Downtown Walnut Creek is home to the Northern California Family Center where, judging by the sign on the door, they also have a runaway hotline.
From their website:
The Northern California Family Center is a non-profit counseling center that has been serving the mental health needs of Contra Costa County since 1978. Our staff consists of dedicated professionals who provide experienced clinica care and assessment for a wide range of personal and family problems. Our Crsis Home Program serves the runaway youth population of Contra Costa County. Our Long Term Foster Care Program serves children who are foster children who are waiting for possible reunification with their parents, or maybe removed from their parents due to abuse or neglect. We serve children and adolescents, individual, parents, couples and families
Located at 1621 N. Broadway, across the street from the downtown Walnut Creek library, you need to go to the end of a side walkway to the very end to get there. It is not easy to find. They were closed when I went there, not sure whether it’s closed permanently or not. Their main office is in Martinez.
On Monday I noted that Walnut Creek police were searching for a man who approached a Walnut Creek Intermediate student twice while walking home from school. Now, a sketch has been released. Please contact the Walnut Creek Police Department at 925-943-5844 if you have seen this man, or a “faded red, older model compact sedan, blue disabled placard hanging from rear view mirror, unknown license plate.”
Interestingly, if you view the sketch at full size, it’s possible to read some more charcteristics written down by the artist that is not in the police report press release. The additional features are:
From a Walnut Creek police press release:
On 03/14/12, at about 1530 hours, a 13 year old female student from Walnut Creek Intermediate (WCI) got off her school bus near Tice Valley Blvd and Crest Avenue in unincorporated Walnut Creek. After the bus left, a faded red older model sedan pulled up alongside the juvenile. The male driver asked her how far she had to walk and if he could give her a ride. He also asked where she went to school (she told him WCI) and her name. After he asked where she lived, she ran home and the driver sped off. This incident was reported to and investigated by the Contra County Sheriff’s Office (CCCSO# 12-4337). The incident was reported to WCI by the juvenile’s parents and an email was sent out to WCI parents. Also, the bus drivers were given the vehicle and subject description.
On 03/15/2012, just as school let out (about 1505 hrs), the juvenile was walking to Civic Drive from WCI on the pathway. She saw the same subject waiting by the back gate on Civic Drive. He waved at her and she ran back to the school and called her parents. The juvenile said she was positive the male on the trail behind the school was the same male from the bus stop. The juvenile was with a friend at the time. He confirmed there was a male on the trail behind the school that appeared to be waving at the juvenile. This was immediately reported to the Walnut Creek Police Department. Officers responded and searched the area but were unable to locate the suspect or the vehicle.Walnut Creek Police Detectives, patrol officers and the Sheriff’s Office continue to work together on this case.
Anyone with additional information is asked to contact the Walnut Creek Police Department at (925)943-5844.
Lamorinda CrossFit, located at 1031 Blackwood Ln. in Lafayette, recently moved to a bigger location right next door to their old location, and they are having a grand re-opening celebration on April 22nd at 4pm. From an email:
Join your Cave Family for a celebration in FINALLY making our move to the New Cave! We are thrilled with our new space and are grateful that you are part of our growing community!
Potluck style bash. Bring food, snack, dessert or drink to share. Friends and family are welcome!
Disclosure: I am a member of this CrossFit gym and really like the bigger location. Stop by and say hi if you’re nearby!
Since the Neiman Marcus building in downtown Walnut Creek has finally been completed, I decided to update the header of this blog to show off the new building. See the before and after photos below.
I also added a tagline, “Walnut Creek’s Neighborhood Blog” below, although I also plan to focus on downtown Lafayette as well. And if I can figure out how to combine photos together I’d like to switch over to a panoramic view of the Four Corners (Mt. Diablo/N. Main) to include Tiffany’s and Pottery Barn otherwise people may think it’s only about Neiman Marcus.
New BtCreek Header, Neiman Marcus Building, Walnut Creek, [Completed]
Old BtCreek Header, Neiman Marcus Building, Walnut Creek, [Work in Progress]
Feedback on the new header is welcome, is it clear enough? Does the tagline make sense? Thanks!
From a Walnut Creek police report:
On February 29, 2012 at about 9:30 AM the below suspect entered Bank of the West on California Blvd. and demanded cash from the teller. The suspect was given an undisclosed amount of money from the teller and then fled the bank. He was last seen walking northbound on California Boulevard. No weapons were seen. Officers searched the area, but were unable to locate the subject. Anyone with information is encouraged to call WCPD at 925-943-5844.
From the Walnut Creek police:
Due to a recent restructuring of the police department, our participation in the Neighborhood Watch program is going to be suspended until further notice. Our hope is that once the beginning of the fiscal year approaches we’ll have a better idea of staffing levels and can identify programs to be reinstated in the fall. For neighborhood concerns, please contact the on duty watch commander at 943-5844. Once the sector commanders are determined, their information will be listed on the PD’s website;www.walnutcreekpd.com. You will also be able to find police activity via the daily bulletin on our website or through www.spotcrime.com.
Please continue to support each other and the crime prevention efforts of your groups, as well as being the eyes and ears for the police department. Remember to dial 911 for life and death emergencies or in progress crimes, or 935-6400 for all other non-emergency reports to dispatch. Please continue to remove all property from your vehicles and maintain the security features of your homes and businesses.
There is a wealth of information on the internet and at the library in regards to crime prevention programs and Neighborhood Watch. While there may not be a position dedicated to Neighborhood Watch at the Police Department, anybody can answer general questions or give advice. Don’t hesitate to contact us if you just aren’t sure about something.
Thank you for being a part of the program.
Looks like those extra resources going to patrolling downtown have forced cutbacks elsewhere. Does anyone see a connection with this?
Back last December, this sign, owned by Clean Dog Healthy Dog, a dog washing and grooming salon, was featured on this blog highlighting the whimsical marketing method that welcomed many drivers entering downtown Walnut Creek from Highway 24.
However, I’m saddened to report that the dog head, which came from a dog costume, was stolen about one month ago. This really bothers me because this is a small, friendly, locally owned business that had a really great idea that many people enjoyed seeing as they drove down Mt. Diablo Blvd. into downtown.
I’m going to feature Clean Dog Healthy Dog in a future post but for now I would like to offer a $25 reward for information leading to the safe return of the dog head. Email me if you have information.
Walnut Creek Police reported that three people from around Los Angeles purchased mutliple gift cards using fraudulent credit cards at the Walnut Creek Nordstrom, and after searching their vehicle found over $10,000 worth of fraudulently purchased gift cards and credit cards belonging to other people. All three were arrested and are being held on $70,000 bail each.
On February 25, 2012 at approximately 4:15 p.m., Walnut Creek Police Officers responded to Nordstrom, located at 1200 Broadway Plaza for a report of multiple suspects using fraudulent credit cards to purchase gift cards. The suspects had left Nordstrom prior to officer’s arrivals. Officers spotted the three subjects in a van parked in the Nordstrom parking lot and detained them. Nordstrom Loss Prevention Agents responded and identified the three suspects as the persons responsible for the frauds that had just occurred in the store. They also informed the officers that these subjects have been identified in numerous frauds at several Nordstrom’s’ throughout the state. Officers identified the subjects as Xianglong Cao, Jarmar Bethea and Joseph Quinney and they were arrested (see above). Officers searched the subjects and the van and located over $10,000 worth of fraudulently purchased gift cards and credit cards belonging to other people. Officers confirmed the suspects were all from the Los Angeles area and had committed similar crimes in other city’s throughout California. The suspects were planning on heading to Portland, Oregon from Walnut Creek.
Anyone with additional information are asked to contact the Walnut Creek Police Department at (925)943-5844.
I wonder if Neiman Marcus will encounter the same types of crime that Nordstrom has to deal with. And what about Macy’s, why don’t I ever read reports about similar incidents at Macy’s?
