Wellesley, MA police (back) log for the period of Feb. 15- (playing some catch-up here…):

Arrests

On March 3, 2022 at 6:30 p.m. Officer DiCenso was conducting traffic enforcement on Washington Street near Glen Road when she observed a Kia sedan with a broken headlight.  She stopped the vehicle on Washington Street near Pine Street.  She spoke with the operator and requested his license and registration.  A query of his information revealed there was an active warrant issued by the East Brookfield District Court for motor vehicle related offense.  He was taken into custody, transported to the station, booked in the usual manner, afforded all rights and later released on personal recognizance.

On March 4, 2022 at 12:29 p.m. Officer Cunningham was conducting traffic enforcement on Worcester Street when he observed a Hyundai with an expired inspection sticker and a temporary Texas registration.  He stopped the vehicle and spoke with the operator, and requested her license and registration.  A query of her information showed that her license was suspended and there was an active warrant issued by the Somerville District Court for motor vehicle related offenses.  She was taken into custody, transported to the station, booked in the usual manner, afforded all rights and later released.

On March 5, 2022 at 6:30 p.m. Officer Dixon was on patrol on Worcester Street when he observed a Chevrolet sedan with heavily tinted windows.  He queried the registration, which revealed that there was an active warrant for the registered owner.  He stopped the vehicle and spoke with the operator,  and confirmed she was the registered owner of the vehicle.  She was taken into custody, transported to the station, booked in the usual manner, afforded all rights and later bailed.

On March 6, 2022 at 10:45 p.m. Officer Dixon was parked along Washington Street when he observed a vehicle pass his location that did not have a valid inspection sticker.  He stopped the vehicle and spoke with the operator, and requested his license and registration.  The operator stated he did not have a driver’s license.  A query of his information showed that his license was suspended and there was an active warrant for his arrest issued by Boston District Court for motor vehicle related offenses.  He was taken into custody, transported to the station, booked in the usual manner, afforded all rights and later released on $400 bail.

Incidents

On February 15, 2022 at 6:00 a.m. an officer was dispatched to a business on Washington Street in the lower square area for a report of a past breaking and entering.  It appeared entrance had been gained through a rear door.   A small amount of cash was taken from the cash drawers.  Detectives responded to the scene to process it for any potential evidence.  The incident is under investigation.

On February 15, 2022 at 9:47 a.m. an officer was dispatched to a business on Washington Street in the lower square area for a report of a past breaking and entering.  The business owner stated an Apple desktop computer and approximately $2,300 in cash was taken.  Detectives responded to the scene to process it for any potential evidence.  The incident is under investigation.

On February 17, 2022 at 2:19 p.m. an officer spoke to a female party who stated she was parked at a business on Linden Street and an elderly female driver backed into her vehicle twice attempting to move from her parking space.  She stated there was no damage to either vehicle but she was concerned about the woman’s ability to safely operate a motor vehicle.  The officer will request a Medication Evaluation from the Registry of Motor Vehicles to evaluate the female party’s ability to continue to drive. 

On February 17, 2022 at 3:16 p.m. an officer spoke to a male reporting party stated $1,500 had inadvertently been sent to the wrong cell phone number on February 12^th.  The reporting party stated when they initially contacted Bank of America on February 12^th they were advised that the funds would not go through because the phone number and name did not match.  On February 14^th they were advised that Zelle payments are non-refundable.  They requested that the officer make contact with the individual who the payment was sent to.  The officer left a message for the individual and contacted the Hughson Sheriff’s Department to assist with contacting the individual who received the $1,500.

On February 17, 2022 at 4:15 p.m. an officer was dispatched to the Bacon Street Bridge for a report of offensive graffiti under the bridge.  He located some newly painted graffiti on both sides of the bridge.  The Department of Public Works was notified to remove the graffiti.

On February 18, 2022 at 8:53 a.m. a female reporting party stated that she had agreed to pay a male party $50 each way to a doctor’s appointment in Boston.  The male party drove him a total of 7 times in November and December.  The reporting party noticed the credit card used had several purchases made in November and December totaling over $5,000 in November and December.  The male party will be charged with Larceny over $1,200.  

On February 18, 20222 at 1:50 p.m. an officer spoke to a female reporting party regarding contractors who were doing work at her home that she felt might be attempting to scam her due to the quality of their work and their lack of knowledge.  Officers spoke with the contractors on scene and determined they were not properly licensed.  An Investigator for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Industrial Accidents responded and issued a stop work order.  

On February 19, 2022 at 1:43 p.m. an officer spoke with a dog walker who stated she found some jewelry laying on the sidewalk.  The items were placed in secure storage until the owner can be identified.

On February 19, 2022 at 2:34 p.m. an officer was dispatched to the area of Worcester Street at Fire Headquarters for a report of a minor motor vehicle crash and road rage incident.  The vehicles continued to travel west into Natick and were stopped by Route 27 by the Natick Police.  An officer spoke with both drivers and learned that the operator of a Toyota sedan thought he had

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The Wellesley Police log is frequently peppered with various incidents of fraud, including check fraud, and residents say things have gotten worse lately.

One reader wrote recently of having noticed noticed an unauthorized $10,000 withdrawal from their bank account. “Long story short—after notifying the bank and doing some investigation, I contacted the Wellesley police to report this. I then learned that my loss was one of a number that occurred following theft of mail from post office boxes in town.”

Fortunately for that resident, their bank reversed the withdrawal after receiving a detailed memo from the customer about the theft that included the police report. The customer has emailed friends warning them of the situation as well.

The theft brought back bad memories of the fishing scheme that crooks unleashed on the town back in 2019, in which they would lower sticky mouse traps via wire into mailboxes and snag checks. Then they’d alter the information on the checks and cash them illegally. The U. S. Postal Service responded by retrofitting mailboxes with devices to thwart such theft.

But now we hear thieves have become even more brazen in town.

A reader wrote that a neighbor had their mail stolen out of a mailbox outside the post office in Wellesley Square.

“Rather than the ‘fishing’ that happened in 2019 and led to the new more restrictive mail slots, now the thieves are taking the access doors off the mailboxes, stealing envelopes, altering checks and cashing them,” the reader wrote. “As you can imagine, when this happens it is a lot of work to clear this up with the bank, whoever the check was originally for, etc. So once again the advice is to deposit your mail inside the post office.”

We reached out to the Wellesley Police Department earlier in the week and they said they were planning to issue a public service announcement, which they have. The police say other communities are experiencing similar crime.

Among the advice from the police is to mail checks from within a post office when possible. If using a public mailbox, check that a collection will take place that day. And avoid mailing checks from your home mailbox.

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