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4-21-2025 10:57pm
Police Log: In Suspected Scam of Senior, Suspect Makes Threats after Confrontation
Darlene Cancell
Editor
The news described in this installment of 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 Michael DiLalla 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, April 14th
In Suspected Scam of Senior, Suspect Makes Threats after Confrontation
1:45 p.m. A sales representative employed at Mercedes-Benz of Westwood on Providence Highway spoke to police of a threat he received at work, in relation to the employee’s attempt to protect a customer from a potential scam. The sales representative had received a call that morning from a man who said the caller’s father would be arriving to test drive some cars. The caller reportedly said he would purchase the cars and that his father would pay in cash for them.
An elderly resident of Needham arrived at the dealership to test drive three cars. The caller indicated that he would buy two of them.
During the negotiation, the sales representative’s suspicions were raised as he began to doubt the alleged son-father relationship and suspected that something was not right in the relationship between the caller and the elderly man who was before him in the dealership. When the sales representative asked the elderly father if he had any other sons, and the caller on the phone changed the subject.
The sales representative placed the caller on hold, and asked the elderly customer if the caller was his son. The senior reportedly denied the fact. The elderly man reportedly informed the sales representative that the caller had promised to make the elderly man a millionaire. The elderly man had been going to the bank and making transactions for the caller.
Upon reconnecting on the phone with the caller, the sales representative accused the caller of fraud. In response, the caller reportedly screamed and threatened to shoot and kill the sales representative and further acts of violence.
This case is under investigation.
Sunday, April 13th
Car Crash at Intersection of Clapboardtree and Nahatan Streets
12:51 p.m. Police responded to a 2-car crash at the intersection of Clapboardtree and Nahatan streets. One driver, a resident of Westwood, told police that she was proceeding on Nahatan toward Norwood when the other car came out of nowhere and didn’t stop. The crash caused significant damage to her passenger side door. The airbags of both vehicles deployed.
The driver of the second car, a woman from Norwood, told the officer that when both vehicles stopped at the intersection, she believed that she had the right of way because she was positioned to the right of the first vehicle. The officer noted that this might be true, depending upon when the vehicles arrived at the intersection.
Both drivers reported stopping and having the right of way. No citation was issued.
Saturday, April 12th
One Thing Leads to Another
1:12 a.m. An officer conducting stationary traffic enforcement observed a Nissan Murano pass by at 64 m.p.h. in a 35 m.p.h. zone. The officer made the traffic stop in the area of Washington and Dean streets and discovered that the driver and owner of the car, a Norwood resident, had her car registration revoked for lack of insurance as of October 2024. Additionally, her driver’s license had expired in November 2024 and was non-renewable.
The car was towed. Police cited the driver for unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, operating a vehicle with suspended registration, operating a motor vehicle without insurance, and speeding.
Sounds Like Drag Racing
3:45 p.m. Police received a report of drag racing in the area of Station Drive and Harvard Street. The caller did not see the drag racing, but heard sounds that the caller identified as drag racing.
Shoplifting Suspect Hides Items Under Coat in Cart
4:30 p.m. At the Wegmans store on University Avenue, police met with an asset protection staff member who told police that on April 2, he observed a female put styling projects in her cart, cover the items with her coat, and leave without paying. The staff member located her at her vehicle in the parking lot, and she refused to return to the store and drove away. The total value of items taken was $157.44. The suspect has been identified and the 30 year-old Brockton woman was charged with shoplifting.
Friday, April 11th
Former Health Club Member Trespassed
8:47 p.m. Police met with staff of Life Time health club on Harvard Street in response to a report of a disturbance. Staff informed police that a former member had entered the locker room, although his membership was recently cancelled. Staff reported having problems with this former member, a resident of Braintree.
Police found the man and escorted him out. He was verbally trespassed from returning.
Noise Complaint
10:25 p.m. A resident of Magaletta Drive contacted police about a loud gathering in the area. Upon responding, police found the area quiet.
Thursday, April 10th
Driving While Using an Electronic Device
11:06 a.m. A cruiser was conducting stationary traffic enforcement when the officer observed a driver on an electronic device. The officer initiated a traffic stop on Washington Street at Fairview Street. Upon identifying the driver, an individual from Norwood, the officer learned that the driver had a suspended license. The officer issued a criminal citation for operating a motor vehicle after suspension of license and using an electronic device while operating a motor vehicle.
Motor Vehicle Break-In on Harvard Street I
12:30 p.m. Police took a report of a motor vehicle break-in outside the Life Time health club on Harvard Street. The victim reported that on April 9, around 9:00 p.m., her car app alerted her that the door was open on her grey, 2024 Mazda CX-5. Upon investigating, she observed that the car door appeared tampered with. The center console inside the car was open and appeared to have been searched.
Motor Vehicle Break-In on Harvard Street II
3:26 p.m. A woman reported an attempted break-in of her car on April 9 in a parking lot on Harvard Street. The woman believed the break-in occurred between 8:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. She had returned to her car, found damage to the keyhole, door handle, and door. It appears the break-in was unsuccessful.
Wednesday, April 9th
No Excuse for Shoplifting
2:45 p.m. Police met with a shoplifting suspect and the loss prevention staff of the Target store on University Avenue. The suspect, a woman from Millis, was believed to have taken merchandise worth about $100 from the store. Staff observed her concealing a pair of pants in her purse, then fail to scan the item along with a handbag and Stanley cup at the self-checkout.
The suspect reportedly said, “I have no excuse.” She was trespassed from the store for one year.
Baseball Cracks Car Windshield
4:37 p.m. Police received a report from a caller on Clapboardtree Street regarding a cracked car windshield due to a baseball.
Tuesday, April 8th
Fake Driver’s License
11:13 a.m. A resident of Sunset Road suspected identity theft when she received a fake driver’s license in the mail at her home address. The fake license contained her name and personal information, but included the photo of another female.
Police examined the driver’s license and noticed that there was no hologram, as would appear on an official license. Police took the item into evidence and recommended that the resident report the incident to a credit reporting agency and her banks.
Monday, April 7th
Resident Reports Recurrence of Identity Theft
1:07 p.m. A resident of Burke Street reported a case of identity theft after she received multiple alerts that credit card charges were being made in her name, by someone with an Illinois connection. She told police that a similar incident happened some years ago, when at age 15, she found her personal information was compromised in relation to a bank account. The perpetrator in that prior case also had an Illinois connection. In response to the recent incident, she has frozen her credit.
Phone Stolen at Health Club
2:19 p.m. A Westwood resident reported that her work cell phone was stolen when she was at Life Time health club on Sunday, April 6th, between 11 a.m. and 1:50 p.m. She had used the jacuzzi and put her phone on the edge of it. She had also taken her phone to the locker room. When she realized her phone was missing, she retraced her steps, but did not find it.
Rear-end Collision
2:33 p.m. Police responded to a 2-car crash on University Avenue. Both vehicles were headed north when the trailing vehicle, driven by a Norwood man, rear-ended the lead vehicle, driven by a Randolph man. The lead vehicle had slowed in the left lane, to turn left into the parking lot of 392 University Avenue. The trailing vehicle was unable to stop in time. Both vehicles had to be towed, and the driver of the lead vehicle was transported to the hospital. No citations were issued.
Thanks to Lieutenant Michael DiLalla and the Westwood Police Department for contributing information for this Westwood Minute article.
