Police Log: Fleeing Thief Turns Himself In, Catalytic Converter Thefts, Overzealous Census Worker

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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.

Tuesday, March 22, 2022

Fleeing thief walks into police station, turns himself in

11:36 a.m. Police received a call from a witness who observed a man concealing the rear license plate on his Lincoln MKX SUV in the driveway to the University Station parking lot. After concealing his license plate, the man walked into Nordstrom Rack. He came out, got into his vehicle, and exited the parking lot. A police officer on University Avenue responded to the call and located the vehicle. The driver evaded police by going onto the wrong side of the road on University Avenue, and escaping onto Route 128.

Westwood Police alerted state police to the fleeing suspect. An investigation revealed the suspect had stolen 10 pairs of Ray Ban sunglasses worth a total of $1300. He was identified as a 36 year-old resident of Green Street in Woburn, and a warrant for his arrest was obtained.

The next day, detectives went to the suspect’s home in Woburn to arrest him. He was not present. That evening, at 7:15 p.m., the suspect entered Westwood Police Station to turn himself in.

Police charged him with larceny and multiple additional charges: failure to stay in marked lanes, speeding, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, failing to stop for a police officer and concealing his license plate.

Fist fight at train station

4:33 p.m. Police were dispatched to the Amtrak station on a report of a fist fight between two men in the train station parking lot. Before police arrived, one man fled in a black Mercedes.

Upon arriving at the scene, police spoke to a woman from Dedham who was reluctant to give information. However, she revealed that the fist fight involved her boyfriend and another man whom she knows simply as “Bodega.” An effort was made to reach the woman’s boyfriend, but he did not answer his phone.

Because Bodega was allegedly employed at a business on University Avenue in Norwood, police searched the area. Police were unable to locate anyone matching his description.

11:56 p.m. Norwood Police contacted Westwood Police to check a section of Route 1 in Norwood in response to a report of an overturned vehicle in the vicinity. Westwood Police investigated and found no sign of such a vehicle.

Wednesday, March 23, 2022

Mack Truck cement mixer strikes vehicle on High Street

10:04 a.m. A cement mixer truck struck a 2015 Nissan on High Street, injuring the Westwood woman who was driving the Nissan. The cement mixer, a Mack Truck, was traveling east on High Street, approaching Nahatan Street. The Nissan was making a turn from Nahatan onto the westbound land of High Street. However, the Nissan stopped in the middle of the intersection. 

The truck was unable to stop in time and struck the driver side of the Nissan. The driver of the Nissan was taken to Beth Israel Deaconess Needham. The truck driver was uninjured. No citation was issued.

Unruly teens

5:21 p.m. Police were dispatched to Gables University Station Apartments on reports of a disturbance caused by a group of juveniles. A maintenance worker had observed a group of male and female juveniles aged around 14 to 15 years old on the roof of the apartment building. One of the juveniles struck him with a closed fist. 

The maintenance worker showed police pictures he had taken of the group, and police were able to locate them in the parking lot outside Del Frisco’s Grille. The group included juveniles from Norwood, Canton, Dedham and Westwood. Members of the group are also alleged to have damaged a fence on the apartment building’s property. This case is under investigation.

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Friday, March 25, 2022

Choose your parking spot well

6:42 p.m. Police were dispatched to a parking lot in front of David’s Bridal at University Station to respond to a report that an employee’s vehicle may have been tampered with. When the employee’s 2007 Honda CR-V would not start, she contacted a towing company. The car was placed on the flatbed of the tow truck, and from that position, it could be seen that the catalytic converter had been cut out of the vehicle.

Police made inquiries to see if any parking lot cameras had caught the incident. The Honda CR-V was parked in a comparatively more secluded parking spot, around the corner from David’s Bridal, and across from Lifetime Fitness.

Lieutenant Christopher Sheehy notes that removing a catalytic converter is a quick task with an electric saw. I can take just two minutes. He advises people, “Park in a busy spot, busy area. If it’s at night, park in a place where it’s well-lit.”

Disturbance on High Street

10:43 p.m. Police received a report of sounds of a female screaming and of a group of girls walking up and down the street in the vicinity of 188 High Street. Three police officers were dispatched to the area, but did not find anyone matching that description.

Saturday, March 26, 2022

Overzealous census worker

4:50 p.m. A senior residing at Highland Glen complained to police of harassment from someone claiming to be from the Census Bureau. She had declined to participate in a survey, and a man came to her home and left a business card, asking to be contacted. An officer investigated and confirmed that the man works for the Census Bureau. The officer explained to him that the Westwood resident was not interested in participating in the survey and should not be contacted. The census worker agreed.

Shoplifting at CVS

7:37 p.m. Police responded to a call regarding a woman shoplifting at CVS on Washington Street around 7:00 p.m. When police arrived, the woman had left. Security video footage showed her entering the store and heading to Aisle 10 where she spent 10 minutes putting items into a bag. She then left the store without paying for the items. The woman was wearing a blue baseball hat, blue jacket, and grey sweatpants. She left in a dark sedan with tinted windows and black rims. The case has been passed to detectives for follow-up.

Sunday, March 27, 2022

Another catalytic converter theft

9:53 a.m. A resident of Mansfield reported that the catalytic converter of his brown Mazda Tribute was stolen while parked at the University Station shops. The theft occurred two days prior to his report.

On March 25, 2022, the Wegmans employee returned to his vehicle after work ended at 6:00 p.m. His vehicle was parked between Wegmans Café and Target. When he reached his vehicle, he realized that his catalytic converter had been removed. Police are searching for video and detectives are following up on this case.

OUI Arrest on Clapboardtree Street

5:45 p.m. A 64 year-old Norwood woman was driving a 2022 Volvo on Clapboardtree Street, from Xaverian Brothers High School toward Meadowbrook Road and Milk Street. She failed to negotiate a turn at Meadowbrook Road and struck a metal guardrail.

Police determined that the woman was under the influence of liquor and she was arrested and transported to the police station. She was cited for OUI liquor and failure to stay in her lane.

Thanks to Lieutenant Christopher Sheehy and the Westwood Police Department for contributing information for this article.

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