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11-15-2023 12:48am
Police Log: SUV Rolls Backward, Injuring Woman; Fraudster Poses as Westwood Resident on Facebook Marketplace
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.
Monday, November 13th
SUV Rolls Backward, Injuring Woman
12:58 p.m. A woman from Westwood was injured outside an acquaintance’s home on Washington Street when her 2017 Nissan Rogue, which she was standing behind and preparing to transport groceries out of, rolled backward, knocking her to the ground. It then crashed into and damaged a wall on a residential property. The Westwood woman was taken to Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital in Boston by Westwood Fire paramedics.
Sighting of Camouflaged Man in Backyard
3:37 p.m. Police received a report from a homeowner on Arcadia Road, who observed a male wearing camouflage in the homeowner’s backyard. Police investigated and located the man. He was a resident of Canton and former Westwood resident who was bow hunting. Police advised him to stay off private property.
Sunday, November 12th
Please Lock Your Car Doors
3:27 p.m. A police officer responded to a home on Sunset Road, where the resident reported that two vehicles had been broken into, sometime between 6 p.m. on Saturday and 8:30 a.m. that morning. A Jeep Grand Cherokee and Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo both had been left unlocked overnight, and the resident discovered they had been rummaged through. Nothing was missing from one vehicle. A neon, yellow sweatshirt with the number, “3”, was missing from the other vehicle.
Lt. Sheehy would like to remind residents, “Please lock your cars when parked in your driveway or in front of your house.”
Friday, November 10th
Shoplifting Suspect Flees in Company Car
10:07 a.m. At Wegmans supermarket, police officers met with asset protection staff who informed police that a man in his mid-60s, approximately 5’8” and weighing around 240 lbs., with a balding head, and wearing a blue hoodie and jeans, had filled a cart with merchandise and exited out the side entrance without paying. Items taken included paper cups and plates, tableware, napkins, kitchen items, $107 worth of ribeye steaks and wagyu steaks. The total taken was $474.40.
When approached in the parking lot by store staff, the man left the cart behind, and fled in a black, Toyota pickup. A license plate was obtained.
Police identified the pickup as belonging to a construction company in Blackstone. Police contacted the company owner, who was cooperative in investigating who might be in possession of the vehicle. Additionally, Wegmans was able to provide photos of the suspect to police.
Suspicious Hunter
1:11 p.m. Police received a report of a white male in Lowell Woods on Sandy Valley Road, who had exited a black, Toyota Camry and reportedly went into the woods with hunting jacket, bow, and arrow. Police responded to the area but did not locate any such person or vehicle.
Wednesday, November 8th
Unemployment Benefits Fraud
12:51 p.m. A resident of High Street complained of identity theft. He told police that he was applying for unemployment benefits and discovered that two claims already had been fraudulently filed, unbeknownst to him. One claim was filed in 2020 and the other was filed in 2021. The resident informed the Department of Unemployment Assistance and has frozen his credit. Police further advised him to contact the Internal Revenue Service for a personal identification number for security in filing taxes.
Attempted Deposit of $17,000 Fraudulent Check
7:03 p.m. A resident of Wilsondale Street reported a case of fraud when the resident’s bank informed the resident of a suspicious check made out on his account for $17,000. The check was made out to the name of a man living in Hyde Park, whom the resident does not know. The resident also discovered that four checks were missing from the resident’s checkbook. This case is under investigation.
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Tuesday, November 7th
Just Waiting for a Ride
4:51 p.m. A resident of Partridge Drive reported that a suspicious person with dark hair, a sling bag, and wearing a vest was acting strange, sitting on the sidewalk, pacing, and walking on lawns. Police arrived to discover a juvenile from Norwood whose bike had a flat tire. He was waiting to be picked up by his mother. About 15 minutes later, the boy’s mother arrived and took him home.
Fraudster Poses as Westwood Resident on Facebook Marketplace
5:55 p.m. An officer arrived at a residence on Crystal Hill Terrace to speak to a former Westwood resident outside the home. The former resident explained that he was at the address, attempting to view a golf cart which he purchased on Facebook Marketplace a day earlier for $500. It was to be a present for his wife’s birthday.
He had paid using the application, Venmo. When the payment appeared not to be received, he sent $500 a second time. Now, in reviewing his account, he realized that both $500 payments were pending, potentially meaning $1,000 out of pocket for the former resident.
The buyer attempted to contact the seller, but received no reply. At the Westwood residence where the seller allegedly lived and/or was storing the golf cart, a “for sale” sign could be seen.
The police officer contacted the realtor and owner of the home and confirmed that the person selling the golf cart does not live at the address. Police advised the buyer to contact Venmo and his bank to attempt to block the transfer of the $1,000.
Monday, November 6th
Swapping Price Tags
2:11 p.m. At Frugal Fannie’s Fashion Warehouse on Wilson Way, a manager reported a case of a customer swapping price tags. The manager informed police that after a customer made several purchases on October 5th, she came back to make returns. However, the tags on her items to be returned were different than their tags when sold. It appears that the customer had replaced the original tags with higher value tags, resulting in a difference of $394. At the time, her returns successfully were processed.
An officer reached out to the suspect. She then contacted Frugal Fannie’s to have a conversation that may include restitution.
Identity Theft, Four Times
3:36 p.m. A resident of Wells Avenue told police that in June, an unknown person attempted to apply for a car loan at a local dealership in Norwood, using the resident’s identity. The dealership informed the resident, who cancelled the transaction.
In July, the state’s Department of Unemployment Assistance informed the resident that an unemployment assistance claim had been filed using his personal information. The resident is employed full-time and cancelled the transaction.
The resident also received a notice from Goldman Sachs that a savings account had been opened in his name. There were no funds in it. The resident closed the account.
Police additionally learned that an unfamiliar phone number associated with two of the fraud attempts are listed to a T-Mobile customer. Police continue to investigate.
Importance of Following Directions
4:43 p.m. On School Street, a 2020 Jeep driven by a man from Westwood turned left into a commercial parking lot exit, against the “one way” direction signage. A 2013 Hyundai, driven by a man from Norwood was simultaneously exiting the driveway by turning right onto School Street. The two vehicles crashed, resulting in minor damage and no injuries. Police cited the driver of the Jeep for making a turn against the one way sign.
Shoplifting Suspect’s “Lost” Wallet is Found During Booking
5:22 p.m. Police were dispatched to Wegmans on the report of a shoplifting in progress. One officer met with asset protection staff, and together, they observed a woman placing items in reusable shopping bags in her cart. She then attempted to leave the store out of the side entrance, without paying.
A second officer stopped the woman, who had exited the store. The woman claimed to have forgotten her wallet and alleged she was planning to meet a friend outside who would pay for her cart. Items in the cart totaled $832 and consisted mainly of food. They included two tenderloin roasts worth $80 and $87, and ribeye steaks.
The woman, a 32 year-old from Dorchester, was charged with shoplifting and given a trespass notice. During booking at the police station, the woman’s wallet was located inside her purse. She was later released on personal recognizance.
Accidentally Stepping on Gas, Not Brake Pedal
7:18 p.m. A 2017 Ford driven by a juvenile from Norwood rear-ended a 2020 Acura driven by a woman from Westwood. The Acura had been stopped and waiting to make a left turn from Washington Street to Hillview Road when it was struck by the Ford. The air bag deployed in the Ford, which received major damage.
The young Norwood driver suffered a minor cut on his hand and was transported by his family to the hospital. The Westwood woman was transported to Beth Israel hospital by Westwood Fire paramedics.
The boy explained to police that he accidentally stepped on the gas pedal instead of the brake. He received a citation for following too closely.
Juvenile Shoplifting Suspect is Identified by His Parent's Vehicle
8:11 p.m. Police received a report from Wegmans supermarket that a juvenile shoplifter was refusing to provide identification to staff. Wegmans staff had observed the juvenile conceal and then walk out with two orders of sushi along with protein shakes, which together cost $60.
When confronted, the youth refused to be identified and refused to call someone to pick him up. Eventually, video assisted police and store staff in identifying the vehicle that dropped off the youth at the store. Police determined that the suspect was likely the vehicle owner’s 17 year-old son.
When the youth understood that police had drawn the connection, he relented and called his mother to pick him up. The situation was explained to his mother.
Wegmans issued the youth a notice of trespass, barring him from the store under he turns 18 years of age.
Thanks to Lieutenant Christopher Sheehy and the Westwood Police Department for contributing information for this article.
