The Lexington Police Department updates its incident log on Monday mornings. LexObserver coverage represents a sampling of significant incidents and is not an exhaustive list. The full log can be viewed publicly at: https://www.lexingtonma.gov/489/Weekly-Police-Logs.
The following incidents, selected from the Lexington Police Department logs, occurred during the week prior to March 14, 2023.
Community Relations
Thursday, March 9, at 9 a.m., a Lexington police officer met with Julie Fenn, Lexington Public School’s Assistant Director of Physical Education, Health, and Wellness, to prepare for an upcoming presentation at the Parent Academy on Saturday, March 11.
Saturday, March 11 at 10 a.m., two Lexington police officers taught cyber/online safety to parents at the annual Parent Academy hosted by the Lexington Public Schools.
Burglary: Breaking and Entering
Sunday, March 12, at 1:15 p.m., the reporting party stated her uncle’s residence on Valley Road was broken into while he was away. The officer confirmed the breaking and entering, and a detective was requested. The homeowner stated he left for a trip on March 4 and is scheduled to return on March 12. The suspect(s) entered the house by smashing the front glass window. The neighborhood was canvassed by two officers. The resident scheduled a meeting with an officer to inventory stolen property upon return.
Animal Control
Thursday, March 9, at 5:40 a.m., a Mountain Road resident called to report a sick coyote in her backyard. Officers responded, then reported that the area was checked, and the coyote was gone.
Thursday, March 9, at 7:50 a.m., a Hamblen Street resident called to report she had found a loose dog in her backyard. She indicated that the dog had a collar on but no tags. The Animal Control Officer was contacted and informed regarding this resident’s report.
Saturday, March 11 at 10:15 a.m., a James Street resident reported a dog running loose in her neighborhood. The dog appeared to be a light-colored, lab-doodle type of dog. The responding officer reported the dog was located and returned to the owner who was also a James Street resident.
Fraud
Tuesday, March 7 at 1 p.m., a Katahdin Drive resident stated that her Xfinity, Chase, and AAU accounts were compromised by hackers and that her information was located on the dark web. She stated that she went to the Geek Squad at Best Buy and was informed that her son’s computer was being used as a source for hackers to operate their business. She was also concerned that her location was open to the public via Bluetooth. She has since canceled her credit cards and has had Xfinity working on her system. She’s also notified Harvard University and MIT police about this identity fraud. Her emails and photographs were compromised, which she believes are now on the dark web as well. This resident was advised regarding methods to reduce her chances of being a victim of identity theft and fraud again.
Friday, March 10 at 1:50 p.m., a Lexington Ridge Drive resident walked into the police station to report identity theft involving a fake Eversource account opened in his name. The resident provided the officer with documents regarding the fake account and the billing statements. This officer advised him to be vigilant about any other suspicious activity.
Sunday, March 12 at 11:45 a.m., a Lexington Ridge Drive resident reported that an unknown party attempted to open a fraudulent account in his name. He informed the officer that there had been no money loss at the time and that Chase Bank is aware of this situation. They are actively assisting with the incident, and he has been advised to contact the FTC, Social Security office, and one of the major credit bureaus.
From AARP’s Fraud Prevention Checklist from April 2022 issue of the AARP Bulletin. The AARP Fraud Watch Network helpline is a free service. Call 877-908-3360 to speak with a trained fraud specialist. Chris Worcester, the LexObserver’s “Blotter Babe,” will provide more tips for avoiding scams over the coming weeks.
TIP 2: Review your credit reports. “You can get a free credit report from the three agencies — TransUnion, Experian, and Equifax — each year. Stagger the requests throughout the year. Visit AnualCreditReport.com and order yours today if your credit card or bank doesn’t already provide the information. Check your report, line by line, to ensure no one has opened credit in your name and that there are no errors.”