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Image capture from Google Maps (red circle added). The area circled in red is the approximate area of a spate of motor-vehicle break-ins in Westwood that included two stolen vehicles.
8-05-2024 11:21pm
2 Vehicles Stolen, Multiple Cars Broken Into in Westwood and Dover
Darlene Cancell
Editor
On Friday, July 31, 2024, Westwood Police received reports of two stolen vehicles, a subset of at least ten reports related to motor vehicle break-ins, while Dover Police have alerted the public to “a rash” of motor vehicle break-ins that occurred in Dover over a similar time period, of around July 30th to July 31st.
It was Dover Police who, shortly after 6:00 a.m. on Friday, placed the first report to Westwood Police of vehicle break-ins affecting Westwood residents. Dover Police had recovered a stolen car and discovered that it belonged to a Westwood resident, said Westwood Police Lieutenant Christopher Sheehy. The Toyota Rav4 was found with its door open, and items scattered inside the vehicle.
The owner of the stolen vehicle, a resident of Orchard Circle in Westwood, provided police with home security video. Westwood Police say that a white, four-door sedan was seen driving on Orchard Circle, and four males in hooded sweatshirts were seen exiting the vehicle. Around 3:00 a.m., two males could be seen entering the unlocked Rav4.
On Friday, between 6:00 a.m. to just past 9:00 a.m., Westwood Police continued to receive reports of additional vehicle break-ins, totaling at least ten related reports.
At 7:25 a.m. on Friday, Westwood Police took a report of a stolen 2017 Mercedes E300 from Rock Meadow Road. It had been unlocked with its keys stored inside the vehicle in a hidden location.
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In another report from Rock Meadow Road, a car was broken into and searched, but nothing was reported missing.
Also on Rock Meadow Road and Old Stone Road, Westwood Police were alerted to two bags found – one containing Westwood High School athletic gear and the other was a diaper bag. They may have been left and discarded by the suspects, possibly after having been grabbed from inside other vehicles that had been searched.
Additional break-ins were reported on Old Stone Road. While nothing appears to have been taken in one case, in another case, thieves entered a Kia Telluride through an unlocked door. The car key had been left inside the car. A Prada sling bag and Yves Saint Laurent wallet were taken from inside the vehicle, along with three credit cards. Credit card purchases on the card(s) were attempted at Best Buy for $579 and Target in Woburn for $400. Neither transaction was successful, and that resident has been advised to cancel the resident’s credit cards, says Lt. Sheehy.
At another nearby residence (location unclear) police took a report of a break-in to an unlocked, grey Jeep Grand Cherokee. Three credit cards and $50 cash were missing, says Lt. Sheehy. One of the cards was used in an attempted transaction in the area of Boston’s North Shore around 5:00 a.m. That transaction is in dispute.
On High Rock Lane, a resident reported a vehicle break-in of a white Jeep Grand Cherokee, but it appears that nothing of value was taken.
A break-in was also reported on Cedar Lane, although details of that incident are not clear to Westwood Minute at this time.
In an alert to the community, Dover Police noted that all vehicles that were broken into in Dover had been left unlocked. Westwood Police also note that unlocked cars were also among those broken into in Westwood.
The area of Westwood where police received reports were Cedar Lane, Old Stone Road, Rockmeadow Road, Orchard Circle, and High Rock Lane. These roads lie north of High Street (Route 109), and are close to Hale Education and the Westwood-Dover town line.
Westwood Police and Dover Police are cooperating in their investigations.
Lt. Sheehy notes that residents should lock their cars. Additionally, even when vehicles are locked, residents should avoid storing any valuables inside locked cars overnight, he says.
Earlier this year, in April, a group of vehicle break-ins occurred in a neighborhood of six different streets in another part of Westwood. In those cases, unlocked vehicles were also among those which suffered break-ins.
Thanks to Lieutenant Christopher Sheehy and Westwood Police for sharing information for this Westwood Minute article.
