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9-09-2025 12:05am
Police Log: Suspicious Man with a Duffle Bag, Suspect Uses Uber for Getaway, 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, September 1st
Political Sign is Stolen
10:02 a.m. A resident of Meadowbrook Road reported that a political sign was removed by an unknown person. The content of the message on the sign was not specified.
Caregiver Suspected of Stealing Funds
12:47 p.m. A resident of Colburn Street reported being suspicious of a caregiver, whom the disabled resident believes may have stolen funds. The resident’s aide routinely logs the work performed for the resident, and then the aide writes her own checks with the resident’s checkbook. The resident indicates approval by applying a stamp to the check.
The resident reported that on August 12, she experienced a medical emergency and went to the hospital. Although the aide was scheduled for the hours of 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., the aide reportedly arrived at 3 p.m. and left at 4:45 p.m.
Upon reviewing payment made to the aide, the resident noted a $600 amount that seemed incorrect. In addition, the resident had loaned medical equipment worth $400-$500 to the aide for the use of the aide’s father, and the equipment had not been returned to the resident. The resident has fired the aide.
Police informed the resident that the complaint is most likely an issue for the civil courts. The resident has not noticed any funds missing from her financial accounts.
Suspect Uses Uber for Getaway
2:08 p.m. Police met with asset protection staff from the Target store on University Avenue regarding a shoplifting that occurred the previous day. A suspect reportedly exited the store a few minutes after 4:45 p.m. with $402 in identifiable unpaid merchandise, and additional unpaid merchandise that has not been identified. Store staff believe the suspect is the same individual who stole $800 in merchandise in December 2024.
In the most recent incident, the suspect was picked up by an Uber ride. Police contacted the Uber driver, who provided some information about the suspect. The ride had been booked by a female, but the rider was a male. The suspect reportedly informed the driver that he was an electrician. The driver picked him up at Target and subsequently dropped him off at Norwood business address. The driver questioned the suspect about the address, which was an office building. The suspect claimed that he works there. Police are investigating.
Saturday, August 30th
Unsettling Presence at the Playground
6:55 p.m. Police responded to the School Street Playground upon the complaint that a male and female with facial tattoos were in the park, staring at people, and making them feel uncomfortable. Police arrived but did not find anyone matching the description.
Friday, August 29th
Ammunition Found in Cleanup
2:20 p.m. A Scituate resident found six shotgun rounds while cleaning out his mother’s home at Westwood Glen apartments. No firearm was discovered. The ammunition was handed over to police for destruction.
Facebook Fraudster Impersonates Resident, Asks for Money from Friends
6:21 p.m. A resident of High Street reported that her Facebook account had been hacked by an unknown person who was requesting money of the resident’s friends. The resident learned of the fraud when a friend contacted her to double-check if she did, in fact, need money. Another friend had already sent money to a Wells Fargo bank account, as directed by the fraudster. Facebook has opened an investigation into the fraud. The sum of money at issue was not stated.
Thursday, August 28th
Vehicle Fails to Stop for Police
2:24 a.m. Westwood Police received a communication from Norwood Police regarding a grey, Subaru Crosstek which had failed to stop for police in Norwood and which was headed toward Westwood, in the area of Upland Road and Clapboardtree Street. Westwood Police responded. The vehicle was gone upon arrival.
High Price to Pay for a Drink
8:48 a.m. Police were summoned by staff at the CVS store on Washington Street after a male left the store with unpaid merchandise. Police located the suspect in the area of Washington and Everett streets. The suspect, a Westwood resident had taken a Monster energy drink beverage. He reportedly informed police that he was in a rush to catch the bus to make it to a doctor’s appointment. The suspect was not charged for the drink, but he was trespassed from the store.
Debit Card Fraud
6:17 p.m. A resident of High Street complained of debit card fraud. She had discovered three separate small charges on her Bank of America account that originated from a business in San Francisco, California. The complainant was unfamiliar with the charges and froze her bank account. She reported experiencing a similar incident in August.
Suspicious Man with Duffle Bag
8:27 p.m. Police responded to the parking lot of Marble & Granite on University Avenue on the report that an individual was on the property of a business, with a duffle bag, after business hours. Police arrived and noted that that the property was locked behind a gate, and that the suspect was behind the gate.
The man refused to give police his name or identity. Police informed him that he was on private property and subject to arrest if he did not cooperate. The suspect was uncooperative. However, as an officer reached out to make the arrest, the suspect was observed clenching his hands into fists. He continued to resist arrest, but after police displayed a taser, the suspect became compliant.
Police conducted a search and noted nothing missing or damaged. The suspect, a 38-year-old man from Brockton, was escorted off the property and then released.
Wednesday, August 27th
Concerning Loan Document
9:42 a.m. A resident of Wagon Road received an equal housing opportunity act loan letter regarding an application for a house with the resident’s address but with a different name appearing on the letter. The letter referred to a loan application of $150,000 and a review. The resident had not applied for the loan and has not noticed any unusual bank activity. She plans to notify her financial institutions.
Disturbance Reported
7:31 p.m. Police received a report that a woman in a grey Nissan was yelling at people in the area of Pond Street and Arcadia Road. Police responded to the area but did not observe any person or vehicle matching the description.
Tuesday, August 26th
International Visitor Arrested for Shoplifting
1:02 p.m. An officer responded to the Target store on University Avenue where a shoplifting suspect was reportedly in custody but uncooperative with Target staff. On that day, the suspect, an international visitor with family in Boston, is believed to have stolen merchandise worth $181. Target staff also believe that the woman stole on other past occasions from Target stores, including once from the Westwood location and once from a Target store in Fairfax County, Virginia. The thefts all included merchandise of around the same total dollar value, around $200. She was arrested and charged with shoplifting.
Identity Theft for a Credit/Debit Card
6:33 p.m. A resident of Willard Circle reported that her husband received a new credit/debit card from OnePay, a financial app company, for an account that had not been opened by him. The resident informed police that the family had also experienced identity theft in 2024 and had previously filed a police report.
Monday, August 25th
Late Night Basketball Game
11:30 p.m. Police received a complaint about a noisy game of basketball being played by a group of youths in Morrison Park. Police responded to the area but found no one in the area.
Thanks to Lieutenant Michael DiLalla and the Westwood Police Department for contributing information for this Westwood Minute article.
