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10-07-2026 8:46pm
Police Log: Hit-and-Run Vehicle Traced to Westwood Address, Facebook Marketplace Scammer Impersonates Westwood Resident, and Other Incidents
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 Sergeant Christopher Elcock 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.
Friday, September 25
Hit-and-Run Vehicle Traced to Westwood Address
10:29 a.m. Dartmouth Police Department reported a hit-and-run in Dartmouth around 9:30 a.m. that day, and said they believed that a Westwood resident may have been involved. Dartmouth Police determined that the license plate of the fleeing car was registered to a Westwood resident. Westwood Police were unable to locate the vehicle, and no one appeared to be home at the registered address.
“Stolen” Vehicle Is Found Where It Was Parked
7:02 p.m. Norwood Police called to notify Westwood Police of a report from a Norwood resident who believed the resident’s car had been stolen from the parking lot of Frugal Fannie’s clothing store on Wilson Way. Westwood Police responded to the area and discovered the same vehicle – a grey, Toyota Camry - parked in the lot, hidden behind a box truck. Police determined that the car had not been stolen and that the Norwood resident likely forgot exactly where the vehicle had been parked.
Thursday, September 24
Identity Theft Tied to $20,000 Plumbing Services Loan
8:35 a.m. Police received a report of identity theft from a resident of University Avenue who told police that about $600 was missing from his Social Security payment. The complainant told police that he had learned some of the payment had been garnished by a collection agency because of a $20,000 loan for plumbing services that he supposedly defaulted on in the state of New York. The complainant informed police that while he has lived in New York, he never obtained the loan in question.
Lost License Plate Returned
10:44 a.m. A citizen brought a vehicle license plate to the police station which was reported to have been found outside Bar ‘Cino restaurant on High Street. Police were able to contact the license plate’s owner, a resident of Sherborn, who came to pick up the plate that belonged to the resident’s grey Audi RS6.
Suspicious Visitor Insists on Installing Wi-Fi Service
1:13 p.m. Police received a call from a group home on Meadowbrook Road regarding suspicious activity involving a male in a white shirt bearing the letters, “THC,” who said he was on the premises to install Wi-Fi. The man reportedly appeared angry when he was turned away because residents and staff were unaware of a need for the installation. The man said he would return to complete the installation.
Police Locate Truck Connected with Hit and Run
2:35 p.m. Massachusetts State Police requested assistance from Westwood Police in checking the area behind the Dunkin’ on Providence Highway, where state police believed a black truck that was wanted in connection with a hit-and-run with another vehicle may have been parked.
Westwood Police arrived in the area and found the vehicle, and remained at the scene with the driver until state police arrived. State Police took over the investigation upon arrival.
Going Through Someone Else’s Mail
4:23 p.m. Police received a report from Grafton Avenue that the driver of a black Audi was going through the caller’s mail on multiple occasions. Police investigated and determined that a former resident had returned to the address to check for mail addressed to the former resident.
Cyberattack Followed by Attempt to Extort Millions
10:27 p.m. A resident of Cedar Lane reported a cyberattack on his online business, which he believed was carried out by bad actors from Russia. He reported that a colleague had been the victim of a swatting incident related to the cyberattack. The resident also reported that someone had attempted to extort millions of dollars from his business after a security breach occurred and the company’s system was hacked, compromising sensitive personal information.
Wednesday, September 23
Falling Debris Blamed for Smashing Vehicle Window
9:18 a.m. Police received a report that the rear window of a 2026 Toyota Tundra pickup had been smashed by falling debris from a bridge while the pickup was traveling on Route 1. Police investigated and determined that the smashed window did not appear to have been caused by falling debris from a bridge.
Tuesday, September 22
Worried Mother Finds Daughter Safe at Home
5:07 a.m. A mother of a Westwood resident contacted police after being unable to reach her daughter all night. The mother explained that her daughter has a medical condition. Police assisted the mother in her attempts to enter her daughter’s apartment on Everett Street. The daughter was found asleep and in good condition.
Bus Sideswipes SUV
7:13 a.m. A bus company reported that one of its buses had “clipped” a black SUV that was backing out in front of the bus in the area of High and High Rock streets. The bus coordinator reported that the company’s bus pulled over but the SUV did not stop.
Taking a Lunch Break Reported as Suspicious Activity
12:52 p.m. A caller reported suspicious activity on University Avenue after seeing four men in a parking lot pull items out of their clothing. A police officer responded and learned that the men were eating their lunches in an outdoor area with tables.
Medical Episode Contributed to School Bus Crash
3:38 p.m. Dispatch received calls reporting a bus crash off Downey Street near Phillips Brooks Road. The cause of the crash was unknown at the time, and the driver was cooperative.
Police subsequently reported that the driver experienced a medical episode that contributed to the bus crashing into a tree. Along with the driver, a child was transported to the hospital for treatment of minor injuries.
For more details on this incident, read Westwood Minute’s article, Possible Medical Event May Have Contributed to Westwood School Bus Crash.
Monday, September 21
Facebook Marketplace Scammer Impersonates Westwood Resident
9:20 a.m. A resident of School Street reported that someone had impersonated her on Facebook Marketplace while scamming online buyers. The resident reported that she learned an unknown person had sold football tickets and a vehicle to people using her name after a buyer came to her house. The buyer told the resident that the buyer’s brother had paid the impostor $1,000 for a vehicle using the resident’s identity. The buyer was having trouble gaining possession of the vehicle. The resident did not lose any money herself, but reported the case as identity theft.
Caller Demands Money to Clear Nonexistent Warrant
12:10 p.m. A resident of Birch Tree Drive reported that an unknown person called and attempted to obtain money in exchange for clearing a warrant supposedly issued for the resident’s arrest. Police noted that no such warrant existed.
Wandering Woman Is a Senior Taking a Walk
3:10 p.m. Police encountered an elderly woman who was described as “wandering” in the grassy area of the East Street rotary. Police spoke to the woman, who informed them that she was simply taking a walk.
Thanks to Sergeant Christopher Elcock and Westwood Police Department for sharing information for this Westwood Minute article.
