4-19-2023 1:56am

Police Log: Hit and Run, Burglary and Broken Windows, Unemployment Fraud

Darlene Cancell Editor

Image by Westwood Minute/Darlene Wong Cancell.

The news described in Westwood Minute's weekly 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, April 17th

Hit and Run

8:13 a.m. A hit and run was reported to have occurred when a black SUV turned left out of Stonegate Lane onto High Street, striking a 2008 Toyota on the passenger side rear quarter panel. The Toyota had been travelling west on High Street toward Stonegate. The impact resulted in minor damage. The SUV left the scene. Police searched the immediate area and did not find any vehicle matching the description of the vehicle that left.

Sunday, April 16th

Vehicle Crashes into Stone Wall on Grove Street

4:42 p.m. A 2019 Ford truck crashed into a rock wall on Grove Street when the driver, a man from Norwood, was distracted by a squirrel on the road. The vehicle was heavily damaged and the driver was transported by Westwood Fire paramedics to Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital – Needham for possible minor injuries. Police issued a citation to the driver for negligent operation and a marked lanes violation.

Burglary with Breaking and Entering

10:11 p.m. Police responded to a residence on Forbes Road where the resident(s) had left the home one day earlier for an overnight visit and returned home to find a second story window broken into and a portion of the home ransacked. It appears that cash of about $1,000 had been taken in the breaking and entering.

Suspicious Gathering at School

10:50 p.m. A caller informed police of suspicious activity where a car was parked on the basketball court of Sheehan School and kids were observed walking around. While police were speaking to the caller, the caller reported that the car had left the scene.

Saturday, April 15th

Two-Vehicle Accident at CVS

5:32 p.m. On Washington Street, at the entrance to the CVS store, a woman from Walpole was driving a 2017 Dodge in the northbound lane and was turning left across two southbound lanes of traffic when a 2014 Toyota in the southbound lane struck the Dodge. The driver of the Toyota, a man from Dedham, complained of chest pain and was driven by Westwood Fire paramedics to Newton Wellesley Hospital. Police issued a citation to the Walpole woman for failing to yield. Both vehicles were towed.

Friday, April 14th

Unauthorized $10,000 Withdrawal

11:47 a.m. A resident of Oak Street reported that after having discovered an unauthorized withdrawal of $10,000 from a bank account in November 2022, the resident recently received multiple pieces of mail and email regarding the possible opening of bank accounts which the resident had not opened. One open account was an overdraft of a Chase Bank account in the amount of $9,500. The bank agreed that the resident was not the person responsible for the amount and advised the resident to contact police.

Unemployment Benefits Fraud

3:04 p.m. A resident of Birch Tree Drive notified police of an attempt to file for unemployment benefits using the resident’s personal information. The resident made a report of the fraudulent claim to the Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance (DUA) and notified credit bureaus. A check of the residents’ bank accounts found no suspicious activity.

Arrest after Altercation on High Street

5:32 p.m. Police responded to a call of a disturbance on High Street, where police found two adult females outside their vehicle, involved in an altercation on the side of the road. One of the women was placed under arrest for operating a motor vehicle under the influence of liquor and other charges.

Animal Call

9:04 p.m. Police were notified of a deceased black and white cat in the roadway near Church and Bonney streets. A message was relayed to the Department of Public Works to clear the road.

Wednesday, April 12th

Unemployment Benefits Fraud II

9:58 a.m. A resident of Briarwood Drive reported being the victim of unemployment fraud after the resident received notice of being enrolled for unemployment benefits. The resident had not applied for benefits. Police instructed the resident to contact the DUA to make a fraud claim and to block benefits from being disbursed.

Unexplained Broken Glass

10:00 a.m. Police responded to a residence on High Street where a bay window in a dining room had been almost completely shattered, with most of the broken glass falling inside the home. The resident had been away for about three days, leaving the house vacant. There was no object nearby that could be determined to be the cause of the broken glass, and the resident did not provide any evidence of vandalism or malicious motivations of others. The reporting officer noted that high winds and large temperature changes had occurred around the time of the window break.

Disturbing Voicemail

10:29 a.m. An employee of a company in the Southwest Park business area informed police of a disturbing voicemail in which the caller communicated being impressed and appreciative of the efforts of the employee to prevent mass shootings. The caller was identified as being from Clinton, Pennsylvania, and police contacted him. Police learned that the caller had mistakenly reached the employee when the caller meant to contact a psychologist but the same name who is known for studies on mass shooters. The caller explained that he had obtained the phone number of the Westwood business by a Google search of the psychologist’s name. Police explained the circumstances to the complainant.

Unemployment Benefits Fraud III

1:36 p.m. An employee of the Town of Westwood reported to police that he had been notified of a claim for unemployment benefits being made in his name. The town advised the employee to report the fraud at DUA’s online portal.

Tuesday, April 11th

Unemployment Benefits Fraud IV

1:13 p.m. A resident of Alder Road complained of unemployment fraud where payments had been made to a third party whom the resident did not know. DUA had notified the resident of benefits in the amount to be paid of around $1,015 per week.

Fraudulently Opened Bank Account

2:11 p.m. A resident of University Avenue told police that someone had used the resident’s personal information to fraudulently open an account with Bank of America. The bank had contacted the resident who informed the bank of the fraud. The complainant has not suffered any monetary loss.

Violation of Restraining Order

7:36 p.m. An employee of a Westwood business reported a violation of a restraining order. A warrant was obtained and served the following day when the violator was, by coincidence, at the district court.

Monday, April 10th

Unlicensed Operation and Lights Violation

7:44 p.m. An officer conducting traffic enforcement at Washington Street and Alcott Street observed a vehicle which had no lights illuminated, even though it was dark outside. The officer initiated a traffic stop and learned that the driver, a 40 year-old man from Norwood, did not have a license and did not own the vehicle. The officer issued the driver a criminal citation for unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle and a lights violation. The vehicle was parked in the parking lot of St. Dennis Church and a family friend provided transportation for the driver.

Thanks to Lieutenant Christopher Sheehy and the Westwood Police Department for contributing information for this article.