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Image by Westwood Minute/Darlene Wong Cancell.
3-11-2024 10:58pm
Police Log: Head-On Collision and Car Accident with Injuries on Hartford and Summer Streets; Locker Room Thefts
Darlene Cancell
Editor
The news described in Westwood Minute's weekly Police Log article series is primarily based on selected incidents from the Westwood Police Department's daily log and information provided by Lieutenant Christopher Sheehy and police staff, through written records and conversations. Occasionally, Westwood Minute may weave a few facts from other sources into these stories.
Sunday, March 10th
Suspicious Camera Placed in Bushes
10:22 a.m. An officer conducting a property check at 100 Lowder Brook Drive saw a game camera mounted low in the bushes, facing the property’s rear parking lot. The camera was retrieved and returned to the station for safe keeping.
Saturday, March 9th
Head-On Collision with Injuries on Hartford Street
5:29 p.m. A woman from Somerville was transported to the hospital after her 2022 Hyundai was struck in a head-on collision on Hartford Street. The Hyundai was traveling west on Hartford Street when a 2011 Toyota in the opposite direction, driven by a woman from Medfield, crossed over the double yellow line into the westbound lane. The vehicles had a head-on collision, and the Hyundai rotated backward and went off the road. The Toyota veered back into the eastbound lane, then went over the right curb of that lane.
Both vehicles suffered major damage and had to be towed. The driver of the Hyundai complained of injuries.
The driver of the Toyota explained to police that she had dropped her phone, and while reaching down to retrieve it, her vehicle had inadvertently drifted into the opposite lane. Police issued her a citation for a marked lanes violation and impeded operation.
Friday, March 8th
Vandalism at Car Dealership
11:28 a.m. An officer responded to Ira Acura Westwood on Providence Highway on the report of apparent vandalism where a 2021 Acura TLX owned by the business was discovered with a shattered sunroof. Broken glass and water from recent rain was found inside the cabin, but nothing was found inside the vehicle which could have broken the glass.
Small Fire on East Street
1:07 p.m. A small fire was reported on East Street, when smoke was observed rising on the shingles of a roof. The shingles were described as contacting an exhaust pipe that was connected to a waste oil burner.
The fire progressed to the wall of a garage. Six fire units responded, including Westwood Fire Department, two Dedham Fire units which assisted at the scene, and a Norwood engine that provided station coverage.
Within half an hour, the fire was extinguished. It had been contained to within the walls. No injuries were reported.
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Youth Climb to Roof of Elementary School
3:56 p.m. An officer responded to Deerfield School on the report of youth on the roof of the building. Upon arriving, an officer found two boys, ages 12 and 13, on the school’s roof. They had propped a bench up against the building to gain access. The officer instructed the boys to climb down and remove the bench, and contacted their parents. The mothers of the boys took them home.
Pine Lane Home Ransacked, Robbed
5:34 p.m. A family on Pine Lane reported that their home had been broken into after spending most of the day out of the house. Police responded and searched the house, finding no one inside.
The interior of the home had been searched and “ransacked.” A large amount of jewelry and cash had been stolen, along with what was described as professional grade camera equipment.
A window is thought to have provided access to the thief or thieves. It was believed to be closed when the residents left the house, but it was found open upon their return.
The scene was processed by a state police crime scene services trooper and a Westwood Police detective.
Thursday, March 7th
Suspicious Vehicle on Skyline Drive
4:44 a.m. Police received a caller reporting that a suspicious vehicle was going up and down Skyline Drive for about 10 minutes, before stopping in a home’s driveway. When lights turned on at that house, the vehicle left. Police checked the area but did not find anyone about.
Identity Theft to Secure a Fraudulent Tax Return
11:56 a.m. A resident of Whitney Avenue notified police of an instance of identity theft. The resident received noticed by the Internal Revenue Service on February 22nd that a tax return had been filed in his name. The requested return was for the amount of $1,915. The resident had not yet filed taxes and flagged the transaction as fraudulent.
Fraudulent Check
11:57 a.m. A resident of Mill Street who owns a company in Stoughton told police that an unknown person had cashed one of his company checks on February 22nd in the amount of $4,054.63 at a “Purchex of New York,” located in West Henrietta, New York. The resident requested that Westwood Police investigate.
Items Stolen from Life Time Fitness Women’s Locker Room
12:29 p.m. Police spoke with a Walpole resident regarding larceny from a gym lock at Life Time Fitness on Harvard Street. The resident arrived at the gym around 9:15 a.m., and placed her purse, gym bag, and coat in a locker in the women’s locker room.
About 2.5 hours later, she went to check her locker, and found nothing amiss. She then went to the changing room and back to the gym.
When getting ready to leave the gym, she noticed that her locker was open. Her purse was also open, and missing from her purse were an Apple credit card and American Express card. The Walpole resident cancelled her credit cards. She is unaware of any financial loss so far.
Locker Room Thief Steals Gym Member’s Belongings, Worth over $4,000
12:46 p.m. Police took a report from a Milton resident regarding theft of her belongings from a locker at Life Time Fitness. The complainant arrived at the gym around 10:50 a.m., and placed her hat, coat, and pocketbook inside the locker.
At 12:20 p.m., the Milton resident noticed her $2,000 Gucci pocketbook containing credit cards, identification, keys, and personal documents, were missing. Also missing were $60 cash, a $500 Louis Vuitton makeup bag, Gucci coin purse worth $250, earbuds worth $75, an iPhone valued at $1,200, along with a set of keys. The total value of items stolen was estimated to be over $4,000.
Following this report, the Milton resident also told police that someone had unsuccessfully attempted to make purchases using her credit card(s) at a Walmart in Quincy and a Best Buy.
Wednesday, March 6th
Three People Injured in Car Accident
11:46 a.m. A 2023 Jeep, driven by a resident of Walpole, turned from Longmeadow Drive into the path of a 2017 Ford that was traveling on Summer Street and driven by a woman from Framingham. Both drivers and a passenger riding in the Ford were transported to Beth Israel Deaconess Needham for injuries. Police issued a citation to the Walpole resident for failure to yield when turning.
Personal Belongings Stolen from Life Time Fitness Locker
3:02 p.m. Police took a report from a Medfield resident regarding theft of valuables from the women’s locker room at Life Time Fitness. The resident had arrived at the gym around 7:30 p.m. on the previous evening and locked her belongings in a locker. When she returned around 10:00 p.m., her locker door was closed, but unlocked. Missing from her locker were a black Calvin Klein jacket, a Honda key fob and black Lululemon lanyard, totaling about $340 in missing items.
Possible Mailbox Fishing?
6:20 p.m. A resident of Sterling Road reported fraud when $1,100 was withdrawn from the resident’s Citizens bank account on March 1st, in a transaction which the resident says was not authorized by him. The resident was expecting a new credit card in the mail but never received it. The card was placed in the mail on February 27th.
Thanks to Lieutenant Christopher Sheehy and the Westwood Police Department for contributing information for this Westwood Minute article.
