Police Log: 4 Arrests, Community Members Suspicious of Uber Drivers, and More Stories

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, July 3rd

Recovering a Stolen Motor Vehicle

8:20 a.m. Foxhill Village security staff contacted police about a black, Mazda sedan which had been parked in the parking lot for three weeks. After checking its license plate, police discovered that the vehicle had been stolen from Boston on June 15th. There appeared to be no damage to the vehicle. Westwood Police notified Boston Police, and the town’s contract towing company removed the vehicle.

Shoplifting Suspect Flees, Drives on Road in Wrong Direction

7:02 p.m. Police responded to Wegmans regarding a shoplifting. Store security informed police that the suspect - a female in a black shirt and black pants – was seen concealing store merchandise on her person.

An employee followed the woman out of the store, and the suspect ran to a grey, Nissan Rogue. She was observed exiting the University Station shopping center in the vehicle, taking a left turn onto University Avenue toward Route 128, but traveling on the wrong side of the road.

Store staff provided a photo of the suspect’s license plate to police, who found the vehicle’s owner. Wegmans staff was able to positively identify the vehicle owner as the suspected shoplifter. She will receive a summons in the mail.

Tuesday, July 4th

Mutual Aid Assistance at Independence Day Parade

7:03 a.m. A Westwood Police detective sergeant responded to a request by Plymouth Police to work on a plainclothes assignment for a Fourth of July parade. The parade proceeded without incident.

Suspicious Driver is Just Napping

7:48 a.m. Staff of a condominium apartment complex on University Avenue reported that a man was asleep in a Mitsubishi that was blocking the driveway to the condo. While police were en route, a honking horn awakened the man, who drove away. Police later located him in the parking area of Not Your Average Joe’s restaurant. Police discovered he was an Uber driver who had parked to take a nap.

Wednesday, July 5th

Arrest of Woman Wanted by Westwood Police

5:07 p.m. An officer was conducting stationary traffic enforcement on University Avenue and discovered that a passing pickup truck had a blank license status. The officer stopped the vehicle. The female driver offered a driver’s license from Ireland.

The vehicle was registered to someone other than the driver, a “Margaret O’Reilly.” The passenger in the vehicle was also named Margaret O’Reilly, but she claimed that the vehicle belonged to her mother.

Knowing that a suspect named Margaret O’Reilly was wanted by Westwood Police for a previous offense in Westwood (which the police log did not specify), the officer summoned a second officer who had been involved in in the previous incident.

The second officer confirmed that the passenger in the vehicle was the same Margaret O’Reilly who had an active warrant for her arrest. Ms. O’Reilly, who has two different residential addresses on University Avenue in Westwood, was taken into custody and bail was set at $1,000.

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Theft from Church Donation Bin I

11:31 p.m. A staff member of First Baptist Church of Westwood reported seeing on video surveillance a suspicious vehicle by the church’s donation bin. It resembled a vehicle believed to be involved in a theft from the bin on an earlier date.

Three police officers responded to the church parking lot on High Street. They found a man standing beside a blue Chrysler. There were bags of clothing in inside the man’s van and on the ground, beside the van.

Inside the donation bin, under donated bags of items, Police discovered a second person. The man was the same individual whom Westwood Police had arrested about 9 months ago for theft from the same donation bin. He had three active warrants for his arrest from Dedham District Court and Brockton District Court.

Westwood Police placed both men under arrest and charged them with breaking and entering of a depository with intent to commit a felony in the nighttime.

For more details on this story, read Westwood Minute's article: 3 Arrested in Separate Thefts from Same Church Donation Bin, Over Span of 2 Hours

Thursday, July 6th

Theft from Donation Bin II

1:19 a.m. One of the officers who responded to the report of theft from the First Baptist Church of Westwood donation bin on Wednesday, July 5th, also responded to a second report of the same nature the following morning.

In the church parking lot, the officer found a black, Acura SUV parked next to the church donation bin. The woman admitted to police that she had entered and removed donations from the donation bin several days earlier.

The officer placed her under arrest. The 44 year-old Norton resident was charged with breaking into a repository and larceny.

For more details on this story, read Westwood Minute's article: 3 Arrested in Separate Thefts from Same Church Donation Bin, Over Span of 2 Hours

Friday, July 7th

Lost Dog is Found

9:12 a.m. A resident of Washington Street discovered a husky in the resident’s yard without a tag. Approximately 40 minutes later, another resident contacted police to report a missing husky. The owner and his dog were reunited.

Wallet Stolen at Self-Checkout Counter

4:12 p.m. A Sharon resident reported that her wallet had been stolen after she had been shopping at Five Below at University Station. She had placed her wallet in the self-checkout register while loading her purchases. She left the store without her wallet. She returned when she remembered her wallet, but it was no longer there.

A store employee reviewed security video with the resident. They saw an unknown man walk to the register, take the wallet, and exit. The wallet contained identification, personal papers, a credit card, and at least $60 cash. Police are investigating.

Sunday, July 9th

Early Arriving Uber Driver Appears Suspicious

5:02 a.m. A resident of Cobleigh Street reported that a dark Jeep had been parked in front of the resident’s home for a while. Police responded and found a man inside the vehicle. He was a Medford resident and Uber driver who was waiting for his 6:00 am. pickup of a passenger on an adjacent street. The driver agreed to park and wait at the St. Denis church parking lot until his scheduled pickup.

Wallet Stolen from Parked Car

12:55 p.m. A woman from Needham reported having her wallet stolen from the front passenger seat of her car while she was shopping for one hour inside Wegmans. After shopping, she returned to her car and found the door handle of the passenger door had been pried off. The stolen Louis Vuitton wallet had at least two credit cards inside it. Police are investigating.

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

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