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Image by Westwood Minute/Darlene Wong Cancell.
1-28-2025 10:56pm
Police Log: Scrap Copper Worth Thousands is Stolen, Trespasser Arrested 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, January 20th
Scrap Copper Worth Thousands is Stolen
11:18 a.m. At a commercial building under construction on Dartmouth Street, police received a call from the project manager who reported that scrap copper had been taken from the building. The material taken was estimated to be worth $2,000 to $3,000.
Security camera footage showed that on the evening prior, at 8:00 p.m., a U-Haul truck pulled into the parking lot, and a person entered the building, carrying an electric saw. Police believe the tool was used in the breaking and entering, because the plywood door to the room where the scrap copper was kept had been cut open. Someone had removed the scrap copper from its bin. This case is under investigation.
Car Purchase Leads to Discovery of Identity Theft
12:26 p.m. A resident of Parker Street complained of being the victim of identity theft which was discovered while the resident was attempting to purchase an auto. The purchase required a credit report, and the resident was surprised to find his credit score lower than it should have been. Further investigation showed that there were numerous delinquent charges, along with an equity loan, that had been opened in the resident’s name. The activity began in April 2024, and the transactions appear mainly to have occurred around Providence, Rhode Island.
The resident planned to contact credit reporting agencies to freeze his credit. Police advised him to additionally obtain a PIN from the Internal Revenue Service to avoid a false tax return being filed in his name.
Saturday, January 18th
Fraudulent Use of EBT Card Reported
1:54 p.m. A resident of Pleasant Valley Road reported fraudulent use of funds from the resident’s Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card. That day, the resident had attempted to use her EBT card to pay for purchases at a farmstand in North Easton, but discovered there were zero funds remaining in the account. The resident learned that a purchase had been made on January 4th in Pawtucket, Rhode Island and on January 18th in Brooklyn, New York, accounting for use of $120. The resident informed police that she is not sure how those purchases were made because she has been in possession of her EBT card the entire time.
Trespasser Arrested
5:43 p.m. Loss prevention staff at the Target store on University Avenue advised police that two individuals, who had just been verbally trespassed from the store for being caught attempting to remove store merchandise without paying, had re-entered the store. Employees had observed the two individuals scanning toilet paper and a storage bin at the self-checkout counter, but failing to scan two feminine hygiene items, worth a combined total of $40.
The suspects' encounter with store staff was described as argumentative and rude. Staff recovered the two items, and the pair were trespassed from the store.
However, the two later re-entered, and appeared to attempt to purchase another two feminine hygiene items. When an officer spoke to the pair, the male responded with profanity. He was arrested.
The subject refused to provide identification. Police eventually obtained identification for the 19 year old man from Boston. He was later released on personal recognizance.
Wednesday, January 15th
Stealing an EV Charge
4:25 a.m. Police received a report from security for Audi Westwood on Providence Highway that a dark blue SUV was seen using the dealership’s electric charging station.
Tuesday, January 14th
Fraudulent Attempt to Open Wells Fargo Bank Account
8:47 a.m. A resident of Briar Lane reported a fraudulent attempt by an unknown person to open a Wells Fargo bank account in his name. The resident received notice from the bank of the application, which the resident had not undertaken.
Assisting Dedham Police with Hit and Run
8:01 p.m. Westwood Police received a request from Dedham Police for assistance with a hit and run incident. Dedham Police believed the incident may have involved a Westwood resident. Westwood Police contacted the individual, a resident of Highview Street, with the request that the resident contact Dedham Police.
Monday, January 13th
Online Bait-and-Switch Scam
2:54 p.m. A resident of Pond Street reported an online scam. The resident was attempting to make an online purchase at Dicks Sporting Goods, when instead the transaction was recorded as a credit card charge to “ONA Promotions Ready to Wear Store.” The resident had clicked on a link on a Facebook page to purchase sneakers, and believed the link was redirecting to Dicks Sporting Goods. When the resident learned that Dicks Sporting Good had no record of the shoe purchase, the resident sought a reimbursement from the resident’s credit card company and informed police.
Thanks to Lieutenant Christopher Sheehy and the Westwood Police Department for contributing information for this article.
