From the Wellesley Police Department:

The Wellesley Police Department is investigating three home burglaries within the past week.

The first burglary occurred on Appian Drive on Friday, December 8, 2023 in the evening hours. In that case, suspects forced entry from the rear of a house and removed items. No one was home during that burglary.

The second burglary occurred on Tanglewood Road on Monday, December 11, 2023, and was discovered by the homeowner in the late afternoon. Suspects forced entry through a rear window in the afternoon hours and entered the home, removing items.

The third burglary occurred on Tuesday, December 12, 2023, on Lincoln Road. In that case, the residents were home at the time of the break-in, which occurred in the early evening hours. Suspects broke into the house from the rear of the home through a window and then fled once being discovered by the homeowner.

All three burglaries are being actively investigated by the Wellesley Police Department, and neighbors have been providing leads with their home security cameras.

Burglary suspects may approach a front door or ring a doorbell, and then quickly go to the rear of a house to break in. Residents are asked to be vigilant about suspicious activity in their neighborhood and to make note of any unusual vehicles, especially if idling and/or occupied.

The Newton Police Department reports that it has captured 2 suspects who allegedly stole more than 1,000 pieces of mail.

The Newton Police say they were informed by counterparts in Wellesley early on Monday morning that they were “in pursuit of a vehicle involved in a mail theft in their city [sic].” Newton Police spotted the suspects’ vehicle on Rte. 9 at around 4am, then tried to stop the vehicle near Hammond Pond Parkway. The suspects drove off at a high rate of speed into Brookline, then crashed a short time later on Newton Street in Brookline. The adult male suspects were then caught following a short foot pursuit and investigation, and placed under arrest for receiving stolen property and failure to stop for the police. They were being arraigned on Monday in Newton.

The Wellesley Police Department has told The Swellesley Report that it received an alarm from a mailbox in front of the Grove Street post office at 2:30am on Nov. 27.

An officer nearby saw no vehicles near the post office, but another officer traveling east on Washington Street to conduct a security check on mailboxes at the Wellesley Hills post office spotted a red sedan in front of him that began to accelerate and ran the red light at Washington and State streets. While being pursued by the police officer, the sedan blew through red lights at Cliff Road and Worcester Street. Because the vehicle was going so fast, the officer determined it was no longer safe to follow it, so surrounding communities were alerted.

After the vehicle crashed, an inventory revealed a large amount of unmetered mail from various communities, including Wellesley. The suspects are believed to have removed the mail from the Grove Street mailboxes.

The mail is currently being held as evidence. The District Attorney’s Office will advise when it can be released.

After the suspects’ arraignment at Newton District Court they were bailed and detectives from the Wellesley Police Department took them into custody for Breaking into a Depository and Larceny Over $250.  They were transported to the Wellesley Police Station to be processed.

Thanks to Adam Gaffin at Universal Hub for calling this incident to our attention.

More: Wellesley Police warn that mail fishing remains an issue

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Wellesley has experienced an uptick in stolen checks and other instances of mail fishing this summer, says Lieutenant Marie Cleary of the Wellesley Police Department.

According to Lt. Cleary, “Since the fall of 2019, the Wellesley Police Department has been periodically inundated with check fraud reports stemming from checks that have been placed into the U.S. Mail via blue USPS collection boxes throughout town.” 

Despite the U.S. Postal Service replacing pull-down handles on mailboxes with thin slots in recent years, mail fishing has persisted. 

One Wellesley resident who chose to remain anonymous became a victim of mail fishing last month, after sending a check from one of the mailboxes outside of the post office on Grove Street.

The check was originally made out for $400, but they received a notice from their bank a few days later, alerting them of a check for $14,000 being cashed under their name. 

After connecting with USPS, it was discovered that areas of the check were bleached to “correct” the name and amount after being retrieved from the mailbox using double-sided tape. 

“We are so grateful that these terrible people didn’t get the $14,000, but it has been such a pain for us to have to change everything,” they said, “We’re a little neurotic right now about everything.”

This story seems to line up with the Police Department’s data, which reports that instances of “bulk mail theft” are most common, during which the subject(s) will raid one or more of the blue USPS boxes, specifically those located outside of post offices. 

At this time, the Wellesley Police Department is recommending that residents take some protective actions, including the following:

• “Do not mail letters containing checks or money in blue USPS collection boxes. If you must use a collection box, be sure to place your mail in the box before the last collection of the day.”
• “Use gel pens when writing personal checks. Gel ink is more resistant to chemical washing than standard ball point pen ink.”
• “Actively monitor your bank statements and follow up with intended recipients regarding the status of your payments.”
• “Report check fraud to the police department, even if you are reimbursed by your bank.”

Please send tips, photos, ideas to theswellesleyreport@gmail.com

The latest Wellesley, Mass., police department arrest log:

June

On June 23, 2023 at 2:14 p.m. officers were dispatched to a bank on Central Street for a report of a female party attempting to cash a fraudulent check.  The suspect fled the bank and left the area in a Hyundai sedan.  An officer spotted the vehicle traveling west on Central Street and attempted to stop the vehicle.  The vehicle proceeded into Natick and slowed in the area of the Natick Fire Department and left the female passenger, later identified by police, out of the vehicle and continued on Route 16 westbound.   Officers verified that the passenger was the individual who had attempted to pass the fraudulent check in the bank.  She was taken into custody.  A short time later officers observed a vehicle matching the description of the Hyundai sedan traveling eastbound on Central Street in Wellesley.  Officers attempted to stop the vehicle, however it refused to stop.  The vehicle was found a short time later on Vane Street unoccupied.  Two male parties matching the description of the operator and front passenger of the vehicle were located on Grove Street.  Both male parties were taken into custody and were identified.   All 3 were all booked in the usual manner and afforded all rights.  One was later released on personal recognizance., another was later bailed on $1,000 and the other was later bailed on $3,000.

On June 26, 2023 at 4:00 p.m. Officer Pino was dispatched to Colby Road for a report of a two-car motor vehicle crash.  Officer Pino spoke with both operators and noticed that one of the operators had a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage emanating from her person.   The other operator stated that as he was traveling on Colby Road he observed a vehicle behind him driving at a high rate of speed.  He began to turn into his driveway when he was struck from behind by the other vehicle.  When asked for her driver’s license, the other operator had difficulty locating it in her wallet and she was unsteady on her feet when she exited her vehicle.  She became agitated and uncooperative with the officers.  She struck an officer with her knee twice while they were attempting to take her into custody.  She was eventually taken into custody, transported to the station, booked in the usual manner, afforded all rights and later released on $200 bail.

On June 29, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. Officer Garland was conducting traffic enforcement on Worcester Street when he observed a Honda SUV and conducted a query with the registry to verify the vehicle’s inspection status.  The query showed that the vehicle had not been properly inspected.  He stopped the vehicle and spoke with the operator, and requested his license and registration.  The query showed there was an active default warrant issued by Framingham District Court for Assault & Battery, Resisting Arrest and Disorderly Conduct.  He was taken into custody, transported to the station, booked in the usual manner, afforded all rights and transported to Dedham District Court.

May

On May 2, 2023 at 1:30 a.m. Officer Lucenta was conducting neighborhood security checks for stolen vehicles.  While she was traveling on Colburn Road she observed a BMW sedan traveling at a low rate of speed with its brake lights illuminated.   Officer Lucenta conducted a query of the vehicle registration which showed it was a stolen motor vehicle.   She attempted to stop the motor vehicle and it fled the area.   She followed the vehicle through the neighborhood onto Washington Street and then Forest Street.  It was clear to Officer Lucenta that the vehicle was not going to stop so she terminated the pursuit after the vehicle had entered into Needham.   The vehicle continued and crashed a short while later on Highland Ave by Oakland Ave.  When officers encountered the vehicle there were three open doors and no occupants it the vehicle.  The Needham Police Department and Wellesley Police Department began searching the area for the occupants of the vehicle.  All three juvenile occupants were located and were taken into custody.  They were transported to the station, booked in the usual manner, afforded all rights and released to responsible adults.

On May 7, 2023 at 5:45 p.m. officers were dispatched to the Brook Path between Brook Street and Wellesley Ave for a report of a male party acting erratically.  The officers located the male party on a park bench drinking wine.  The male party appeared heavily intoxicated and initially refused to identify himself.  After speaking with him further it was determined that his family members were away and there was no responsible party who could take care and custody of him.  He was taken into protective custody and later transported to the hospital for treatment.

On May 18, 2023 at 2:30 p.m. officers located a suspect in Brockton.  He was taken into custody on an arrest warrant issued by Dedham District Court for four counts of breaking and entering into a motor vehicle and four counts of malicious damage to a motor vehicle.  He was transported to the Wellesley Police Station, booked in the usual manner, afforded all rights and held without bail.

On May 23, 2023 at 7:30 p.m. officers were dispatched to the area of Cedar Street at Barton Road for a report of a possible motor vehicle crash.  Officers located a GMC pickup truck on Barton Road that had damage to the front passenger side of the vehicle.  The operator, later identified, had a moderate odor of an alcoholic beverage emanating from his breath, his speech was slightly slurred and his eyes were glassy.  He agreed to take some reasonable tests of balance and coordination and was unable to successfully pass 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.

On May 25, 2023 at 1:43 a.m. Officer Wagner was on traveling on Wynnewood Road near Bristol Road when he heard the sound of tires squealing and then heard a loud crash.   Officer Wagner traveled onto Bristol Road and located a sedan on the tree lawn that appeared to have collided with three parked cars.  He spoke with the operator, and noticed that his eyes were red and watery and his speech was slow and slurred.   Officer Wagner afforded the driver with an opportunity to take some reasonable tests of balance and coordination which he refused.  The man refused to exit the vehicle and began resisting the attempts of the officers to place him into custody.   Officers were eventually able to take him into custody, he was transported to the station, booked in the usual manner, afforded all rights and later released on personal recognizance.

On May 30, 2023 at 10:45 a.m. Officer Mankavech was conducting traffic enforcement on Worcester Street when he observed a Chevrolet Traverse with no front license plate.  He then observed that the driver of the motor vehicle had his head down with his eyes looking towards his lap and he did not have any hands on the steering wheel.  Officer Mankavech stopped the vehicle and spoke with the driver, who provided a MA Identification card.  Officer Mankavech inquired if he had an active license and the operator indicated it was suspended.  A query of the man’s personal information confirmed that his license was suspended.  There was an open container of beer on the rear passenger seat and the operator had narcotics in his possession that were not prescribed to him.  He was taken into custody, transported to the station, booked in the usual manner, afforded all rights and later transported to Dedham District Court.

April

On April 10, 2023 at 3:13 p.m. officers were dispatched to a bank on Central Street for a report of a female party attempting to fraudulently take funds from another person’s bank account.   Officer Cunningham observed the female party, later identified, exiting the bank upon his arrival.  Initially she provided a driver’s license identifying her as the account holder.  The officers were able to make contact with the account holder who stated she had possession of her driver’s license and credit card.  She was in possession of a fraudulent driver’s license.  She had attempted to withdraw $39,800 from the victim’s bank account.   The suspect was taken into custody, transported to the station, booked in the usual manner, afforded all rights and held on $2,500 bail.

On April 11, 2023 at 11:44 p.m. officers were dispatched to single-car motor vehicle crash on Elmwood Road where the operator of the motor vehicle struck a utility pole and reportedly left the scene.  While Officer Scopa was evaluating the crash scene he observed a male and female party walking towards the area.  He asked if either of them had been in the vehicle.  The male party, later identified, stated he had been driving the vehicle and had looked down for a moment and then he struck the pole.  He left the crash scene to return to a family member’s residence a short distance away.   While speaking with him, Officer Scopa noticed that his eyes were glassy and bloodshot and his speech was slightly slurred.  He agreed to take some reasonable tests of balance and coordination and was unable to successfully complete these tests.  He was taken into custody, transported to the station, booked in the usual manner and later released on personal recognizance.

On April 20. 2023 at 6:10 p.m. he observed a BMW SUV on Worcester Street and conducted a random query of the vehicle’s registration.  The query showed that the vehicle was listed as stolen.  He stopped the vehicle and spoke with the operator, later identified, who stated a friend let him borrow the vehicle and he did not know it was stolen.  A query of his information revealed there was an active straight warrant issued by Dorchester District Court for Unarmed Robbery and Assault and Battery.  He was taken into custody, transported to the station, afforded all rights and held without bail.

On April 22, 2023 at 11:39 p.m. officer were dispatched to the area of Worcester Street near the Natick line for a report of a motor vehicle parked in the middle of the roadway and the operator appeared to be asleep behind the steering wheel.  After several attempts to wake the operator by knocking on the driver side window the male operator, later identified, opened his eyes and the vehicle began to move forward.   He  stopped the vehicle partially in the right travel lane and partially in the breakdown lane a short distance later.  Officer Scopa spoke with the operator and immediately noticed that his eyes were extremely bloodshot and glassy and he detected an odor of an alcoholic beverage emanating from his breath.   The driver agreed to take some reasonable tests of balance and coordination to determine if he was able to safely operate a motor vehicle.  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 was later released on personal recognizance.

On April 28, 2023 at 12:00 p.m. officers from the Wellesley Police Department located a suspect at a residence in Waltham.  He was taken into custody on a straight warrant issued by the Dedham District Court for 11 counts of Identity Fraud, 13 counts of Larceny over $1,200, Money Laundering and Uttering a False Check.  He was transported to the station, booked in the usual manner, afforded all rights and transported to Dedham District Court.

On April 28, 2023 at 7:08 p.m. officers were dispatched to Crescent Street for a report of a motor vehicle that had left the roadway and had driven into a bush in a front yard.   Officers made contact with a male party in the driver’s seat of the vehicle, later identified.  Officer Misho detected a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage emanating from the driver’s breath.  He indicated he had not been driving the vehicle and stated a friend of his was and he fled the area, but he could not provide a name or physical description of his friend.   An officer spoke with a witness to the crash who stated the suspect exited the vehicle after the crash and looked at the damage and there were no other occupants in the vehicle.  The operator was taken into custody, transported to the station, booked in the usual manner, afforded all rights and later released on personal recognizance.

Please send tips, photos, ideas to theswellesleyreport@gmail.com

Wellesley, Mass., police log for March, 2023:

Arrests

On March 5, 2023 at 9:01 a.m. Officer Cunningham was conducting traffic enforcement on Worcester Street near Cedar Street when he observed a Honda minivan traveling at a high rate of speed.  He confirmed the speed to be 78 mph in a 50 mph zone.  He attempted to stop the vehicle on Worcester Street, however it proceeded onto Route 128 south.  The vehicle was initially traveling in the right travel lane at a speed lower than the posted speed limit.  The Honda minivan changed lanes into the left travel lane and was traveling at approximately 60 mph.  The vehicle eventually stopped on Route 128 near Great Plain Ave in Needham.  Officer Cunningham spoke with the operator, who stated he didn’t know he needed to stop.  He was taken into custody, transported to the station, booked in the usual manner, afforded all rights and later bailed.

On March 17, 2023 at 11:40 p.m. Officer DeBernardi was dispatched to the area of Worcester Street westbound for an erratic operator driving a Honda sedan.  Officer DeBernardi located the Honda sedan traveling westbound in the center of Worcester Street straddling both the left and right travel lanes.   Officer DeBernardi stopped the Honda on Worcester Street near Lexington Road.  He spoke with the operator, and immediately detected a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage emanating from his person.   While speaking with the operator Officer DeBernardi noticed that his speech was slurred and his eyes were severely bloodshot and glassy. He agreed to take some reasonable tests of balance and coordination and was unable to successfully pass 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 March 24, 2023 at 12:54 p.m. Officer Mankavech was observing traffic on Worcester Street and noticed the operator of a Ford sedan was looking down at his cell phone.  He stopped the vehicle and spoke with the operator,  and requested his license and registration.  A query of his information showed there was an active warrant issued by the Dedham District Court for shoplifting.  He was taken into custody, transported to the station, booked in the usual manner, afforded all rights and later transported to Dedham District Court.

Incidents

On March 1, 2023 at 1:40 p.m. officers were dispatched to the area of Wellesley Avenue and Brookside Avenue for a report of an injured deer.  The deer suffered catastrophic injuries as a result of being struck by a vehicle.  It was moved to a wooded area on the side of the road and euthanized.

On March 3, 2023 at 6:54 a.m. an officer was dispatched to Worcester Street near Route 128 for a report of a road rage incident where an unknown male party threw what appeared to be a can of soda at the reporting party’s vehicle.  The reporting party provided physical description of the operator of the motor vehicle and a vehicle registration number.   The registered owner of the vehicle’s physical appearance did not match the description provided by the reporting party.  A few days later the reporting party advised the officer that he has observed the same vehicle and driver and there have not been any issues so he does not wish to pursue the matter any further.

On March 3, 2023 at 1:30 p.m. an officer spoke with a male reporting party regarding unemployment fraud.  The male party stated he received a debit card with funds for unemployment benefits.  He stated he had not filed for unemployment and had filed a report with the Department of Unemployment Assistance to notify them of the fraud.  There are no suspects at this time.

On March 4, 2023 at 11:16 p.m. an officer spoke with a male reporting party who stated he was assaulted by the operator of a photo booth while he was at an event.  The officer contacted the photo booth operator who stated several juveniles were pressing buttons in the photo booth while he was trying to break it down.  He denied any physical contact between himself and the youth.  The reporting party forwarded a cellular phone video which depicted the photo booth operator shoving the juvenile into a set of doors.  He will be summonsed to Dedham District Court for Assault and Battery.

On March 7, 2023 at 8:15 a.m. an officer was dispatched to Damien Road for a report of a stolen airbag from a Honda Pilot.  The theft occurred between 5:00 p.m. on March 6^th and 9:00 a.m. on March 7^th.  There did not appear to be any other damage to the vehicle.   On March 7^th there were also reports of air bags thefts from vehicles on River Ride (Honda CRV) and Harris Ave (Honda Civic) and on March 10^th a report of an air bag theft on White Oak Road (Honda CRV).  The incident is under investigation.

On March 13, 2023 at 1:08 p.m. an officer was dispatched to a residence on Pinewood Road for a report of leaking water at a vacant residence.    As the officer approached he observed water coming down the front exterior of the residence.  With the assistance of the Wellesley Fire Department, entry was made into the residence where it was discovered that water was on all of the floors on the first floor and running into the basement.  The Wellesley Water Department responded and shut the water off.    Contact was made with the homeowner who indicated that the house was going to be renovated.  It appeared the heat had been shut off which may have caused a pipe to burst.

On March 14, 2023 at 12:11 p.m. an officer was dispatched to Crest Road for a report of a hit and run accident.  The reporting party stated that a pick-up truck struck her vehicle, pulled to the side of the road and then left.  The officer was able to view the traffic camera footage in the area and identify the other vehicle involved.  The operator of the pickup truck will be summonsed to Dedham District Court for Leaving the Scene of a Property Damage Accident and Failure to Yield to Oncoming Traffic.

On March 24, 2023 at 3:30 p.m. an officer was dispatched to Webb Ave for a report of a contractor that had repaired a driveway and left a pile of broken pavement in the roadway.  He spoke to the resident who had driveway work done and learned that it was a paving scam and the contractor did not properly replace the driveway.  While speaking with the resident a neighbor came over and stated that the same male party advised her he was doing work for the town and had extra asphalt left over and could repave her driveway for a discounted rate.  She agreed to pay $6,200 for the work.  There are no suspects. 

On March 24, 2023 at 12:50 p.m. an officer spoke to a male reporting party who stated he was in the process of building a house in town and the property has a shared driveway with the neighbor.   The reporting party stated when he arrived at the work site he observed the neighbor talking to one of the workers on site and he advised the worker not to speak with the neighbor.  The reporting party stated as he walked past the neighbor he was pushed from behind and hit one of the work trucks and spilled his coffee.  The neighbor stated as they walked past each other near the vehicle they accidentally bumped into each other at which point the coffee spilled.  The neighbor stated he had a photograph that shows the vehicles were parked on his property.  The officer viewed the photograph that showed the vehicles were behind the snow fencing, which indicated they were on the reporting party’s property.  The male party will be summonsed to Dedham District Court for Assault and Battery and Trespassing.

On March 23, 2023 at 8:31 p.m. an officer spoke to a male reporting party who stated a relative had been the victim of an ongoing scam and had lost nearly $500,000.   The reporting party stated that as he was helping the victim prepare her taxes for the year he attempted to log into her online financial records and was unable to do so.  He contacted her and asked about this and she indicated that there may be an issue.   The officer spoke with the female party who stated in January or February 2022 she received either an email or phone call from what she believed was Amazon asking if she had purchased a computer.  She advised them she did not and they indicated they would cancel the order.   A few days later she received a call from what she thought was the Federal Trade Commission investigating the fraudulent Amazon transaction.  She was advised they had captured a male party who had her personal information and they were going to freeze her assets because they felt she was working with him.  She was advised not to tell anyone about the investigation or it would compromise it.  She was advised to open a bank account and send payments to various individuals all over the country and outside the country.  Over a period of a year she was scammed out of approximately $500,000.  The incident is under investigation.

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The Wellesley Police Department has documented the apprehension of three 15-year-olds after a stolen car pursuit that ended in Needham.

Wellesley has been riddled of late with car thefts, many involving unlocked vehicles with the keys in them.

In Tuesday morning’s incident, a patrol officer in the Garden and Colburn Road neighborhood targeted by thieves spotted a vehicle traveling very slowly and determined to be a car stolen from Great Plain Avenue on Monday.

The vehicle sped away and was pursued by Wellesley police into Needham Square. The chase had to be called off initially to avoid danger to others, but the driver smashed the car into a curb while heading toward Rte. 95 and inadvertently sent up smoke that Needham police could follow. Three occupants then escaped the vehicle on foot on Oakland street, with one being taken into custody and two others heading for backyards.

Wellesley put its drone to use, complemented by search dogs. The combination worked and the suspects were caught. The teens, who hail from Brockton, Medford, and Somerville, were charged with receiving a stolen motor vehicle. They will be arraigned in Dedham District Court’s juvenile court. The teens were released to their parents.