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8-22-2023 12:00am
Police Log: SUV Crash and Rollover, Check Fraud Related to LinkedIn Account, Strange Knocking
Darlene Cancell
Editor
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.
Sunday, August 20th
Fraud Related to Resident’s LinkedIn Account
2:32 p.m. A resident of Strasser Avenue reported check fraud related to his LinkedIn account. The resident reported that after receiving a job offer from a company called, “Blue Sky Scientific,” the alleged employer electronically sent him a check for $5,000 for office supplies to be used for the job.
On Friday, August 18, the resident used Google Pay to transfer $5,000 to the company in exchange for being considered for an upper management job.
The resident received a second electronic check from the company, this one in the amount of $7,000. He deposited it, and returned $1,000 and $3,000 to the company via PayPal and Zelle, respectively.
However, with time, the resident became suspicious. He contacted his bank and learned that the two deposited checks from the company had not cleared. The bank has opened a fraud case and the resident anticipates that his funds will be reimbursed.
7:08 p.m. An in-home health aide on Whitewood Road reported that at 5:15 p.m. that evening, someone in a silver Toyota pulled into the home’s driveway, dropped something out the window, and drove away. Upon investigating, the dropped object appeared to be automobile glass. The glass was broken in pieces. The aide will be discussing increased security measures with the home’s owner and will call police if any further incidents occur.
Saturday, August 19th
SUV Crashes, Rolls Over on Washington Street
2:30 a.m. Police received a report of a crash on Washington Street with a person trapped inside a vehicle. The responding officer saw a 2019 Toyota Rav4 in the middle of the road, perpendicular to traffic flow, with its airbag deployed and left rear wheel almost detached. A Toyota van appeared partially pushed up a sidewalk. The officer interpreted the scene to mean that the Rav4 had rolled over and righted itself after a collision with the van, the latter which was parked along Washington Street. The van exhibited heavy damage to the left rear and left side.
The police report did not indicate injuries, but noted that the driver of the Rav4, a woman from Norwood, appeared unable to answer any questions. She was transported to Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital in Boston. Police issued her a citation for negligently operating a motor vehicle and a marked lanes violation.
Suspected Shoplifter Provides Differing Explanations for Bypassing Cash Registers
1:47 p.m. Police responded to Wegmans on the report of a shoplifting in progress. The suspect was stopped at a side door by an employee.
Loss prevention staff told police that the woman had bypassed all cash registers on her way to the door. The suspect, a woman from Bedford, told police that she had forgotten her card and would leave the cart of merchandise in the store and return to pay. She was allowed to leave. She did not return.
The police report also indicates that the suspect told another person that she was an Instacart shopper, and was waiting for her ride by the door – a different story than what she told police. The store intends to send the woman a notice of trespass.
Stranger Repeatedly Knocks on Door
8:53 p.m. A resident of Dela Park Road reported a stranger had repeatedly knocked on the home's door on August 14 or August 15 and again on August 19. The person was described as a white or Hispanic male, 5’10”, with slim build, baseball cap, who was driving a gold or silver sedan. Police have advised the resident to keep the door locked and to call 911 if the man appears again.
Lieutenant Sheehy advises that people should promptly report suspicious activity immediately, and do not delay calling police.
Friday, August 18th
Unusual Behavior
12:01 p.m. An officer took a complaint from a Canton resident who noted that on August 17, his wife had a disturbing interaction with a driver. The man recounted that as his wife was backing out of her parking spot in front of the Target store, a female in another vehicle blocked her. The other woman yelled and accused his wife of following her.
The Canton resident noted that his wife did not know the shouting woman, and had only been shopping at Target. The complainant provided a license plate number to police, which police discovered belongs to a woman residing in Dover. The Canton man requested that a record be made of the interaction.
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Thursday, August 17th
Eager Employee?
4:57 a.m. At Prime Acura on Providence Highway, police responded to a monitoring company’s report of a minivan on the property and theft of tires.
Police encountered an individual who claimed to be an employee moving tires from the property to the Audi Westwood building. The two car dealerships are located a few minute’s walk away from each other.
Police contacted a senior official of Prime Acura. He told police that no employee should be on the property at that time. However, he confirmed the existence of an employee by the same name as the individual to whom police had spoken. The official indicated that he would personally handle the incident with the employee in the morning.
Wednesday, August 16th
Target Tales of Shoplifting
2:03 p.m. A police officer responded to the Target Store at University Station to take three separate reports of past shopliftings by different suspects.
On July 19, 2023, a female suspect described as 5’5” tall, 130 pounds, and in her late 20s to early 30s, with tattoos on both arms, was observed leaving Target from its self-checkout, without scanning all items in her cart. A member of Target’s loss prevention staff spoke with the woman who claimed to have paid for all items. The total of unpaid items, which were toiletries and housewares, was believed to be $77.67. Store staff provided the woman’s name, photos, and credit information to police.
Target staff also observed a man walk out the store door with about $96 of unpaid merchandise in his cart on July 22, 2023. He is described as being in his late 20s to early 30s, 5’9” and 190 pounds, wearing a medical mask and sunglasses. He was also observed exiting the store with a cart of unpaid merchandise worth $146.76 in the afternoon of August 5, 2023. Items taken were housewares, cleaning supplies, diapers and toys.
Additionally, upon reviewing store video, Target staff observed two shoplifting suspects on October 22, 2022 go to the self-check cashier lane, and fail to scan multiple items totaling about $169 in value. The suspects were described as a man, 5’10”, with braided hair and a limp and a woman in her 20s, 5’5”, with long hair. Also on video, staff observed the same couple in February 2023, when they walked out of the store with over $1,000 worth of unpaid items. On August 2, 2023, the same two suspects were seen at the self-checkout with two children around 10 years of age. The couple reportedly did not scan any items in their cart, worth about $154. After exiting, the man was seen entering a blue Toyota Highlander. Police have obtained a license plate number.
The suspects appear to have stolen about $1,500 of merchandise in the three instances. Items stolen include dog food, a flat screen television, toiletries, toys, batteries, and clothing.
Shoplifting Suspect Belatedly Pays for Items
3:47 p.m. At Wegmans, two officers met with loss prevention staff who informed the officers that a woman had left the store with unpaid merchandise. When security staff confronted her in the parking lot, she became verbally aggressive, but did agree to return to the store where she provided identification as a resident of Brockton.
The woman asserted that she had meant to pay. When asked to sign a trespass notice, she informed those present that she felt coerced.
The woman paid for the amount owed on the merchandise, which totaled about $173. She was prohibited from returning to the store for two years. She was escorted out of the store.
Monday, August 14th
Bang in the Night
2:50 a.m. A resident of High Street called to report the security light on an outdoor shed activating in conjunction with the sound of a bang. The family dog also became on alert. Police responded to check the property and found nothing amiss.
Loud Music Complaint
12:04 a.m. Police responded to Pond Street where a caller complained of loud music being played in a parking lot. Police discovered a vehicle parked with a man from West Roxbury and a woman from Norwood. They were sent on their way.
Thanks to Lieutenant Christopher Sheehy and Westwood Police for contributing information for this article.
