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3-15-2026 11:13pm
Police Log: Road Rage Driver Follows Westwood Resident Home, K9 Unit Searches, Fraud Scam, and Shoplifting
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 facts that it obtains from other sources into these stories.
Sunday, March 8th
On Thin Ice
1:35 p.m. Police received a call from a concerned citizen who reported that five youths were on the ice of Buckmaster Pond. Police responded and learned that the youths planned to end their activities there.
Ice Fisherman
2:20 p.m. Police received a call from a concerned citizen who reported that an elderly man was on the pond with a dog. Police learned that the man was ice fishing and determined that all was well.
Help under a Bridge
4:35 p.m. A driver of a tractor-trailer requested police assistance to determine if the vehicle could fit under a bridge on Providence Highway. Assistance was given.
Father Trespassed from Store after Suspected Shoplifting with Son
6:32 p.m. Police responded to a report of shoplifting at the Target store on University Avenue, and were provided with a description of the suspect’s vehicle – a 2025 Volkswagen Jetta with Massachusetts plates. Police arrived and observed the driver of the car walking into Wegmans supermarket with a juvenile.
Police spoke with the man, who returned to the vehicle and opened the trunk to show police items that he said he had purchased at Target. Inside were a PlayStation controller, bananas, and clothing. The man did not have a receipt, and told police that he purchased the PlayStation controller, then returned to the store to make additional purchases, but may have forgotten to pay.
Store staff reported that they observed the suspect purchasing the PlayStation controller, but leaving the clothing in his shopping basket, unpaid.
The suspect, a man from Dedham, was determined to have taken clothing worth about $92. He was not charged, but he was trespassed from the store for one year.
Saturday, March 7th
Larceny from Supply Trailer
9:18 a.m. Police received a report of larceny from a supply trailer at Lambert’s Market on Providence Highway. No further details were provided.
Shoplifting Electric Razors
2:47 p.m. Police responded to a report of shoplifting at the Target store on University Avenue. The suspect, a female from New Bedford, is believed to have concealed two electric razors worth $140, and passed all points of sale without paying. She will be summoned to court for shoplifting by concealment and was trespassed from the store for one year.
Complaint of Assault
5:59 p.m. A resident of Gay Street complained of assault by the father of her son’s ex-wife. The resident complained that at their grandson’s basketball game, the grandfather placed his hand on her arm to escort her to another location to speak to her. She reported feeling intimidated and that the contact was unwanted. The grandfather told her that her son must stop talking to his daughter. The complainant reported that usually the man ignores her, and that on this occasion, he conveyed what she interpreted as a hostile message. She wanted to report the incident for the record.
K9 Unit Deployed to Search for Fleeing Suspects
10:54 p.m. Westwood Police’s K9 unit responded to a call for mutual aid on North Meadows Road in Medfield, following a head-on vehicle collision where two occupants were believed to have fled to a wooded area. The Westwood K9 unit and a K9 unit from state police assisted in the search for possible fleeing suspects, but the dogs were unable to locate a track. After the search, it was determined that no one had fled the scene.
Friday, March 6th
K9 Unit Assists Search for Missing Child
2:58 p.m. Westwood Police’s K9 unit responded to a call for mutual aid in the search for a missing six-year-old child. The child was later located in a neighbor’s home.
Unruly Behavior
3:33 p.m. Police responded to PetSmart on University Avenue where employees reported a male causing a scene in the store. The manager and an employee informed police that a customer was in the store with his dog, which was becoming agitated from other dogs in the store. The customer yelled at his dog to stop barking, then forced the dog’s mouth closed with his hands. The customer left without making a purchase. The store manager wanted to document the incident with police.
Wednesday, March 4th
Tracking Stolen AirPods to East Falmouth
3:45 p.m. A resident of Malden and client of Life Time health club on Harvard Street reported that his AirPods, valued at about $250, were taken from an unlocked locker there, and could be tracked to a location in East Falmouth. He contacted police in that area who informed him that upon visiting the location, no one was at home. Staff of Life Time informed police that no club members reside in Falmouth.
Impostor Steals $400 after Switching Accounts for Direct Deposit
12:09 p.m. A resident of Buckmaster Road reported a case of identity fraud after he learned that someone had successfully switched the account associated with his direct deposit for his paycheck. An impostor had contacted the resident’s employer by email and requested that the human resources department make the switch. About $400 was deposited into the fraudster’s account. The resident has filed a report with his bank.
Man on Probation is Arrested for Shoplifting
4:23 p.m. En route to a report of shoplifting at the Target store on University Avenue, a responding officer observed a male run out of the store. The officer ordered the suspect to stop, and he did. Asset protection staff identified the suspect as the same person who is believed to have stolen from the store the previous day.
The suspect refused to give accurate identification to police, and he was arrested. Upon a search, police discovered the stolen items – 2 FIFA Baller figures - concealed on his body, with a total value of about $101. He was charged with one count of shoplifting by asportation.
Police discovered that the Hyde Park resident was on probation for assault with a deadly weapon and trafficking a controlled substance. As such, he was not eligible for bail.
Tuesday, March 3rd
Fraudulent Transfer from Checking Account
1:59 p.m. A resident of Highland Glen Road reported receiving a suspicious phone call that resulted in a fraudulent transfer of $300 from his checking account. The complainant said that a man with an accent called to tell him that his car insurance was overdue and that he could pay for it over the phone.
The complainant was about to leave home for a medical appointment, and was distracted, and provided the caller personal and account information. After returning from his medical appointment, the complainant learned that $300 had been transferred out of his bank account. He provided police with the caller’s apparent phone number, which is associated to the southeast region of Florida.
Road Rage Driver Follows Westwood Resident home
5:56 p.m. A resident of Endicott Street reported a road rage incident in which the resident was followed home by another driver. The resident told police that he was behind a Nissan Altima on Blue Hill Drive, when it brake-checked him. He drove around it and went home. In his own neighborhood, he noticed the Altima was following him. When the complainant was in his driveway, the driver of the Altima got out, berated him about his driving, and reportedly said, “Now I know where you live.”
Police located the driver of the Altima, who is a resident of Weatherbee Drive. The Altima driver admitted to the incident, and said that the complainant had been tailgating him, which led to the verbal argument. Police advised the Altima driver not to follow vehicles home and to call police instead, if necessary.
Suspected Shoplifter Wanted for Unlicensed Operation of Vehicle
6:34 p.m. Staff at Nordstrom Rack on University Avenue reported having detained a shoplifting suspect. The suspect was identified as a resident of Norwood, who was observed stealing earrings and women’s underwear, valued at about $60. Police discovered that he also had a warrant for his arrest for unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle. Police arrested the suspect.
Monday, March 2nd
Stolen Jewelry
11:46 a.m. A resident of Longwood Drive reported that several pieces of jewelry were missing from her apartment. She will be providing police with more detailed descriptions of the items and their value.
Thanks to Lieutenant Michael DiLalla and Westwood Police Department for sharing information for this Westwood Minute article.
