10-14-2026 10:33pm

Police Log: K-9 Unit Detects Evidence of Firearm in Suspect’s Backpack, Resident Loses $23,500 in Bitcoin Scam, and Other Incidents

Darlene Cancell Editor

Image by Westwood Minute/Darlene Wong Cancell.

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.

Sunday, October 4

K-9 Unit Detects Evidence of Firearm in Backpack of Armed Robbery Suspect

2:49 p.m. Westwood Police Department’s K-9 unit was dispatched to Norwood to assist in a search for a firearm, following a report of a home invasion and armed robbery on Chapel Street in Norwood. Norwood Police had located two fleeing suspects - juveniles - and a firearm nearby, and was requesting K-9 assistance in checking the flight path for additional, discarded firearms. K-9 officer Scout and his handler did not find any discarded firearms, but the dog detected the residual odor of a firearm in the backpack that one of the suspects wore during his arrest. Police inferred that a firearm was likely recently stored in that backpack.

Suspected Shoplifters are Trespassed from Store as Investigations Continue

3:15 p.m. An officer responded to the Target store on University Avenue, where a male from Boston and a female from Randolph were stopped after staff suspected them of shoplifting. The male is believed to have concealed merchandise valued at $115 in his sweatshirt. The female is believed to have concealed merchandise valued at $24. Both were trespassed from the property and escorted off the property. Police are gathering additional evidence before filing charges.

5:59 p.m. An officer was summoned to the Target store, where two shoplifting suspects were identified after their alleged attempt to steal a camera valued at $120. The male resident of Wilbraham and female resident of Agawam were trespassed from the store. No charges were filed while police continued their investigation.

Saturday, October 3

Rhode Island Roommate Admits to Stealing Debit Card

7:30 a.m. Police received a report from a Rhode Island resident regarding a larceny that occurred at the Target store on University Avenue. The complainant told police that his new debit card had been used in the store to purchase a PlayStation 5 and accessories, a woman’s pajama set, a Red Bull drink, and a candy bar. The complainant told police that he had been expecting his new debit card to arrive in the mail, but it never came. He suspected a roommate may have taken the card to purchase items for the roommate’s girlfriend and her family.

In a subsequent conversation with police, the complainant confirmed that the roommate had admitted taking the debit card. The complainant requested that no criminal charges be filed because the roommate agreed to repay him and move out. Police advised the complainant to inform police if the roommate fails to make the repayment.

Resident Receives Parking Ticket for Car No Longer Owned

10:26 a.m. A resident of Canton Street reported receiving a ticket for a parking violation involving a 2008 BMW 328xi that he no longer owns. He told police that he sold the car in 2023. The resident wanted to ensure his registration was canceled, and requested a police report so he could present it to the municipal court in Providence, Rhode Island.

Drone Unit in Stoughton

3:42 p.m. Westwood Police’s drone unit responded to a request from Stoughton for security assistance as the town celebrated its 300th anniversary at Stoughton High School.

Stop for Speeding Leads to Second Charge

8:41 p.m. An officer observed a 2014 grey Volkswagen Jetta traveling on Canton Street at 56 mph in a 30 mph zone. The officer made the traffic stop and discovered that the vehicle’s registration had been revoked on May 30, 2026 for lack of insurance. The driver, who was the daughter of the registered owner, told police that there had been a change in insurance companies and she did not know why the records showed that insurance had lapsed. The vehicle was towed, and the driver – a Canton resident – was cited for speeding and driving without a license.

Friday, October 2

Missing Boy is Located

5:07 p.m. Westwood Police Department’s K-9 unit was dispatched to Dedham to assist a search for a missing child. An 11-year-old boy reportedly walked away while shopping with his father at the Lowe’s store on Providence Highway. As police were preparing to check the area, an officer observed eight juveniles in the parking lot, walking toward the officer. The mother of the missing child waved to the group and identified her son as one of the boys in the group. The boy was safely located.

Inventing Fraud to Gain Resident’s Personal Information

6:21 p.m. A resident of Whitney Avenue reported that an unknown person called her to notify her of an alleged attempt by an unknown person to purchase a firearm using her name and American Express credit card. The resident told police she had never owned an American Express credit card, so she believed the call was a phishing attempt. Police advised the resident to contact her banks and financial institutions to ensure no suspicious activity had taken place in her accounts.

No Sleeping in the Park

6:32 p.m. Police received a report that someone had pitched a tent and brought a sleeping bag to the grassy area of Buckmaster Park on Pond Street. Police arrived and informed the person that sleeping overnight in the location is not allowed.

Disturbance in Parking Lot over Custody Issue

8:43 p.m. Police responded to a disturbance in the Roche Bros. supermarket parking lot on Washington Street, where the caller was arguing with the spouse of her ex-boyfriend, who allegedly had threatened the caller. The caller told police that they argued over a custody issue. It was a verbal argument and no physical violence was involved. One party was from Canton, and the other was from Framingham. Police noted that the issue would be resolved in court and restored the peace.

Thursday, October 1

Lost at the Train Station

12:53 a.m. An individual arriving at Islington Station on Carroll Avenue told police he gotten off at the wrong train station and he did not know where he was. An officer assisted him in arranging for his girlfriend to pick him up.

Injured Driver Transported to Hospital after Failure to Yield

6:15 a.m. Police responded to the scene of a motor vehicle crash on Downey Street. A 2023 Volkswagen driven by a Westwood resident on Downey Street is believed to have made an abrupt turn onto Booth Drive, without signaling. As a result, police believe that a 2017 Hyundai – also driven by a Westwood resident- crashed into the Volkswagen at the intersection. The driver of the Volkswagen was transported to the hospital with injuries. She was cited for failure to yield to traffic.

Wednesday, September 30

Car Alarm Disturbance

11:30 p.m. Police received a call from Burgess Avenue regarding a car alarm sounding in the area of Millbrook Road. Police located the car on Millbrook Road and contacted the vehicle’s owner to notify the owner of the disturbance caused by the vehicle.

Tuesday, September 29

Resident Loses $23,500 in Bitcoin Scam

1:38 p.m. A resident of Oriole Road reported the loss of $23,500 from a fraudulent transaction. She reported that on an earlier date, she received call from person who claimed there was a problem with her savings account and instructed her to call another number to resolve it. The resident did so, which she says appears to have enabled hackers to gain control of her phone and shut it down. She told police she was instructed to go to deposit money in an ATM at a Sunoco station in Canton on September 28. She did as instructed, and then received a phone notification that she had purchased Bitcoin with $23,500. The funds appear to have been transferred to another, unknown account.

Monday, September 28

Suspicious Parked Vehicle has Broken Down

5:58 a.m. Police responded to a caller’s report of a suspicious Nissan parked on the caller’s property on Station Drive. The caller told police that the driver had not left after being asked to do so. Police arrived and spoke to the driver, who reportedly informed police that his car had broken down. The Randolph resident asked police for a ride to the nearby Marshalls store on University Avenue.