Wellesley MA police log for January 3-11, 2025:

Arrest

On January 6, 2025, at 9:49 a.m. Officer Cunningham served an arrest warrant to a man issued by Framingham District Court for Larceny from a Building. He was taken into custody, transported to the station, booked in the usual manner, afforded all rights and later transported to Framingham District Court.

Incidents

On January 3, 2025, at 8:12 a.m. ACO Smith spoke with a male party who stated earlier that morning while running at Centennial Park he encountered 5-6 dogs off leash that were not under the voice control of their owners. The dogs began running down a hill towards him and the owners did not seem to be able to control them. Most of the dogs ran past him, but one dog jumped up and bit him in the rear. The reporting party asked the dog owner to put the dog on a leash and the owner complied. He did not obtain the owner or the dog’s information. ACO Smith advised him to consult with his physician about proper care for the dog bite. The male party stated this was the second time he had been bitten by a dog that was off leash at Centennial Park, and he intends to contact the Select Board about the leash laws.

On January 4, 2025, at 12:30 a.m. an officer spoke with a male party who stated he had been chatting with an unknown individual who he thought was a student at the same college he attends and he sent a photo of his legs to her which she altered to make it look as though he was naked and then demanded a $200 payment or she would send the photo to all of his contacts on SnapChat. He told the unknown party that he did not have $200, and they agreed he would send a $50 Apple Gift Card to an email address. The unknown party then demanded [Read more…]

Wellesley Police officers were dispatched at 3am on Jan. 5 to Woodcliff Road for a report of several individuals running around outside of a few cars parked on the street. As an officer was responding to the call he observed vehicles traveling east on Lowell Road and then turn right onto Cliff Road.  Another officer encountered the vehicles turning from Cliff Road onto Washington Street and attempted to stop the vehicles. The vehicles did not stop for the officers.

The reporting party stated one of the individuals had entered an unlocked vehicle in his driveway and was unsure if anything had been taken.

There were no other reports on Jan. 5 or 6 of motor vehicles that were broken into, according to the police.

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The Middlesex District Attorney’s office has announced that a New York man has pleaded guilty to a series of ten housebreaks across Newton, Wellesley, Andover, and Quincy.  The breaks targeted homes belonging to Asian or South Asian families.

“His plan not only violated the victims’ sense of safety, but, in one instance, he created a physical threat for the family, including children, who were at home during the break,” said District Attorney Marian Ryan. “This case is an example of a frightening trend of targeted breaks. However, it also illustrates that we are committed to working collaboratively across agencies and multiple counties, if necessary, to hold those accountable who are organizing these complex criminal schemes.”

Between June and July of 2021, ten homes were broken into, four in Newton, four in Quincy, one in Wellesley and one in Andover. During these housebreaks approximately $200,000 worth of property was stolen, including currency, designer watches, jewelry and a handgun.

Geolocation and cell tower data obtained pursuant to search warrants revealed that the same Google account holder/phone subscribers were appearing at the location of all of the breaks.

In total, the man pleaded guilty to twenty-one indictments, and was sentenced to 4-5 years in State Prison as a Common and Notorious Thief. That sentence will run consecutively with a 5.5 to 11 year sentence already being served in New York state for similar conduct. The man was additionally sentenced to a three-year term of probation on an additional twenty counts charging Unarmed Burglary, Breaking and Entering, Larcenies in Buildings, Larceny of a Firearm and Attempted Breaking and Entering.

A co-defendant is scheduled for trial on April 14, 2025.

The investigation into this matter was conducted by the Newton Police, Wellesley Police, Andover Police, Quincy Police and the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office, with assistance from the New England State Police Information Network.

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The latest Wellesley Police Department log from October and November, 2024

Arrests

On Friday, October 11, 2024, at 9:30 a.m. Officer Misho was conducting traffic enforcement on Worcester Street at Bancroft Road when he observed an Acura SUV and conducted a random query of the vehicle’s registration.  The query showed that the vehicle was not properly inspected and the registered owner’s license was suspended.  Officer Misho stopped the vehicle and spoke with the operator and owner, who was taken into custody, transported to the station, booked in the usual manner, afforded all rights and transported to Dedham District Court.

On Friday, November 1, 2024, at 4:33 a.m. Officer Carr was conducting traffic enforcement on Worcester Street near Cliff Road when he observed a Honda sedan with heavily tinted windows pass his location.  He conducted a query of the registration which showed the vehicle was not properly inspected.  He stopped the vehicle and spoke with the operator, and requested her driver’s license and the vehicle registration.  She provided Officer Carr with her driver’s license but was unable to find the vehicle’s registration.   Officer Carr queried the operator’s information and learned there was an active straight warrant for her arrest for motor vehicle related offenses that had been issued on October 23^rd.  She was taken into custody, transported to the station, booked in the usual manner, afforded all rights and released on personal recognizance.

On November 2, 2024, at 1:35 a.m. while conducting security checks of the businesses he heard a car horn sounding, and his attention was drawn to a vehicle traveling west in the eastbound lane on Worcester Street.  The vehicle passed several side streets and continued to travel in the wrong direction. The vehicle eventually turned into a parking lot on Worcester Street.  Officer Wagner spoke with the operator, and immediately detected an odor of an alcoholic beverage emanating from the driver. The officer observed the drivers’ eyes to be bloodshot and watery and there was significant damage to the front end of the vehicle that appeared to be new damage. The operator was afforded the opportunity to perform some reasonable tests of balance and coordination. He was unable to successfully complete these tests. He was taken into custody, transported to the station, booked in the usual manner, afforded all rights and later released on personal recognizance.

On November 16, 2024 at 2:21 a.m. Sgt. Lemenager was traveling on Central Street when he observed a Subaru Outback fail to stop for a stop sign on Cross Street at Central Street.  He stopped the vehicle and spoke with the operator. While speaking with the driver, Sgt. Lemenager detected the odor of an alcoholic beverage emanating from his person. He was afforded the opportunity to take some reasonable tests of balance and coordination. He was unable to successfully complete these tests. He was taken into custody, transported to the station, booked in the usual manner, afforded all rights and later released on personal recognizance.

Incidents

On October 1, 2024, at 9:40 a.m. an officer spoke to a female reporting party who fell victim to an email scam where she received an electronic invitation from Punchbowl. The reporting party was familiar with the name on the invitation, so she opened it and entered her information as requested. Shortly thereafter Punchbowl began sending invitations to people on her contact list that appeared to have been sent by her but were not sent by her. The reporting party has not noticed any suspicious activity with her bank accounts or credit cards. She was advised to continue monitoring this information
and she stated she would.

On October 2, 2024, at 10:31 a.m. an officer was dispatched to a bank for a counterfeit $20 bill. The bank manager showed the officer the $20 bill that he suspected was counterfeit and indicated that their internal fraud department would handle the investigation and would forward the bill to the Secret Service as well.

On October 2, 2024, an officer was dispatched to a store on Worcester Street for a report of a suspicious male party. The store employees reported that on several occasions the male party would walk around the store and stare at them making them feel uncomfortable. The male party was issued a letter of no trespass and advised he was not welcome to return to the store.

On October 2, 2024, at 3:28 p.m. an officer spoke to a male reporting party who stated that an iPhone 16 that was delivered by FedEx to his residence was stolen after it was delivered, and he had security video of the theft. A contractor who was at the residence at the same time provided a description of a male party wearing a ski mask and that he got into what he believed to be a Honda Civic.

On October 3, 2024, at 8:11 a.m. Officer Cunningham spoke with a male party who stated an iPhone 16 was delivered by FedEx to his residence. He observed on his ring camera that a male party walked to his doorstep and took the package the previous day. The video showed a male party wearing red pants and a white hooded jacket take the package and then get into a small black sedan and leave the area.

On October 4, 2024, at 11:30 a.m. an officer was dispatched to a residence for a well- being check of an elderly resident at the request of her physician’s office. The officer noticed while speaking with her that she was having some memory issues and needed some assistance. The officer [Read more…]

The Wellesley Police Department on Monday, Nov. 18 shortly after 6pm received a residential burglar alarm for a home on Livingston
Road. As two officers arrived at the residence, they interrupted a breaking and entering in progress and encountered two individuals fleeing on foot.

Officers and Detectives from the Wellesley Police Department, Dover, Needham, Wellesley College Campus Police and Massachusetts State Police
responded to assist in searching the area. At approximately 7:00 p.m. a resident reported seeing a male party running through their yard on Longmeadow Road. Lt. Jeff Renzella encountered the male party, later identified as being from Denver, and he was taken into custody.

Officers continued to search the area for the second individual with the assistance of two Massachusetts State Police K9’s, the State Police Airwing and
officers from area forces. Drones were also deployed by the Dover and Wellesley Police to assist with the search, but it was ultimately determined that the second suspect had fled the area.

The Wellesley Police encourage residents to report any suspicious active to the Emergency Communications Center by calling 9-1-1.

The incident remains under investigation.

Wellesley Police log for May & June, 2024:

On May 31, 2024 at 6:12 p.m. officers were dispatched to the area of 888 Worcester Street for a male party who had attempted to gain access to a residence nearby. The reporting party stated he observed a male party attempting to make entrance into his residence on his security cameras. The male party matching the description observed on the security footage was located nearby. He denied trying to make entry into the house. He had been observed on the security footage opening a side door and entering the residence. Nothing was taken from the residence. The male party was identified. He was taken into custody, transported to the station, booked in the usual manner, afforded all rights and later transported to the Dedham House of Correction.

On June 3, 2024 at 3:39 officers from the Wellesley Police Department served an arrest warrant issued by Dedham District Court for B & E, Nighttime for a Felony, Larceny from a Building, Wanton Destruction of Property under $1,200 and Breaking into a Depository and a warrant issued by Framingham District Court for Larceny from a Person. The suspect was taken into custody, transported to the station, booked in the usual manner and held without bail.

On June 20, 2024 at 2:06 a.m. officers checked on a vehicle that was parked on Washington Street. The officer had driven past the vehicle approximately an hour prior and observed a male party in the driver’s seat. The male party initially appeared to be sleeping in his motor vehicle and the officer attempted to make contact to check on his wellbeing. The officer knocked on the window for about 30 seconds before the male party awoke and began trying to drive the vehicle forward. The officer opened the driver’s side door and instructed the male party to put the vehicle in park. The male party complied. The male party was identified and he appeared to be intoxicated, did not know where he was and had difficulty answering the officer’s questions. He agreed to take some reasonable tests of balance and coordination to determine if he could safely operate a motor vehicle and he was unable to successfully complete those tests. He was taken into custody, transported to the station, booked in the usual manner, afforded all rights and later released on personal recognizance.

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On June 23, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. an officer was on patrol on Worcester Street near Rockland Street when he observed the driver of an SUV texting while driving. He queried the vehicle’s registration which showed there was an active warrant issued by the Waltham District Court for Shoplifting for the owner. The officer stopped the vehicle on Worcester Street near Dearborn and identified the operator as the registered owner. He was taken into custody, transported to the station, booked in the usual manner, afforded all rights and later released on personal recognizance.

On Tuesday, May 6, 2024 at 3:33 p.m. a male reporting party requested to speak to an officer regarding cash being stolen from his wallet while he was shopping. The reporting party stated while he was attempting to pay for his groceries at Whole Foods the self-checkout register his credit card was declined and the store associate advised him he would need to pay at the customer service desk. The reporting party inadvertently left his wallet at the self-checkout register and when he returned to retrieve it he learned an unknown male party had claimed it from a store employee. The wallet was later found in the parking lot area by the carriage return but was missing approximately $130 to $140 in cash. The incident is under investigation.

On Tuesday, May 14, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. officers were dispatched to the area of Cedar Street near Worcester Street for a report of a male party in a vehicle attempting to get a teenage boy into his vehicle. While responding the officers were advised the incident had occurred approximately 15 minutes prior to be reporting and the reporting party had a description of the vehicle and the license plate. Officers were able to locate the male party and speak with him. They learned he was a ride share driver and mistook the teenage boy for another teenage boy who had arranged for the ride. The officers updated the reporting party and asked if they knew an individual with the name the rideshare driver provided and they did. The officer contacted that individual and he confirmed that he had requested the ride and was safely transported home.

On May 14, 2024 at 6:13 p.m. an officer spoke to a reporting party who had fallen victim to a scam and as a result had lost $46,000. The reporting party had been contacted through the social media platform “WhatsApp” by an unknown individual posing as a friend on April 30, 2024. The unknown individual requested that the reporting party transfer $46,000 to a specific bank account and indicated they needed the transfer to originate in the United States while they were out of the country and they would reimburse the reporting party right away. The reporting party made the transfer and later became suspicious and noted the friend’s name was misspelled so they contacted the friend and learned that the request had not bee made by them. The reporting party contacted their financial institution the following day and requested they freeze the transaction as it was still showing as pending online. The bank indicated the transfer of funds had already occurred, but they would contact the receiving bank. The incident is under investigation.

On May 16, 2024 at 8:30 p.m. an officer spoke with a reporting party who stated approximately a year ago he became acquainted with a male party who wished to become business partners. Over the course of a year the male party convinced the reporting party to make several payments totaling $450,000 and was promised at least a four times return on the investment. In April the reporting party started to suspect he had fallen victim to a scam as he had not received any return on his investment. He told the male party that he no longer wished to be business partners and would like his money returned to him. The male party advised him the money was tied up in investments and could not be returned. The reporting party resides in Revere and has family in Wellesley and reported the incident in Wellesley due to concerns about the male party targeting his family in Wellesley for further scams.

On May 18, 2024 at 6:18 p.m. an officer spoke to a reporting party who stated he had been threatened with another individual with a fork. He stated he had stopped by his parents’ apartment in Wellesley and another resident in the building threatened him with a small pitchfork. He stated he was calling his parents’ names to try to get their attention as they do not always hear the door buzzer. He stated the male party called him a “moron” and he responded “what are you going to do about it” at which point the male party grabbed the pitchfork and threatened him with it. The officer made multiple attempts to speak to the male party by visiting the residence and contacting him via phone and was unsuccessful. The male party will be summonsed to Dedham District Court for Assault with a Dangerous Weapon.

On May 20, 2024 at 4:13 a.m. an officer was watching a mailbox located at 1 Grove Street due to numerous thefts from the mailbox during overnight hours. He observed a male party break into the mailbox and dump the contents into the rear driver’s side window of a white sedan. The officer approached with his emergency lights and the male party got in the vehicle and immediately fled. The officer followed the vehicle attempting to stop it. The officer followed the vehicle down Grove Street to Benvenue and onto Grove at which time the vehicle left the roadway and crashed into a utility pole. He observed the driver and a passenger exit the vehicle and flee on foot on Brook Street towards Great Plain Avenue. Officers from Wellesley, Needham and Babson College began searching the area for the two suspects. A drone was deployed to attempt to locate the suspects in the wooded area and a K-9 from the Massachusetts State Police assisted with a ground search. The two suspects were not located and the incident is under investigation.

On May 22, 2024 at 12:39 an officer spoke to a reporting party who stated she had purchased a large umbrella for the picnic table outside the apartment building and had placed it at the picnic table on May 21 st . She stated on the morning of May 22nd she noticed the umbrella was sagging on one side and that a metal arm inside the umbrella was broken. She believed that another resident intentionally damaged the umbrella as there was no significant wind at the time.

On May 28, 2024 at 1:30 p.m. an officer was dispatched to the area of Fuller Brook Road for a report of two male parties soliciting. The officer located the parties and requested their permits to solicit. They did not have permits to solicit and the officer explained the town by-law regarding soliciting. They contacted their supervisor and advised him that they could not solicit in Wellesley without a permit. They agreed to stop soliciting while they awaited their ride.

On May 28, 2024 at 1:30 p.m. an officer was dispatched to neighbor dispute. The reporting party stated that she hired a moving company to remove some furniture from her residence and when they arrived at the residence a neighbor began filming them and asked where they were going to park their truck. The officer noted that the moving company was parked in the reporting party’s driveway. The officer then spoke to the neighbor who stated she did not want vehicles to park on her side of the street, on the sidewalk in front of her house or block her driveway. She was advised that the street was a public way and vehicle could park legally.