victim suffered minor injuries. 

5:01 p.m. – A Novato High School student was reported to be a danger to herself or others.  The student said she wanted to commit suicide and had plans to cut her wrists.

5:09 p.m. – A warrant arrest was made on the 700 block of Albatross Drive.  A woman reported that she was concerned for her daughter’s welfare who was in a verbal argument with her boyfriend.  A person was booked into Marin County Jail on 10 outstanding warrants. 

6:15 p.m. – A welfare check was requested for a man in a wheelchair who was driving it around Joan Avenue looking disoriented.  It was determined that the man has a paper route and Casa Allegra Community Services transports him to neighborhoods to deliver papers.  The reporting party was a driver who seemed frustrated with him because she told him to stay out of the street.  The phone number for the program director was provided. 

9:02 p.m. – A person in the 800 block of Diablo Avenue was arrested and booked for being under the influence of a controlled substance and a probation violation. 

10:57 p.m. – A man was reported lying on the ground with his bicycle in the 800 block of Grant Avenue.  The man was arrested and booked into Marin County Jail for public drunkenness.

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