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11-30-2021 11:24pm
Police Log: When Having a Party Becomes a Crime, Panhandling Pays and More
Darlene Cancell
Editor
Image by Clker-Free-Vector-Images from Pixabay
Editor's note: After reviewing readers' recent comments, I have decided to return the Police Log series of articles back to their original format, without symbolic illustrations. I appreciate the sentiment that using such images can be confusing in the context of this type of reporting. Thank you, Westwood Minute readers, for your thoughts and feedback about this platform.
The news described in Westwood Minute's Police Log article is primarily based on selected information from the Westwood Police Department's daily log and information provided by Lieutenant Christopher Sheehy and police staff. Occasionally, a few facts from other sources may be woven into these stories.
Monday, November 22, 2021
Criminal fraud or civil dispute?
9:06 a.m. Residents of Tamarack Road reported a possible case of fraud involving a man they had hired to remodel their home. The couple paid the contractor a deposit and the contractor began the remodeling work. However, the homeowners then discovered that the contractor’s professional license had expired. Additionally, the contractor had failed to obtain a building permit for the renovation.
Police are consulting with the District Attorney to determine whether this is a case of criminal fraud or if it should be considered a civil dispute.
Tuesday, November 23, 2021
Stealing checks from a mailbox
11:40 a.m. A representative of a private business office on University Avenue reported to police that seven checks totaling over $10,000 were stolen from an exterior mailbox. The company had placed them in the mailbox to be picked up on October 27, 2021. The checks had been cashed in early November 2021, but not by the intended recipients. The company is working with its bank to determine the locations where the checks were cashed.
Unemployment fraud
12:08 p.m. A resident of Whitewood Drive reported a case of unemployment fraud. Her husband’s employer informed both her husband and her that an unemployment claim had been filed on behalf of both of them. The couple reported the fraud to the Department of Unemployment Assistance. They checked their credit and found no suspicious activities.
Taking custody of unidentified pills
1:20 p.m. Police responded to Mass General Brigham Urgent Care to collect 3 pills that were found in a small container in the parking lot of 90 Brigham Way. An employee attempted to identify the pills from their markings but was unable to do so. The police officer received the pills which were logged into the evidence system.
Panhandling pays
4:56 p.m. A Roche Bros. store manager alerted an officer, who was working security detail at the store, to a young man in his late teens who had entered the store and was begging for money from customers. The manager informed the officer that the teen had done this over the past few weeks. The young man would become difficult when he was asked by store employees to leave.
The officer took him outside to speak to him privately. The young man gave the officer a name, stated he was from Norwood, and said he had arrived at Roche Bros. by bus. However, he refused to provide any identification. When asked personal questions, he was evasive and gave the officer a false contact number.
The officer informed him that if he is in need, there are forms of assistance that can be applied for in Westwood, but the teen declined to pursue them.
After explaining to the young man that his presence in the store will be considered a trespass, the officer walked him to a nearby bus stop. On the walk to the bus stop, the youth indicated to the officer that he is able to make more money by panhandling than by working a job.
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Unauthorized Amazon purchases
5:49 p.m. Police were dispatched to a Gables University Station apartment where a resident alleged that her health care worker has been fraudulently ordering items through the resident’s Amazon account without her permission. The case has been turned over to detectives.
Wednesday, November 24, 2021
Collision with a deer on Gay Street
9:32 a.m. A woman from Providence, Rhode Island, was driving a 2013 Nissan on Gay Street when she struck a deer. The deer ran off into the woods. The front fender of the vehicle was pushed in and contacting the tire, making the vehicle inoperable. It was towed. The driver was taken to the police station to await a ride from a friend.
Friday, November 26, 2021
When having a party becomes a crime
10:39 p.m. Police received a noise complaint regarding a home on Porter Street. When police arrived, a large number of teens were exiting the property and some were running into the woods. Many empty alcohol beverage containers were observed on the property. The host of the party, an adult under the age of 21, will face criminal charges for furnishing alcohol to persons under the age of 21 and being underage and in possession of alcohol.
Saturday, November 27, 2021
Police on the scent of perfume thieves
6:47 p.m. A police officer spoke to the store manager of Ulta Beauty about a larceny that had occurred about half an hour earlier. Two females had entered the store and taken multiple bottles of perfume worth a total of about $1,250. They left in a vehicle, but the manager was able to obtain the license plate number.
Police broadcast the plate number to other towns to be on the lookout for the vehicle. The investigation continues.
Sunday, November 28, 2021
This is what happens when you should be asleep
2:59 a.m. Police assisted a motorist whose 2009 Toyota had gone over a curb and was stuck in a mulch bed between two trees near the Mobile gas station on High Street.
The driver had pulled into the gas station to use her cell phone. She thought she had placed the car in park. She had not, however, and then accidentally stepped on the gas pedal instead of the brake pedal, causing the car to go over the curb into the mulch bed.
The front of the car and undercarriage were damaged. A tow truck arrived to remove the car. The motorist attempted to call someone to pick her up, but her cell phone battery was out. She was transported to the police station to recharge her cell phone. From there, she called a Lyft to take her to her home in Kingston.
Monday, November 29, 2021
Forced entry on Hartford Street
A resident of Norfolk, who is renovating a home on Westwood’s Hartford Street, reported a breaking and entering into his property. He had found a door that appeared forced open and minor damage.
Police examined the door and confirmed the forced entry. However, nothing appears to have been taken. The property owner has requested that police frequently check the property, as he is concerned that there may be an attempt to steal construction supplies from the site.
Thanks to Lieutenant Christopher Sheehy and the Westwood Police Department for contributing information for this article.
