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8-11-2025 12:05am
Police Log: Bullying Claims, Juvenile Suspected of Shoplifting, Porch Pirates and Other Stories
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 to Westwood Minute through written records and conversations. Occasionally, Westwood Minute may weave a few facts that it obtains from other sources into these stories.
Monday, August 4th
Happening upon a Comfortable Place to Sleep
9:51 a.m. Police received a report that a person was sleeping on a discarded couch in the area of Washington Street. Police investigated and learned that the individual was a 41 year old man from Weymouth. He told police that he was passing along, wanted to smoke a cigarette, and fell asleep. Police instructed him to move along.
Suspected Drug-Related Activity
10:18 a.m. Police received calls from concerned citizens who observed a man who they suspected of undertaking drug-related activities in the area of the CVS store on Washington Street and at the nearby bus stop outside the fire station. Police responded but did not observe any illegal activity.
Employee Suspected of Unauthorized Use of Company Credit Card
1:02 p.m. Staff of Ira Acura Westwood on Providence Highway informed police that an employee was suspected of using the company credit card to purchase gas for unapproved vehicles that did not belong to the company. The employee reportedly made the transactions at a gas station in Norwood. The company was able to provide police with evidence showing the unusual spending for the suspect. The company was debating whether to suspend or fire the employee. The unapproved spending on gas totaled $515 over 7 different transactions. Police are charging the employee, a man from Stoughton, with larceny under $1,200.
Suspicious Driver Loiters on Resident’s Driveway
7:42 p.m. A resident of Far Reach Road complained that a suspicious vehicle had parked in his driveway. About three hours earlier, the resident’s son arrived home to find a balding, shirtless man in a car, parked in the home’s driveway. The man got out of the car and poured water over his head. The son told the man to move, and the man reportedly told the son that he needed to sleep and would move in a bit. The son persisted, and informed the man that he was parked on private property. The man reportedly stared hard at the son, and left. Police have identified the suspect through his license plate.
Sunday, August 3rd
Father Complains of Boys Bullying His Daughter
9:01 p.m. A resident of Gay Street complained to police of what he alleged to be bullying behavior by two male juveniles directed against this daughter. All youth concerned are of elementary school age. The complainant told police that his daughter was riding her bicycle in the neighborhood and the two male juveniles asked if she wanted to go to school with them. She declined and while riding home, the male juveniles reportedly chased her down the street. An officer investigated a nearby school campus and found a door propped open, possibly due to summer camp activities. Nothing out of the ordinary was found.
Delivered Packages Are Missing from Doorstep
9:34 p.m. Police responded to Country Lane on the report of stolen packages. The resident told police that her family was away for two days, during which 5 packages had been delivered to their front steps. Upon returning home, none of the packages were there. The total value of the expected items was $570.
Friday, August 1st
$20,000 Stolen from Investment Account
9:50 a.m. A resident of Weatherbee Drive reported that about $20,000 had been stolen from his Fidelity 529 college account, which he had established for his grandchildren. He noticed an unusual transaction on July 31st, and believed it may have been related to phone calls that he discovered, through his Verizon bill, which had been made from his landline which he alleged had not been made by himself or anyone in his family. He reported that his accounts have been frozen by Fidelity, which is not holding him responsible for the loss.
Package Delivered Empty, Purchases Missing
2:16 p.m. A resident of Pettees Pond Lane reported a theft from a package which was delivered to her, empty. She expected to receive silver plated forks and knives, purchased from eBay. However, the package was open and empty when she received it. The items are reported to be worth $245.
Thursday, July 31st
Noise Complaint
6:27 a.m. A resident reported a noise disturbance from construction work in the area of Fisher and Baker streets. Police responded to the construction site, and advised the workers of the town bylaw that such work may begin at 7:00 a.m. on a weekday.
Stolen Package from Apartment Complex
10:48 a.m. A resident of the Gables University Station apartments reported a stolen package, containing scrubs that she planned to use for work. The value of the missing item is estimated to be worth $200.
Failure to Yield Leads to Collision on High Street
2:10 p.m. Two vehicles collided at the intersection of High and Nahatan streets when a westbound vehicle on High Street attempted to make a left turn onto Nahatan Street and failed to yield to a vehicle coming off of Nahatan Street onto High Street. Air bags deployed in both vehicles, and the driver of the vehicle on Nahatan Street suffered a minor leg injury, but declined transportation to the hospital. Both vehicles were towed. The driver of the vehicle on High Street was cited for failure to yielding while making the left turn.
Wednesday, July 30th
Possible Phishing Scam
11:36 a.m. Police received a letter from a resident of Gay Street, describing suspicious contact by a number of people over a few years regarding property supposedly listed by him for sale. The resident informed police that he had received about 5 calls in the past 2 years, in which the caller described a real estate transaction associated with the resident’s name and phone number. Police advised the resident that the calls were likely attempts at phishing. They advised him to contact police immediately if he receives any future such calls.
Two Children Left Unattended in Hot Car
12:29 p.m. Police were contacted by concerned citizens who reported two young children left unattended in a hot car in the area of the Roche Bros. supermarket on Washington Street. Police investigated and learned that the children were 7 and 10 years old, and had been left alone in the vehicle for about 17 minutes on the hot day. The vehicle had its windows up, and the vehicle appeared to be off, without air conditioning. Police learned that they had been left by their grandmother, who was defensive upon speaking with police. Police contacted the children’s mother, who also was defensive. The women, residents of Walpole, reportedly informed police that the 10 year old was old enough to know how to get out of the car, if needed. Police filed a 51A report with the Department of Children and Families, to inform DCF of the incident.
Juvenile Suspected of Shoplifting
5:33 p.m. Police responded to the Target store on University Avenue in response to a report of a male juvenile, a resident of Boston, who was suspected of stealing snacks and food items worth $90 by placing them in his backpack. Police identified the juvenile, although he was at first uncooperative. Police were unable to contact the boy’s mother or another responsible adult to take care of him after multiple attempts. Boston Police provided mutual aid by visiting the mother’s residence to make contact. They learned that she did not have a car to provide her son with transportation. Eventually, another adult arrived to transport the boy home. Police filed a 51A report with DCR. The boy will be summoned to juvenile court for shoplifting.
Youths Throwing Water Balloons at Car
10:26 p.m. A caller reported youths were throwing water balloons at a car on Pond Street. Police responded and found a bucket of water balloons on Sheehan Field.
Monday, July 28th
Collision on Washington Street
5:08 p.m. Police responded to a two-vehicle accident in the area of Washington and Brookfield streets, when a Ford van, making a left turn from Washington Street into the Roche Bros supermarket parking lot, failed to yield to oncoming traffic. As the van turned left, it crashed into an oncoming red Hyundai. Injuries were reported by neither the driver of the van, a resident of Hyde Park, nor the driver of the Hyundai, a resident of Medfield. The driver of the van was cited for improper turning.
Thanks to Lieutenant Michael DiLalla and the Westwood Police Department for contributing information for this Westwood Minute article.
Updated 8/11/2025 at 11:45 a.m.
