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12-12-2023 11:43pm
Police Log: Dover Shoplifting Suspect Provides False ID, Woman Wanders in East Street Traffic
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, December 10th
Suspicious Stranger at the Door
8:09 a.m. An officer spoke to a resident of Highland Glen Apartments who reported an unsettling encounter with a stranger. She was returning to her apartment after taking trash to the communal dumpster, and a man opened her door and took a step inside. The resident had never seen him before and yelled at him to get out. The man responded by asking her if he could pose a question. The resident shouted no.
The man left, after first loading some bags into a grey SUV with license plate containing “99” on it. He is described as a white man in his 60s with dirty blonde hair, about 5’8” in height, and wearing blue jeans, hoodie, vest, and red ballcap.
Passenger Injured in Head-On Collision
6:48 p.m. A Milton resident was transported to Beth Israel Deaconess - Milton after a Ford driven by a man from Westwood crashed into the 2019 Kia in which the woman was a passenger. The Ford was exiting the ramp from Interstate 95 Southbound to University Avenue.
The Ford made a left hand turn at the intersection of University Avenue and Blue Hill Drive. As it did so, it turned into the path of the oncoming Kia. The collision was mostly head-on.
Police issued the Westwood driver a written warning for failing to yield at an intersection.
Friday, December 8th
Vandalism in School Restroom
8:01 a.m. Westwood’s school resource officer responded to Thurston Middle School to take a report of graffiti. It was found on a wall above a dropped ceiling in a boys restroom. It is described as containing a sexual aspect, a racial slur, and a reference to a “goon squad.” The reporting staff member told police that the graffiti is likely at least two years old. The graffiti has been removed.
Resident Loses Over $1,000 in Scam Involving a Facebook "Friend"
3:08 p.m. A resident of High Street reported a scam involving a Facebook contact. The resident was in communication with someone who appeared to be a high school acquaintance. The alleged high school contact informed the resident of a $150,000 government grant, and facilitated the resident’s contact with someone identified as “Agent Donald Benson” who could help obtain the grant.
“Agent Donald Benson” informed the resident that Apple gift cards would be needed to pay for taxes on the grant. The resident purchased a $200 gift card and sent the card information via photograph to the agent. “Agent Donald Benson” then made additional requests for additional gift cards in the separate amounts of $700, $350, and $500 to cover taxes. The resident provided those gift cards.
Another person identified as “Agent Robert Jackson,” attempted to make similar requests, multiple times. The resident refused.
An examination of the Facebook accounts for the two “agents” led police to the determine that they were not legitimate. Police advised that the resident block those accounts and refrain from sending gift cards to strangers. She was also advised to change her social media passwords and monitor her bank accounts.
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Resident Assists Woman in Distress
11:31 p.m. A resident of High Street reported suspicious activity late at night. Around 11:00 p.m., he heard his front door open. Upon calling out to see who was there, a woman answered. He found a woman in his vestibule, who appeared in distress. He described her as crying, complaining about being cold, and having trouble with her vehicle, which was parked across the street. He invited her inside and called an Uber to transport her to her home in Walpole.
Westwood Police contacted Walpole Police to request a well-being check on the woman. Walpole Police did so, and informed Westwood Police that the woman was found in good health.
Arrangements were made for the woman to pick up her car keys. She had left them at the Westwood residence.
Thursday, December 7th
Following Up on an FBI Tip
5:57 p.m. The Boston field office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) notified Westwood Police that the FBI’s Washington headquarters had received an email regarding a potential domestic violence situation in a Westwood residence. Westwood Police responded to the residence and found all parties safe and no ongoing issue. The email is thought to be related to a mental health situation.
Wednesday, December 6th
Impersonating a Ticketmaster Return Site
2:00 p.m. A resident of Downey Street informed police of a suspicious transaction when attempting to cancel tickets purchased for an event on Ticketmaster. The resident found a contact number online for ticket returns, and spoke to a man who identified himself as “Kevin.” According to “Kevin,” the resident’s Ticketmaster purchase could be refunded with the purchase of a $100 Ticket gift card, the cost which would be included in the ticket refund.
When the resident was unable to complete the transaction, “Kevin” asked that she purchase a $100 Apple gift card instead. The resident did so, and provided the card number and security code to Kevin.
Upon contacting Ticketmaster sometime later, the resident discovered that the first number, at which the resident spoke to "Kevin" about a refund, was not legitimate. However, Ticketmaster was able to provide a refund on her tickets.
Police called “Kevin,” but the call was disconnected.
Four Officers Respond to Double-Stabbing in Dedham
6:04 p.m. Westwood Police provided mutual aid assistance to Dedham Police Department which was responding to a double-stabbing. Four Westwood Police officers responded, but no further details are being provided by Westwood Police at this time, due to the ongoing investigation.
Tuesday, December 5th
Tools Stolen from Commercial Vehicles on Providence Highway
9:17 a.m. A Westwood Police officer responded to Dunkin’ on Providence Highway on the report of a larceny. An employee of Dunkin’s maintenance shop told the officer that tools worth about $1,150 were missing from two company vehicles: a DeWalt impact driver, drills, and other tools.
Security video from around 1:30 p.m. on the previous day showed a person in dark clothing, walking in the rear of the property near the vehicles. The video showed the individual walking back, carrying multiple items, before walking out of range of the camera.
Arrest on a Felony Warrant
12:37 p.m. An officer conducting stationary traffic enforcement queried a license plate on a passing vehicle and discovered it belonged to a man with an active felony warrant from Stoughton District Court. The officer made the stop. The driver was taken into custody and transported to Dedham District Court less than an hour later, for arraignment on unspecified felony charge(s).
Dover Resident, Suspected of Shoplifting, Provides False Identification
3:01 p.m. An officer was dispatched to Wegmans where a woman was detained for suspected shoplifting. Loss prevention staff told police that the woman had filled a cart with groceries totaling just over $596, and had walked out the café side exit, without paying. Items taken included over $100 in prepared, self-serve food, and standard grocery items.
Although the woman initially provided false identification, after her arrest and booking at the police station, police found a wallet with her true identification. She also had claimed she did not have money to pay for groceries, but police found a bank statement in her possession that appeared to cast doubt on that statement.
The woman was a 20 year-old who resides in Dover. She was given a notice of trespass and charged with shoplifting.
Wrong Address
3:07 p.m. A resident of Grafton Avenue called police after watching security camera footage of a man attempting to open the front and rear door of the resident’s home around 2:00 p.m.
Police arrived and found the doors secure and no observable tampering outside the house. A review of the resident’s security video showed a heavyset man with blue, knit cap, dark pants, grey sweats, and a beard.
Around 10:00 p.m. that evening, the resident contacted police with an update. The suspicious person was a neighbor’s substitute dog-walker who had arrived to his job at the wrong house.
Fragrance Theft at Ulta Beauty
4:48 p.m. An officer responded to Ulta Beauty on the report of a shoplifting in progress. An employee told the officer that three females wearing hoodies grabbed fragrances and left the store without paying. They are believed to have shoplifted from a number of Ulta Beauty stores in Westwood and other locations. The next day, an employee informed police that all merchandise was recovered, but the police report does not indicate how.
Suspicious Activity on Gay Street
6:34 p.m. A resident of Gay Street told police that she was alerted by her Ring door security application that a suspicious male was wandering around her property. She said he approached the front of the property, then turned and left.
The Ring security app had earlier indicated a suspicious male at another address on her street, prompting her to report her subsequent observation. An officer walked around the property with the resident. They did not notice anything disturbed or stolen.
Arrest of Norwood Resident for Motor Vehicle Offenses
7:49 p.m. A 28 year-old Norwood resident was arrested on an outstanding warrant from Dedham District Court for motor vehicle offenses, after an officer checked the registration on her passing vehicle. The officer found that the registration had been revoked for lack of insurance on October 20th and that there was a warrant for the owner’s arrest.
Monday, December 4th
Woman Wandering in Traffic around East Street
5:48 p.m. Police received a number of calls from people who observed a woman walking in and out of traffic around East Street and St. Denis Drive.
Police arrived at the area, and encountered the woman. She had a bloody scratch on her skin and showed signs of medical distress.
Upon being asked where she came from, the 37 year-old from Hyde Park answered, “The train,” and said she was going to the Apple store. She denied being under the influence.
Police transported her to the police station. Her husband was contacted, and he picked her up.
Thanks to Lieutenant Christopher Sheehy and the Westwood Police Department for contributing information for this article
