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10-12-2022 12:31am
Police Log: Bad Day for Bicyclists, Multiple Arrests in Shoplifting in Progress, and More
Darlene Cancell
Editor
The news described in Westwood Minute's Police Log article is primarily based on selected information from the Westwood Police Department's daily log and information provided by Lieutenant Christopher Sheehy and police staff. Occasionally, a few facts from other sources may be woven into these stories.
October 8th
Loud Arguing in the Street
2:07 a.m. Police were dispatched to Hillview Road on the report of a male and female who were arguing in the middle of the street. Upon arriving in the area, everything was peaceful. Police encountered a man walking on the street. He was a Westwood resident who confirmed that an argument had taken place and described it as among a group of friends. Police observed he had scrapes on him, which he explained came from falling in the road. Police also found the young woman who confirmed the young man’s description of events, and noted that the argument was never physical.
In all, five people in their early to mid-twenties appear to have been involved in the argument. Police provided the Westwood resident with a courtesy transport to his home and provided the others a ride to their parked vehicle on Route 1.
Accident after an All-Nighter
8:29 a.m. A vehicle traveling west on High Street crossed into the opposite lane of traffic, hitting a pole at the location of 1581 High Street, across from Stanford Drive. It appears the driver, a man from Walpole, and his male passenger were returning home from an all-night basketball fundraiser in Lowell. Westwood Fire paramedics responded but the two men refused transportation to a hospital. Police provided them with a courtesy ride to Walpole.
October 7th
Stop and Shoplifting
2:26 p.m. Police responded to Nordstrom Rack upon report of a shoplifting incident with the suspect still in the store. Loss prevention personnel had observed him concealing the items, putting on a brown leather jacket from the store, and preparing to leave. When store personnel confronted the man, he removed the jacket.
Police found the suspect in the parking lot, carrying a Stop and Shop bag. Of the many stores at University Station where the man was found, there is no Stop and Shop store. The bag contained several pants and two pairs of sunglasses. The man has been identified as 42 year-old from Canton and is facing charges of shoplifting.
October 6th
Bicyclist Crashes into SUV
8:22 a.m. A bicyclist on Gay Street was headed toward Islington when an SUV, driven by a woman from Westwood, pulled out of Thatcher Street onto Gay Street. The bicyclist, also a woman from Westwood, struck the driver’s side of the SUV. The biker was injured and transported to Beth Israel Deaconess Needham by Westwood Fire paramedics. Information regarding citations is not yet available. Police are currently preparing a crash report of the incident.
Unemployment Fraud
8:51 a.m. Police took a report of unemployment fraud from a resident of Burgess Avenue. The resident received a letter from the Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance, informing her that she had been overpaid by $2,800. The resident had never received any DUA payments. However, in 2020, she had filed a fraud report with MDUA in another instance of someone applying for unemployment benefits under her name.
Bicyclist Sideswiped in Hit-and-Run by Landscaping Truck
5:49 p.m. A bicyclist traveling south on Pond Street was struck by a vehicle passing in the same direction, in the area of 287 Pond Street. The incident appears to have taken place between Pond Street’s intersections with Clapboardtree Street and Martingale Lane. The police report indicates the vehicle was a landscaping truck with a trailer behind it.
Westwood Fire paramedics transported the bicyclist to Beth Israel Deaconess Needham.
Police spoke with two witnesses. One was a woman who was walking nearby when the incident occurred, and the second is a homeowner who captured the vehicle on a Ring video camera. Police are currently pursuing what Lieutenant Sheehy describes as “a solid lead” in identifying the driver.
For a related story on this incident, click here.
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Fake Merchandise Return Results in a Steal
6:23 p.m. Police responded to a report of a shoplifting at Frugal Fannie’s around 12:30 p.m. that same day. Two women took two boxes with identical shoes from the store’s shore department and spoke with the store manager. One of the women informed the manager that she was returning one box of previously purchased shoes in exchange for another pair of the same shoes, because the first pair was missing rhinestones.
After that “return,” the manager reviewed store video and discovered the deception. The shoes that were stolen were worth approximately $80. The shoplifter may be identified through customer information obtained by the store. Frugal Fannie’s will be sending the woman a trespass notice.
October 5th
Identity Theft First, then Unemployment Fraud
12:49 p.m. A resident of Autumn Drive reported a case of identity theft. In July 2022, he received correspondence from TD Bank indicating that an account was opened in his name. Upon receiving that notice, the resident informed TD Bank that he did not open the account and had the account closed. He notified his bank and credit reporting agencies of the attempt to steal his identity.
Then, in the last week of September, he received a letter from the state’s Department of Unemployment Assistance, which stated he owed it $1,710 for an overpayment. The resident informed DUA that he had never applied for assistance, as he was currently employed by the same company for over 20 years.
Police advised the man to obtain correspondence from his company’s human resources department that specifies the length of his employment and a confirmation that he has never filed for benefits. He was advised to send that documentation to DUA in reporting the fraud.
Scammer Poses as Medicare Representative
2:17 p.m. A resident of Hillview Road complained of being a victim of identity theft, together with his wife. Earlier, he received a call from a man with a heavy foreign accent, supposedly from Medicare. The caller requested personal information for some Medicare documentation. The man provided it before realizing that it was likely a scam. The resident has placed a watch on his bank account and police advised him to report the incident to at least one credit bureau and ask for a watch on his accounts.
Multiple Arrests in Shoplifting in Progress
2:23 p.m. Police responded to a shoplifting in progress with multiple suspects at Marshalls/Home Goods in University Station. Upon arrival, police were directed to a vehicle in the parking lot with two people in it, and another two people on foot in the parking lot. Loss prevention personnel had observed three of the four suspects leaving the store with unpaid merchandise consisting of children’s clothing, kitchen accessories, glassware, and household items worth approximately $698.
Police found the suspects, and arrested the three individuals whom store employees witnessed leaving the store items not paid for. They were a 25 year-old woman from Hyde Park, a 31 year-old woman from Hyde Park, and a 33 year-old woman from Norwood. The arrest was the third shoplifting offense for the 33 year-old Norwood woman. She was held overnight on $7,500 bail and transported to Dedham District Court the next morning. The women from Hyde Park were both able to make bail at $1,500 and $500 respectively and face charges of shoplifting.
Request for Officer Presence While Parting Ways with Former Employer
6:46 p.m. Police were dispatched to a business on Washington Street on the request of a young man for an officer to be present while he picked up his last paycheck from the business, his former employer. Upon arrival, the officer discovered that the young man had already picked up his check.
The officer spoke with the business manager, and learned that the business intends to send a notice of trespass to the former employee. Upon being informed of the coming notice of trespass, the former employee informed the officer that he has no intention of returning to the business.
Thanks to Lieutenant Christopher Sheehy and the Westwood Police Department for contributing information for this article.
