Berkeley Police Arrest Man in Ice Cream Thefts
Police linked an Oakland man to two Andronico's Market thefts of Ben & Jerry's ice cream, one of them tied to a previous robbery six days earlier.
Updated on Nov. 15, 2026 in Property Crime
Live Poll
Do you feel safe shopping at your local grocery store?
Berkeley police arrested an Oakland man on Wednesday for stealing $400 of Ben & Jerry's ice cream from Andronico's Market. Investigators linked him to an earlier Andronico's ice cream robbery six days before the arrest.
Why it matters
The case shows how police are using license plate-reading technology to track suspects across cities after repeated retail thefts. It also highlights the pressure grocery stores face from organized or repeat theft targeting high-value products.
The suspect was arrested in Berkeley on Wednesday after police located the vehicle in West Oakland, and he was captured after fleeing on foot when officers approached. Formal charges, bail and court dates were not detailed in the available information.
The players
Andronico's Market
Andronico's Market is a Bay Area supermarket chain known for its locally focused grocery stores in Northern California.
Berkeley Police Department
The Berkeley Police Department is the municipal law enforcement agency responsible for policing the city of Berkeley, California.
The details
Two men entered the Andronico's Market on Solano Avenue, where an employee recognized one from a previous robbery attempt and blocked them from leaving. The suspects threatened an employee with a Taser or stun gun and fled by car, then entered the Shattuck Avenue store less than 30 minutes later, concealing ice cream in bags and attempting to leave without paying.
Timeline
Six days before the arrest: an earlier Andronico's ice cream robbery occurred.
Wednesday: Berkeley police arrested the suspect for the ice cream thefts.
Legal Context
Police in the Bay Area have increasingly relied on automated license plate reader technology to trace vehicles tied to property crimes across city lines. This case applies that approach to a repeat retail theft series spanning Berkeley and West Oakland.
Shoppers at Berkeley-area grocery stores may see added staff vigilance and security responses to repeat theft attempts. Residents near the Solano and Shattuck Avenue stores should be aware of the recent incidents and any related police patrols.
The takeaway
Retail theft often involves repeat targeting, so stores and police share information to connect incidents across locations. Shoppers can help by reporting suspicious activity to store staff or police promptly.
Further reading
Explore more Berkeley property crime coverage to see how local retail thefts are being investigated.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Los Angeles Times.
Live Poll
Do you feel safe shopping at your local grocery store?
