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9-28-2024 11:11pm
Police Log: Ice Falls from Sky onto Home, Separate Accidents with Injuries Involving Cars/Bike, 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.
Monday, September 23rd
Arrest for Driving with Suspended License
4:42 p.m. An officer on Providence Highway pulled over a blue, Jeep Grand Cherokee, after a query on its registration showed its owner had a suspended license. The driver was the registered owner, and claimed ignorance of his suspended license. The 28 year-old man from Dorchester was arrested and later released on his own recognizance.
"Quick Change" Scam
4:54 p.m. A loss prevention staff person from Nordstrom Rack on University Avenue reported a possible “quick change” scam that had occurred two days prior. Two females approached a cash register with $937 worth of merchandise, and presented cash for payment. One of the females requested the cash to be counted multiple times. On the last count, one female pointed to something on the counter - possibly a distraction tactic. Following the transaction, the cashier’s drawer was found to be $659 short. This case has been sent to detectives for investigation.
Saturday, September 21st
Accident Sends Two People to the Hospital
11:42 a.m. Two people were seriously injured when a 2021 BMW hydroplaned and collided into a Honda CR-V that was traveling in the opposite direction of Hartford Street, near the Mill Street intersection. The driver of the Honda and a passenger in the BMW, both men, were transported to area hospital(s) with serious injuries. For more details on this story, read Westwood Minute’s article, Two People Seriously Injured in 2-Car Accident on Rainy Day on Westwood's Hartford Street.
Friday, September 20th
Suspicious Solicitation
7:47 a.m. A resident of Burgess Avenue reported receiving a suspicious notice at the front door. An officer reviewed the notice and determined that it was a mortgage solicitation. Whether it was from a legitimate business or not was an open question.
Ice Falls from Sky onto House
3:39 p.m. Police responded to a residence on Bay Colony Drive upon receiving a report of an unknown object striking the roof of the home. Police found several pieces of a white object, spread across the front lawn, and visible damage to the roof.
The resident reported working at home when the resident heard something strike the roof around 3:11 p.m. Outside, the resident found pieces of unknown material on the lawn.
Police believe that the material is actually pieces of ice, fallen from the sky. The pieces reportedly were melting after the officers left.
The falling object(s) created a slight depression in the roof and damaged an area of shingles, about three to four shingles wide.
Police do not propose any theory as to the unknown object(s)’ origin.
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Police Identify and Arrest Fleeing Shoplifting Suspect
5:11 p.m. Police were notified by the Target store on University Avenue that a female shoplifting suspect had fled in a white Audi with tinted windows, and license registration beginning with a “4”. She reportedly had a dog with her. While en route, police noticed a car matching the suspect vehicle, with a female driver. The officer made a stop, and observed a dog was barking inside the car. The officer identified the woman as a 26 year old Norwood resident. She quickly blurted out that she had given the item back to Target.
Target staff informed police that the suspect had paid for several items, but did not pay for a vacuum that was placed on the bottom shelf of her shopping cart. The vacuum was valued at $500.
Police arrested the woman for shoplifting and arranged for a family member to retrieve the dog.
Thursday, September 19th
Email Scam Threatens Release of Personal Information
3:36 p.m. A resident of Warwick Drive reported receiving a suspicious email from a “Kyle Bonilla,” containing a threat to release personal information unless the resident paid the emailer in bitcoin. Police advised the resident that this appeared to be similar to a scam recently experienced by multiple Westwood residents.
Wednesday, September 18th
Unemployment Benefits Fraud
11:00 a.m. A resident of Washington Street reported unemployment benefits fraud when the resident’s employer alerted the resident to a false claim being filed using the resident’s personal information in July.
Juveniles Suspected of Shoplifting
6:14 p.m. Police were contacted by staff of the Target store on University Avenue, who reported a juvenile suspect attempting to leave with two gel blasters, worth a total of $130, without paying. Police learned that the juvenile, aged 16, had come to the shopping center with his older brother, aged 17, who was waiting in the parking lot. Police explained that the two boys, residents of Quincy, would be trespassed from the store and asked that they call a responsible adult to come pick them up. An adult relative from Weymouth, aged 19 years of age, came to retrieve the boys.
Tuesday, September 17th
Sextortion Emailer Spoofs Resident's Own Email Address
4:51 p.m. A resident of Canton Street reported receiving an email similar to the “sextortion” email phishing scam that was described in a recent Westwood Minute article. According to the resident, the sender’s email address appeared to that of the resident’s own Microsoft account. The subject line read, “You have been hacked,” and contained language largely similar to a recent scam involving a threat to expose the victim’s supposed visitation to porn sites unless money is paid. The emailer demanded $1,600 in order to be stopped from sending embarrassing information to the resident’s contact lists. Westwood Police informed the resident of others in the community receiving similar emails.
Scammers Hijack Resident's iMessage Account
4:27 p.m. A resident of Westwood Glen Road reported receiving texts and phone calls from someone purportedly from Citizens Bank who told the resident that there were unusual charges on the resident’s Apple account. The call was transferred to a second individual who gave the resident what were described as directions to cancel the card.
The resident became suspicious and went to a physical location of Citizens Bank to check his accounts. He also visited the Apple Store, where employees told him that someone had inserted a different phone number into his iMessage account, and was able to see text alerts from the individual’s bank. The store employee noted that access to the resident’s computer and/or cell phone may have been compromised. Police are investigating.
Monday, September 16th
Bicyclist Injured in Collision with Vehicle on High Street
5:44 p.m. A man from Westwood was injured when his bicycle collided with a vehicle on High Street. A 2014 Mercedes reportedly was making a right turn from the westbound lane onto Windsor Road when, according to a witness, the bicycle, travelling at a high rate of speed on the right of the travel lane, crashed into the Mercedes. The bicyclist was transported with injuries to Brigham Women’s Hospital by Westwood Fire paramedics. The driver, a woman from Westwood, told police that she had activated her turn signal before making the right turn and had a green light. Police determined that the bicyclist was at fault.
Three Loud Bangs
11:11 p.m. A caller from Sycamore Drive reported hearing the sounds of three loud bangs in the neighborhood. Police checked the area. Nothing was found to be amiss.
Thanks to Lieutenant Christopher Sheehy and the Westwood Police Department for contributing information for this Westwood Minute article.
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