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6-07-2026 9:49pm
Police Log: DNA Request in Cold Case Investigation, Thefts from Unlocked Vehicles, TikTok “Friend” Captures Resident’s Accounts
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 Detective Lieutenant Christopher Aylward and police staff to Westwood Minute through written records and conversations. Occasionally, Westwood Minute may incorporate facts that it obtains from other sources into these stories.
Sunday, May 31
No Construction on Sundays Until Noon
9:30 a.m. Police returned to a home on Thatcher Street where a contractor was using loud power equipment to perform work on a tree. Police had received a noise complaint the evening before, and had informed the contractor that under Westwood’s bylaws, such work may not be performed until later on Sundays. The next morning, after police responded a second time to a similar noise complaint at the location, the contractor informed police that he was not aware that the Sunday prohibition extended until noon.
Over $200 Missing from Unlocked Vehicle on Pear Tree Drive
12:39 p.m. A resident of Pear Tree Drive informed police that their Land Rover was entered overnight, and a pair of gloves and a $200 gift card were missing. The vehicle had not been locked.
Woman Suspected of Shoplifting after Entering Store with Returns
1:32 p.m. Loss prevention staff of the Target store on University Avenue reported observing a woman pushing a shopping cart containing returns into the store, taking four shirts off a rack, and exiting with the items without paying. When stopped, she was found to have merchandise worth about $148 in her possession. The 61-year-old Boston resident will be summoned to court on a shoplifting charge.
$500 Missing from Unlocked Vehicle on Weatherbee Drive
1:43 p.m. A resident of Weatherbee Drive reported that a Mazda6 and a Toyota Highlander had been entered and rummaged through overnight. Both vehicles had been unlocked with the keys inside them. It is believed that about $500 in gift cards were stolen from the Highlander. Nothing appears to have been taken from the Mazda6.
Man Arrested after Alleged Shoe Theft, Stolen Moped Discovery
7:04 p.m. Asset protection staff at the Nordstrom Rack store on University Avenue told police that a man was observed replacing his own shoes with new ones from the store, and walking out in the store’s new shoes without paying. He was observed entering the nearby Target store.
The suspect was confronted inside Target. Police report that he was also discovered to be in possession of a stolen moped. The 36-year-old Boston man was arrested in connection with the shoes and also on the charge of receiving stolen property.
Saturday, May 30
Many Reports of Loud Boom
2:18 p.m. Police received a report of a disturbance from Burgess Avenue.
2:27 p.m. Police received a report of a disturbance from Margery Lane.
2:28 p.m. Police received a report of a loud noise in the area of Oak Street.
2:30 p.m. Police received a report of a loud noise in the area of Dover Road.
2:35 p.m. Police received a report of a loud noise in the area of Westfield Street.
For more reporting on the sound reported by residents on May 30, see Westwood Minute’s May 31, 2026 article, “NASA Says May 30 Meteor Released Energy over Massachusetts Equal to 300 Tons of TNT”
Assistance with Garage During Power Outage
3:54 p.m. Police assisted an elderly resident of Mill Street with getting out of her electrically operated garage door after a storm resulted in the loss of electricity. Police were able to manually override the resident’s garage door system.
Friday, May 29
Recovering Backpack Left Behind in Lyft Ride
11:25 a.m. A resident of High Street reported leaving his backpack in a Lyft rideshare. Police assisted him in contacting the driver, who returned the lost item to the resident a half hour later.
Driver Injured after Reported Erratic Driving and Crash into Utility Pole
5:29 p.m. Police responded to East Street for a single vehicle crash into a utility pole that resulted in the driver being transported to the hospital for injuries. Three witnesses spoke with police who learned that the driver appears to have been operating the vehicle erratically, and had crashed into other vehicles in Dedham before approaching the East Street rotary and hitting the utility pole. The driver was cited for negligent operation of a motor vehicle, a marked lanes violation, and possession of an open alcohol container.
Thursday, May 28
Suspicious Man Wandering Car Dealership at Night
11:03 p.m. A security company for a car dealership on Providence Highway alerted police to a suspicious male with a black SUV walking around the dealership property. Police responded but did not find anyone matching the description.
Wednesday, May 27
Resident Locked Out of Accounts after Sharing Information with TikTok “Friend”
7:02 p.m. A 19-year-old resident of University Avenue received a message from a person they “knew” from TikTok who asked for the resident’s iCloud account information in order to help unlock the person’s own iCloud account. After providing the information to the TikTok “friend,” the resident was locked out of her iPhone and iPad. The “friend” reportedly had reset the resident’s passwords and performed a factory reset on the phone. The “friend” reportedly messaged the mother of the victim, asking for $300 in exchange for unlocking the account.
Police advised the resident to freeze her accounts and change her passwords. This case is being investigated.
Investigative Assistance to Hanover Police
10:28 p.m. Westwood Police received a request from Hanover Police to check on an address of a resident who is believed to be involved in an incident in Hanover.
Tuesday, May 26
DNA Sample Requested in Cold Case
3:04 p.m. The family of a resident of Lyons Drive contacted Westwood Police after what they believed to be a suspicious encounter between the resident and persons who identified themselves as agents of the Maine State Police. The family informed Westwood Police that their 86-year-old father was asked to submit a DNA sample for a 30-year-old cold case involving a deceased nephew. The resident provided the sample and informed his children of the incident.
Upon investigation, Westwood Police believe the visit was not a scam, but may have been an attempt by Maine Police to rule out males relatives with a particular DNA lineage that may be suspected to be connected to the case.
Thanks to Detective Lieutenant Christopher Aylward and Westwood Police Department for sharing information for this Westwood Minute article.
