CALIFORNIA COMPUTERS STOLEN Police Arrest Suspect Following Fraternity House Robbery - The Daily Californian:

Police Arrest Suspect Following Fraternity House Robbery


By Amy Brooks
Daily Cal Staff Writer
Date Added Thursday, October 1, 2009 | 5:34 pm
Last Updated Friday, October 2, 2009 | 4:50 pm
Category: News > City > Crime

Two members of the Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity were robbed at gunpoint and knife point inside their house early Wednesday morning.

The victims reported that two suspects entered their house at 2725 Channing Way through an unlocked door around 3:30 a.m., according to Berkeley Police Department Officer Andrew Frankel.

The suspects allegedly stole two computers, two cell phones and an iPod while threatening the victims with a gun and a knife, Frankel said. The suspects then fled the house. The victims were not injured during the incident.

One suspect, 24 year-old Berkeley resident Michael Vanwidenfelt, was detained by police on Piedmont Avenue about an hour after the robbery. He was then positively identified as one of the suspects and arrested.

Berkeley Police and UCPD searched the area but were unable to find the second suspect, who is still at large. He is described as being between 18 and 20 years old, around 6 feet tall and 160 pounds, wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and dark pants.

Frankel said the stolen property has not been recovered.

Home invasion robberies are very uncommon, according to Frankel.

According to Tau Kappa Epsilon president Michael Cerussi, the house will soon be outfitted with a new security system, possibly within the week.

"I'm just really glad that no one got hurt," Cerussi said. "We're now taking the appropriate measures to ensure this never happens again."

Police are asking anyone with information about the crime to contact them at (510) 981-5900.