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12-28-2022 10:27pm
Police Log: Vehicle Rollover with Injuries, Two Hit and Runs on High Street
Darlene Cancell
Editor
The news described in Westwood Minute's Police Log article series 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.
Monday, December 26th
Fraudulent Purchase of New iPhone
1:39 p.m. A Westwood resident reported being the victim of identify theft after receiving instructions from Apple Inc. to pick up a new iPhone 14 Pro which the resident had not ordered. The resident also learned that the resident’s credit card had been used twice for charges not made by the resident.
There was a charge from December 23rd for $1,167.69, and a second charge for the same amount was pending for December 25th. The credit card was cancelled, and the resident’s bank has provided a reimbursement of the funds.
The resident contacted the Apple Store in Chestnut Hill where the transactions had taken place and was told that someone had picked up the iPhone. Upon informing Newton Police of the fraud, the Westwood resident was told to contact Westwood Police.
Westwood Police have advised the resident to place a watch on the resident’s credit cards and bank accounts, and that a PIN number can be used to secure future tax filings.
Officer Offers Assistance with Changing a Flat Tire
5:40 p.m. Police responded to a disturbance in the parking lot of University Station where a tow truck driver and the owner of the vehicle to be towed were having a dispute. Police learned that the tow truck had responded to a AAA call for changing a flat tire, but there was a personality conflict with the car’s owner. The tow truck driver terminated the service call and left. The responding police officer assisted the vehicle owner, a man from Westborough, with changing his flat tire.
Sunday, December 25th
Rear-end Collision at East Street Rotary
1:27 p.m. A rear-end collision at the entrance to the East Street rotary occurred when a 2020 Honda driven by a woman from Franklin was struck from behind by a 2005 Toyota driven by a man from Hingham. The Honda had stopped to enter the rotary when it was struck by the Toyota.
The Franklin resident complained of striking her head in the crash. Westwood Fire paramedics examined the woman, who declined transportation to the hospital.
Saturday, December 24th
Too Tight a Turn
8:41 a.m. A Westwood resident was driving a 2011 Toyota on High Street, and made a turn onto Nahatan Street, when her vehicle struck a traffic island and a sign on the island. Both the traffic sign and the vehicle were damaged. The vehicle was able to be driven from the scene.
A Different Kind of Purse Snatcher
2:40 p.m. An officer took a report from a loss prevention employee at Nordstrom Rack who informed the officer that twenty minutes earlier, a woman had walked out with a number of items without paying. The woman had received assistance from Nordstrom Rack staff in getting access to handbags and purses that were kept under security. When the bags were unlocked, she took the bags and walked out the door with them.
Items that she took were five purses or handbags and three or four bottles of perfume. The total value of the loss was about $1,500. The woman was described as wearing a white mask, white hat, black jacket, dark pants and snow boots.
Friday, December 23rd
Stolen Greetings
1:28 p.m. A Westwood Police detective sergeant was speaking with security staff at Wegmans when he was informed that a suspected shoplifter was in the store. Store staff had observed the same suspect, a middle-aged man, in the past and believed him to have stolen items previously.
The detective sergeant followed the man out of the store to the parking lot to confront him. Two bottles of wine were recovered. Then, the man ran away through the parking lot. Along with the bottles of wine, the man is also suspected of having taken four Christmas ornaments and eight greeting cards, totaling about $243. Police are working on identifying him.
Strong Wind Causes Vehicle Damage
5:07 p.m. Police responded to a call in the University Station parking lot near Nordstrom Rack where the caller reported vehicle damage. A woman from Medway had opened her vehicle door, and a high wind had pulled it out of her grasp and caused her door to strike the next vehicle that was owned by a man from Newton.
The responding officer observed a quarter-inch scratch on the man’s vehicle and no dent. The officer assisted the motorists in their exchange of insurance information.
Rollover Accident with Injuries on Washington Street
10:44 p.m. A woman from Worcester was injured in a car accident near the intersection of Washington Street and East Street when her vehicle, a 2017 Chevy, traveling on Washington Street, crossed the center line and the two lanes of traffic heading in the opposite direction.
The Chevy struck a 2013 Toyota driven by a man from Dedham. The Chevy’s driver-side front quarter contacted the Toyota’s driver-side front quarter, catching on it. The Chevy rolled over.
Westwood Fire responded to extract the woman from the vehicle, and she was transported to the hospital.
Both vehicles were towed. The woman was cited for operating under the influence of liquor, marked lanes violations, and operating her motor vehicle negligently.
Thursday, December 22nd
Deer Strike on High Street
7:43 a.m. Police arrived in the area of 515 High Street to assist the Department of Public Works with the removal of a dead deer from the road. Upon arrival, the deer was discovered to still be alive. With the help of the animal control officer, the deer was moved off the road to be put out of its misery.
Illegal Dumping on Neighbor’s Property
9:53 a.m. A resident of Fairview Street complained that someone had dumped items in a construction dumpster located on the resident’s private property that was unrelated to work at the resident’s own house. There were three black, contractor trash bags that contained sheetrock, wood cabinetry parts, and a vent hood.
Police found a shipping label on a box in one of the bags. The label address led police to a residence on an adjacent street in Westwood. Police spoke to the resident of the adjacent street who removed the unwanted trash from the private dumpster.
Wednesday, December 21st
Hit and Run Mailbox Damage on High Street
7:29 a.m. Police took a report of a damaged mailbox and post at a High Street residence. The complainant believed that the mailbox was struck sometime between the morning of the complaint and 8:00 p.m. the previous evening. It appeared to have been struck by a vehicle that was travelling east on High Street, left the roadway, and drove onto the resident’s lawn. There does not appear to be any security footage of the incident, and no vehicle debris was left behind to assist in identifying the vehicle.
Providing Off-Duty Assistance
5:49 p.m. An off-duty officer was having dinner at a local restaurant on High Street when a Westwood resident fell in the restaurant while picking up take-out food. The officer, who was acquainted with the resident, drove him home. No medical attention was needed.
Identity Stolen to Apply for Loan
7 p.m. A resident of Church Street reported a case of identity theft. The resident had received a call, text message(s) and email correspondence regarding a loan application for which she had never applied. The resident has placed a watch on her credit cards. Police advised her to do the same with her bank accounts.
Monday, December 19th
New Car Keyed at Highland Glen
10:43 a.m. Police took a report of vandalism from a resident of Highland Glen who complained of having his 2023 Kia Soul keyed. The responding officer observed key marks to the left front quarter panel of the driver’s side and the passenger door.
FedEx Fraudster?
1:48 p.m. A private business on University Avenue reported suspicious behavior to police after a man in a suit came to the rear door of the property and claimed to be collecting signatures to facilitate future FedEx deliveries. He explained that future deliveries would therefore not have to be signed for. The individual was not wearing a FedEx uniform.
Staff from the business were able to obtain the solicitor’s first name and phone number, but did not give him any signatures. An officer used the phone number to track down the individual.
The man claimed that he was assisting his father, a FedEx delivery person, with obtaining signatures for future deliveries.
Police have learned from FedEx that while customers may pursue a pre-signed form to eliminate the need for signatures for future FedEx deliveries, it is done at the customer’s instigation and that FedEx does not solicit signatures. At this point, police have not confirmed whether the son and/or father works for FedEx.
Police have advised the complainant to reserve the business's rear door entrance for employees only, and not to open it for other people.
Stolen License Plate
2:13 p.m. Police received a report of a stolen license plate from a resident of Clapboardtree Street that is thought to have occurred while the vehicle was parked in a garage in Providence, Rhode Island. Police entered the plate as missing or stolen in a national computer database.
Hit and Run Damage to Parked Vehicle on High Street
6:56 p.m. A woman from Stoughton reported a hit and run earlier in the day, around lunch time, when she discovered damage to her 2013 Nissan's driver-side door and mirror. Her mirror was knocked to the ground. The woman reported that it appeared that someone tried to park next to her vehicle, that was located in the vicinity of Arch Orthodontics on High Street, and had struck her vehicle, then left. She provided photos of the damage to police.
Thanks to Lieutenant Christopher Sheehy and the Westwood Police Department for contributing information for this article.
