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Image by Westwood Minute/Darlene Wong Cancell.
6-25-2024 12:21am
Police Log: Fraudster Poses as Employer to Steal Job Applicant's Identity and Other Stories
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 that it obtains from other sources into these stories.
Sunday, June 23rd
Wallet Stolen from Purse While Shopping
10:08 a.m. A Mansfield woman reported having her wallet stolen from her purse while shopping at Wegmans grocery store on University Avenue on the prior day. She was shopping with her husband and placed her purse on the lower shelf of a small shopping cart. At checkout, she noticed her wallet was missing. Her husband attempted to pay with his credit card, but it was declined.
Later, the couple discovered that that the husband’s card had been frozen together with his wife's card, when their credit card companies noticed suspicious transactions on her card, because they shared the same account. There was an attempt to use the wife’s card at Dedham's CVS and L.L. Bean stores, along with other transactions that the credit card companies also declined as suspicious. There was a purchase at CVS in Dedham for $2,000 at 4:15 p.m. when the woman was still shopping at Wegmans.
The victim recalled being approached by a woman who attempted to make conversation with the Mansfield woman in the hot food section. The victim's wallet was missing soon after. The conversation may have been a deliberate and planned distraction.
Saturday, June 22nd
Diamond Ring Goes Missing
3:31 p.m. A Westwood resident reported that a family heirloom, a 1 carat diamond solitaire ring with gold band worth $2,000, was missing from a jewelry box. The ring typically was not worn, as it was not the owner’s size. It was last seen 2 or 3 months ago. The only strangers in the home are believed to have been members of a cleaning company. Police are investigating.
Friday, June 21st
Suspicious Shopper
2:51 p.m. A Sharon resident reported having her wallet stolen while shopping in the Marshalls store on University Avenue. She was in the kitchenware aisle around 2:30 p.m.-2:40 p.m. that same day, when she began to feel uneasy about a man who walked past. He was described as having thick hair, about 30-40 years old, wearing glasses and a blue shirt. The resident felt as if the man had taken something out of her purse, which she had placed in her shopping cart.
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During check-out, the woman discovered her wallet was missing. She has cancelled her credit cards, but is not sure whether any charges were made before they were cancelled.
Bicycle Stolen from Sheehan Field
3:57 p.m. A Westwood woman reported that her child’s bicycle was stolen from Sheehan Field. Her child had gone to Buckmaster Pond to fish, and left the bike on the field, unlocked. One hour later, the child discovered that the bike was not there. It is described as a Trek brand bicycle, black with silver lettering, valued at $1,000.
Shoplifting with a Stroller
4:30 p.m. Police took a report from an employee of Ulta Beauty on University Avenue regarding a shoplifting. A female, aged around 25-35 years old, reportedly entered the store with a stroller, and proceeded to conceal cosmetics before leaving the store without paying for them. The merchandise is estimated to be worth $576.
The employee believed the suspect is the same individual who shoplifted from the store in February, taking about $217 in merchandise. In the February incident, the suspect was believed to have ridden in a white, Nissan Rogue with Rhode Island license plate.
The Couple That Shoplifts Together. . .
4:59 p.m. Police received a report that two days prior, a male and female, aged around 25-35 years old, concealed $471 in merchandise. The store recovered about $27 of the merchandise. The suspects were seen leaving in a grey Audi Q7 with a Massachusetts license plate.
Two Drivers Transported to Hospital Following High Street Collision
8:43 p.m. Two drivers were transported to Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital in Needham with possible injuries following a car accident on High Street. A 2023 Nissan Rogue driven by a man from Roslindale was turning left onto High Street, heading east, when it was struck on the side by a 2016 Audi driven by a man from Westwood. The Nissan sustained major damage and the Audi received minor damage.
Thursday, June 20th
Quiet Time
6:21 a.m. Roofers who were working on a building on Clapboardtree Street were advised by police to cease activity until 7:00 a.m., in adherence with a town bylaw.
Wednesday, June 19th
Found Debit Card
11:36 a.m. A resident of Carroll Avenue found a debit card from Dedham Savings while walking on East Street. The resident turned it over to police, who reunited it with its owner, a Westwood resident.
Tuesday, June 18th
Crying, Hysterical Woman Receives Aid
2:13 a.m. Police responded to Courtyard Marriott on University Avenue after receiving a report of a female screaming and crying hysterically in the lobby. Officers encountered two individuals in their mid-twenties - a man from New Jersey and a woman from Canton.
The female informed police that she had consumed half of a bottle of tequila. She had been visiting the New Jersey man who was staying in the hotel, and when the drinks ran out, the couple went to the car to get more alcohol.
As the woman passed through the hotel lobby, she became hysterical. Westwood Fire paramedics responded. The female, who was intoxicated, was taken to Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital Needham for evaluation.
Fraudster Poses as Employer to Steal Job Applicant's Identity
11:24 a.m. A resident of Ellis Street reported a case of possible identity theft. She had posted information regarding her search for a job, and in response, was contacted by someone supposedly from a company in Colorado. The company purportedly made insulated cups and coolers.
After the resident provided her basic contact information to the person she believed to be a prospective employer, she participated in an interview with the company by text on Skype, which she found odd. When the job contact requested the resident provide her bank account information in order to make direct deposits, the resident cut off contact.
She contacted the company’s human resources personnel directly and learned that the job offer and hiring process in which she had participated was not legitimate. The resident is not aware of any monetary loss at this point in time. Police have advised her to put a watch or freeze on her credit cards and monitor her bank accounts.
Quick Theft of iPhones from Doorstep
3:45 p.m. A resident of Croft Regis Road informed police that immediately after receiving notice that two iPhone 15s had been delivered to the home, a neighbor texted the resident that an unknown person was observed removing a package from the resident’s front doorstep.
The neighbor snapped a photo of the culprit and provided the image to police. The neighbor told police that the suspect, a male with a grey hoodie, fled in a gold Toyota Camry that was parked across the street from the victim’s home.
The value of the two iPhones is estimated to be about $1800.
Trespassing
6:26 p.m. The desk clerk from Budget Inn on Providence Highway reported that a 54 year-old woman was in the motel lobby. She had already been trespassed from the premises. By the time police arrived, she had left.
Monday, June 17th
Gel Blasters Not Fun for Everyone
3:21 p.m. Police received a report that two juvenile males on bicycles who were shooting BB gun in the rear parking lot of the Wegmans grocery store on University Avenue. Police responded and learned the boys were using gel blasters, not BB guns. They were advised to stop the activity on private property.
Identity Theft to Open Credit Card
7:21 p.m. A resident of Hedgerow Lane reported identity fraud upon receiving notice from three banks that applications for credit had been denied. The resident had made no such credit applications. The resident notified credit reporting bureaus to freeze the resident’s credit. Police are creating a record of the incident.
