1-16-2024 10:46pm

Police Log: Stolen Credit Cards Missing from Wallets of Gymgoers

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, January 15th

Odd Time and Place for a Walk

12:17 a.m. The security company for Prime Porsche on Providence Highway reported observing four individuals walking through the car dealership parking lot. Police checked the area but did not locate the individuals.

Motorist Throws around Cash for Assistance

11:02 p.m. A caller reported driving by a small sedan on the side of Pond Street, and seeing a male standing nearby, who held up a $100 bill and threw it into the road as the caller drove by. An officer responded to the location and learned that the man’s vehicle was out of gas, and that he was attempting to flag down people for help. Police gave assistance to the 47 year-old from Marblehead.

Suspicious Man in Ski Mask

11:07 p.m. The desk attendant at the Courtyard Marriott on University Avenue called to report seeing a man wearing a ski mask enter the lobby and go into the public restroom. The attendant had earlier observed the man taking food from the guest café area, but believed the man was not a hotel guest. An officer searched but was unable to locate the individual who appeared to have left the building. The officer suggested that the attendant call police of the man returns.

Saturday, January 13th

Loud Argument in Early Morning Draws Complaints

3:00 a.m. Three officers responded to the Courtyard Marriott on University Avenue on the report of a disturbance caused by two guests who were loudly arguing in a hotel room. Staff informed police that numerous guests had complained about the disturbance. Police learned that the argument was between two individuals, and was regarding the life choices of one of them. The officers learned that the argument was only verbal, and no physical altercation had occurred. The incident was resolved with one party returning home to Worchester while the other remained at the hotel.

Credit Cards Missing from Wallet after Visit to Gym

11:44 a.m. A member of Life Time Fitness gym on Harvard Street told police that he discovered his credit cards were missing from his wallet, which he had placed in his gym bag. He had arrived at the gym around 9:00 a.m., and left around 10:45 a.m.

He later received an alert from his Jet Blue credit card that an attempt was made to purchase $1,500 worth of merchandise at the Apple store in South Shore Plaza. The transaction was denied.

Around the same time, Bank of America notified him that another charge of $1,500 was attempted at an unknown location. It was also denied. The Bank of America card was, however, successfully used for a $6 purchase at Nordstroms in South Shore Plaza.

The victim did not notice any other items missing. He cancelled his Jet Blue and Bank of America cards.

More Credit Cards Missing from Wallet after Visit to Gym

1:14 p.m. A Mansfield resident reported having his credit card stolen from a locker at Life Time Fitness. He had arrived at the gym around 6:50 a.m. that day, and left his wallet in the pocket of his pants which he stored in a locker.

Following an exercise class, around 10:11 a.m., he received an alert on his phone that informed him of fraud on his American Express and Citibank credit cards. He went to check on his cards in the locker and discovered that his American Express, Citibank, and a third credit card were missing from his wallet. There were four charges by an unknown person on his American Express card, made at the Apple store in Dedham. The amount charged was about $5,000 in total. Charges were attempted on the Citibank card but were denied.

Police advised the victim to contact credit reporting bureaus and his banks to alert them and to put his credit on hold.

Running with Razors

1:34 p.m. Security staff for Wegmans grocery store on University Avenue informed police that a man wearing an orange hat and green jacket had run out of the store with unpaid razors. He was seen running by Rockland Bank and crossing to the other side of University Avenue.

Wallet Stolen while Shopping

6:23 p.m. An officer responded to HomeGoods on University Avenue to take the report of a stolen wallet. A woman from Canton told police that she was shopping between 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and her wallet was taken from her purse. It contained about $100 in cash, a debit card, other cards, and personal papers. Police advised the woman to cancel her debit card and to monitor her credit cards with her banks and the credit reporting bureaus.

Friday, January 12th

Tampering with Electronic Speed Sign

11:10 a.m. A traffic officer was in the process of moving an electronic speed sign in the area of Evergreen Avenue and Oak Street, and discovered that someone had attempted to pry open a lock, to get to the cable which ties the unit to a pole. The cable and lock were repaired.

Cleaning Up, not Cleaning Out, a Bank

5:53 p.m. A caller reported suspicious activity upon seeing a woman sweeping the floor in the ATM booth of the Bank of America on High Street. The caller noted that the woman stopped as soon as the caller used the ATM, but resumed soon after. Police determined that the suspicious woman was a member of the bank's cleaning crew.

Thursday, January 11th

Speeding without a Driver’s License

10:05 a.m. An officer observed a Jeep Grand Cherokee travelling at an excessive speed on University Avenue. Radar showed it to be travelling at 52 m.p.h. in a 30 m.p.h. zone. Police made the traffic stop. The driver, a man from Taunton, told police he did not have a driver’s license to provide, but police were able to determine that his license had been suspended as of December 2023. He was given a criminal citation for operating a motor vehicle on a suspended license, having no license in his possession, and for speeding.

Advice: Just Leave Coyotes Alone

1:08 p.m. A resident of Endicott Street complained of a coyote entering the resident’s property and noted that it would become aggressive if approached.

Westwood’s animal control officer advised the resident that January to March is coyote mating season when the animals may be more frequently observed.

The resident inquired about trapping the coyote. The officer advised that to do so is illegal. As long as the animal is not injured, ill, or immediately aggressive there is no such action that can be taken.

The resident was advised to eliminate food sources in the yard, and that bright lights and loud noises can scare away coyotes. Additionally, it is best not to approach or engage them.

Urinating in Public

3:40 p.m. A resident of Phillips Brooks Road reported seeing a man publicly urinating by the side of the road, on Downey Street, near Phillips Brooks Road, along the fairway of the golf course. Another resident reporting seeing the man publicly urinating on a Sunday in December last year. Police gave the advice that residents should call police immediately when another such incident is observed.

Unwanted Attention

4:08 p.m. A dog walker complained about being filmed while she was walking her client’s dogs in the area of Laura Lane.

Tuesday, January 9th

Helping a Hawk's Recovery

3:11 p.m. Police received a report of an injured hawk on High Street, near Churchill Road. Police recovered the hawk, placing it in a large animal crate. Westwood’s animal control officer advised that the crate should be left outside with the door open, to allow the hawk to fly away if it recovers. A few hours later, Dispatch advised that the hawk had indeed flown away.

Monday, January 8th

Unknown Person Attempts 100 Purchases on Victim’s Credit Card

2:22 p.m. An officer was dispatched to Wegmans grocery store on University Avenue to take a report from a Canton resident who told police that someone had attempted charges on her credit card. She noted that around 5:00 p.m. the previous day, she had purchased groceries with her credit card. Later, she received a call from PayPal regarding three unusual charges. She contacted the bank issuing the credit card and discovered around 100 purchases had been made by someone else using her card. All suspicious charges had been placed on hold, and no money was lost. The complainant is unsure how someone obtained her credit card information as her card is still in her possession.

Rabbit Blamed for Engine Damage

3:58 p.m. A caller at Lambert’s Plaza on Providence Highway called police regarding a rabbit which was said to have chewed a line inside a car engine, causing fluid to leak. The rabbit was thought to be inside the engine compartment, possibly injured.

An employee of The Dog House at the plaza reportedly looked in the engine and pushed the rabbit out. The rabbit ran away, appearing uninjured.

Westwood’s animal control officer noted that animals frequently seek shelter in warm engine compartments. Banging on the car hood or sounding the car horn before starting the car can prevent them from being injured.

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