Police Log: Fraudster Arrested, Suspicious Characters, Dumpster Diving

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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.

Wednesday, June 22nd

Shoplifting at Nordstrom Rack

12:48 p.m. Police spoke to asset protection personnel at Nordstrom Rack regarding a shoplifting that had occurred about fifteen minutes earlier. Surveillance video showed the subject entering the store, wearing a white hat, black shirt, black pants, a blue surgical mask, white sneakers and a gold chain. He placed sneakers and miscellaneous items in a shopping cart. 

Upon appearing to notice himself being observed by store security staff, the subject took a white backpack from a shelf, put it on his shoulder, and walked out of the store toward the parking lot at the rear of David’s Bridal. Additional officers checked the area for him, but were unable to locate the individual. The stolen backpack has an estimated value of $100.

Lost in Westwood

10:26 p.m. A resident of Gay Street reported that a black Toyota and black Ford Explorer had followed her daughter home. The resident was able to provide the license plate number of one of the vehicles.

Four officers responded to the area. They located the two vehicles at the Hanlon School. Police determined that the drivers were both legitimately lost, and that the complainant had misinterpreted the meaning of the vehicles following behind the complainant’s daughter. Police provided the drivers with directions.

Thursday, June 23rd

Who is the guilty party?

12:51 p.m. An employee of a local, Westwood business walked into the police station to report a larceny. The business had contracted with a customer for work to be performed in April 2022 for $855. The customer paid for the work by credit card.

One month later, in May, the business discovered a large charge had been issued back to the customer. The business contacted the customer by phone, and the customer hung up.

Police reached out to the customer and were told that the customer would check his schedule and get back to police. On June 25, 2022, the customer called police and explained that he was unaware of the chargeback. He indicated that the transaction occurred through "CHIME" bank, that his account had been compromised, and that others had been similarly affected. He indicated that he had worked out a payment agreement with the Westwood business to pay back the chargeback, which was an amount a little over his service charge, or $905.

Police contacted the bookkeeper for the Westwood business to confirm that payment arrangements had been made. Police are awaiting further information.

Arrest made in case of fraudulent bank accounts

3:47 p.m. Concord Police contacted a Westwood Police detective sergeant with an update in an investigation by Concord Police.

On June 22, 2022, a man visited Chase Bank on High Street in Westwood, presenting a New York state driver’s license as identification to open a bank account. A background check found that the individual was acting fraudulently and was not who he represented himself to be. The bank denied the man an account. He left Chase Bank, walking a short distance to Dedham Savings, which also is located on High Street. Chase Bank representatives phoned Dedham Savings to alert it to the scam.

The Westwood Police detective sergeant learned from Concord Police that the same individual had been arrested by Concord Police on June 23, 2022.

Friday, June 24th

Mutual aid request from Norwood PD

5:59 p.m. Norwood Police requested assistance from Westwood Police regarding a report of an unwanted party at the address of the UPS Customer Center on University Avenue in Norwood. Westwood Police responded to the area. The individual was gone upon arrival of police.

Saturday, June 25th

Vehicle damaged by egging on Nahatan Street

5:36 p.m. Police met with a Nahatan Street resident who reported vandalism to a vehicle parked overnight, across the street from the resident’s home. The vehicle, a black, 2014 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class, had been egged. Upon discovering the eggs, the resident attempted to wash them off, but they had been on the vehicle long enough to damage the paint.

Police canvassed surrounding homes for video surveillance or witnesses, but no one had any helpful information to provide.

Monday, June 27th

Suspicious visitor in the early morning

2:14 a.m. A caller reported suspicious behavior upon seeing an individual go back and forth from a vehicle to a neighbor’s house on Phillips Brooks Road. Eventually, the suspicious person drove away. The caller was unable to provide a vehicle description. As trash and recycling bins had been placed out earlier in the preceding evening, it is possible that the individual may have been going through the bins.

Dumpster diving or an animal?

2:33 a.m. A resident of Croft Regis Road called police to report someone going through the trash on the side of their house. Police responded and checked the area but did not locate anyone.

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

Updated 6/30/2022 at 4:59 p.m. A typographical error has been corrected where "no" has been changed to "not" in the last police log entry.

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