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Police Bulletin

Would-be bank robber escapes cash free

It was a zero-sum game for Pleasanton police and a the person who attempted to hold up Chase Bank on Tuesday. The would-be bandit didn't get any cash, but also -- so far -- got away.

The holdup attempt took place at about 5:48 p.m. Oct. 2. Police so far have not released a description of their suspect or an account of the crime.

In other police reports:

* A dispute over noise coming from the basketball courts at an apartment complex landed a man in jail for robbery, according to Pleasanton police reports.

Greg Francis Gregory, 54, of Pleasanton was arrested at the Eaves apartments in the 3600 block of Andrews Avenue around 6:28 p.m. Sept. 27.

Gregory, angry about the noise three juveniles were making, forcibly took three basketballs from the youths, the report said.

* Catalytic converters were targeted by thieves this week. The converters, which are part of a vehicle's exhaust system, contain precious metals including platinum, palladium and rhodium and can be sold for quick cash at recycling centers and scrap yard.

All five were stolen in the same time period, between the evening of Sept. 30 and the morning of Oct. 1. One valued at $2,000 was stolen between 10 p.m. Sept. 30 and 7:15 a.m. Oct. 1 from a home in the in the 2200 block of Camino Brazos; another $2,000 converter was taken between 2:20 a.m. Sept. 30 and 2:20 a.m. Oct. 1 from the 6900 block of Calle Altamira.

Two $500 catalytic converters were stolen, one in the 5300 block of Blackbird Drive between 6:30 p.m. Sept. 30 and 8 a.m. Oct. 1 and one between 5 p.m. Sept. 30 and 4:45 p.m. Oct. 1 in the 2300 block of Woodthrush Way. A converter valued at $1,200 was taken between 9:30 p.m. Sept. 30 and noon Oct. 1 from the 2200 block of Goldcrest Circle.

Pleasanton is not alone: Thefts of catalytic converters have been reported to be on the rise in Berkeley, Newark, Palo Alto and Richmond.

* Cash was stolen from two local businesses the last week of September.

In one incident, $3,048 stolen from Valley Medical Oncology Consultants in the 5700 block of W. Las Positas Boulevard between 4:30 p.m. Sept. 26 and 8:25 a.m. Sept. 27; there was no sign of forced entry.

In the second, $614 cash was stolen from Caffino, the kiosk coffee shop in the 6700 block of Santa Rita Road. An employee arriving for work at 4:52 a.m. Sept. 28 discovered a window had been smashed.

* A Brentwood woman was arrested Oct. 2 for passing counterfeit bills. Audrey Thomas, 23, was arrested for forgery at about 8:09 p.m. after attempting to buy a $99 iPod speaker dock and $129 vacuum. Thirteen counterfeit $20 bills were confiscated as evidence.

* Two local residents were victims of felony identity theft in recent days.

One, reported at 12:40 p.m. Sept. 28, was caught when Macys.com called a resident of the 3300 block of Santa Rita Road to see if she'd made a $494.14 purchase. While that was not shipped, the woman discovered two other fraudulent purchases, one for $886.86 at Empirelumber.com and another for $395.40 at Sephora.com.

In the second identity theft, reported at 11:38 a.m. Oct. 2, a resident of the 4200 block of Rosewood Drive told police someone used her credit card to charge two $300 gift cards at Macy's.

* A $1,200 mountain bicycle was reported stolen from the 5500 block of W. Las Positas Boulevard between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. Sept. 26

Under the law, those arrested are considered innocent until convicted.