The following incidents were selected from the Lexington Police Department log during the week leading up to May 5. The Lexington Observer does not independently verify this information.
Assault and Battery
Tuesday, April 29, at 10:40 a.m., an employee at the Lexington Healthcare Center on Lowell Street reported that an argument had occurred in the dining room of the Munroe Unit. During the verbal altercation, one individual kicked another and caused injury. She was transported to Lahey, and the other individual to Mount Auburn. The responding officer observed that both individuals appeared to suffer from diminished mental capacity.
Tuesday, April 29, at 12:25 p.m., a Lexington Street resident assaulted a Field Road resident as a result of some work they were doing together at the Field Rd. location.
Community Engagement
Wednesday, April 30, at 6:30 p.m., officers attended the Indian Americans of Lexington (IAL) vigil held to honor the memory of those who lost their lives or were injured in the recent terrorist attack in Kashmir.
Friday, May 2, at 8:20 a.m., an officer reported a successful, uneventful Bike Train assignment at Mass Avenue and Forest Street.
Saturday, May 3, at 8:25 a.m., a sergeant and two patrol officers assisted with the Little League parade by blocking streets and directing traffic.
K-9 Community Engagement
Wednesday, April 30, at 12:35 p.m., Detective Sullivan and Comfort K9 Maisey greeted students and staff in the front office of Estabrook Elementary School.
Thursday, May 1, at 10 a.m., K9 Maisie and K9 Watson attended their monthly “Paw-fice” hours at the Lexington Community Center.
Directed Park, Lock, and Walk – Schools
During this past week, officers made five visits to elementary schools and one visit to a middle school. During these visits, officers interacted with faculty, students, and staff members while they familiarized themselves with the layout of the school buildings.
Suspicious Activity
Thursday, May 1, at 4:45 p.m., a Bedford resident reported being followed on the trail near Turning Mill and Grimes Road. She said a man followed her and yelled at her. The responding officer spoke with her regarding the incident. She stated he made comments, but she was unsure if they were directed toward her because the man was on the phone and she had her headphones on.
Friday, May 2, at 11 p.m., a caller reported his two daughters were home alone on Larchmont Lane and heard knocking on the door. The young teens were nervous and afraid to leave their upstairs room. The caller was in Bridgewater at the time and would not be home for the next hour. The responding officer spoke with the girls, and they stated they didn’t see anyone at the time, but they heard the knocking on the door. They were advised to lock the doors and to call back if there were any further concerns.
Saturday, May 3, at 4:55 p.m., a Maple Street resident reported a group of juveniles walked through her backyard and looked into her residence on April 22. She had photographs of the individuals in her yard from an exterior camera. The responding officer advised her that cruiser checks of her residence would be conducted while she was out of town. She was advised to report any suspicious activity in the future.
Disturbance and Noise Complaints
On Friday, May 2, at 7:15 a.m., an Ames Avenue resident reported loud music from a neighbor’s house. He said the music had continued throughout the night. When the responding officer spoke with the homeowner, he agreed to lower the volume.
Friday, May 2, at 11:20 p.m., a call came in from Main Campus Drive regarding loud banging noises. Upon arrival, the responding officer spoke with two individuals. Both were in their room, and there was no commotion or noise. All was in order.
Saturday, May 3, at 9:45 p.m., a report came in from Whipple Hill stating a large group of juveniles were making noise and “possibly trashing the park.” The responding officer checked the surrounding areas and did not locate any juveniles.
Town Bylaws – Leaf Blower
During this past week, 14 reports regarding gas leaf blower bylaw infractions were made. Residents can be fined for these infractions. Please note that homeowners are responsible for all that occurs on their property.
Animal Control and Complaints
Happy Spring, pet people and wild creature lovers! ‘Tis the season for increased outdoor activity for all. Thank you for being mindful and watching out for wildlife and domestic animals in our streets.
Wednesday, April 30, at 10:45 a.m., a Reed Street resident called to request animal control because there was a large turtle on the bike path near Hancock Street. She was concerned about its safety as well as individuals riding bikes. The Animal Control Officer responded to the area, but he was unable to locate the turtle.
Thursday, May 1, at 6:45 p.m., a Holmes Road resident reported a light brown, medium-sized dog without a leash or collar loose in the neighborhood. The friendly canine followed him around as he walked. The caller later reported the owners had picked up their dog.
Larceny
Saturday, May 3, at 12:50 p.m., Wilson’s Farm called for assistance with a shoplifting incident. Responding officers spoke with staff about a Pittsfield resident who stole items from the store and tried to leave in her boyfriend’s vehicle. When staff approached them in the parking lot, an argument ensued. Wilson’s Farm stated that if both parties provided identification, the store would not press charges, but use a No Trespass Order (NTO). Once explained, both offenders provided their licenses. The NTOs were “placed in hand to both parties in police presence.”
Sunday, May 4, at 11:25 a.m., Wilson’s Farm reported a shoplifting incident with a Watertown resident. He was taking garden plants from the farm store and attempting to put them into his car. Wilson’s Farm served a NTO and “placed in hand in police presence.” Officers remained at the scene until he left the property.
Sunday, May 4, at 2:10 p.m., Wilson’s Farm reported a shoplifting incident with a Main Campus Dr. resident and a Newton Lower Falls friend. One stole several items from the store, placed them in her bag, and attempted to get them into her friend’s vehicle. The staff stopped them. Both were served a NTO and “placed in hand in police presence.”
Fraud
Wednesday, April 30, at 11:30 a.m., a Middleby Road resident reported she had located an account she had not opened “in collections.” Comcast wouldn’t provide any information on the account. There is no monetary loss at this time, and this resident wanted the incident documented with the police.
Thursday, May 1, at 12:05 p.m., a Young Street resident reported withdrawals of $400, $385.97, and $260.46 made on his Bank of America debit card on April 29. On April 30, a charge for $5,795 was made. Bank of America removed the charges and closed the debit card account.
Friday, May 2, at 8:30 a.m., a Liberty Avenue resident reported she had been victimized on an online Global Entry website. She has reported her $600 loss to her credit card company and credit monitoring services.
Excerpted from AARP’s “25 Great Ways to Avoid Scams”
- Accept your vulnerability 2. Practice radical skepticism 3. Pause and Think 4. Be suspicious of secrecy 5. Set up bank alerts 6. Be informed 7. Don’t pay for anything in gift cards, cryptocurrency, or gold 8. Find a sounding board 9. Sign up for identity monitoring 10. Avoid unsolicited calls, texts, and emails 11. Freeze your Credit. 12. Maximize online privacy settings 13. Think twice before clicking links in emails and text messages 14. Go straight to the source 15. Update your software 16. Only hire trusted contractors 17. Be cautious when purchasing property 18. Use a VPN 19. Disconnect from public Wi-Fi 20. Practice good password hygiene 21. Secure your router
22. Have a family safe word
Scammers also are using artificial intelligence to make their so-called “grandparent” scams more sophisticated. “The grandparent scam, which actually is better described as the family emergency scam, has gotten worse with the ability of scammers to use voice-cloning AI technology to make the voice of the scammer sound like a family member in need,” Weisman says. “Have a family safe word to be used if you are ever called about such an emergency.”
23. Safeguard physical cards and documents
Although online scams are rampant, analog risks remain. You can minimize your exposure to flesh-and-blood fraudsters by taking a minimalist approach to your purse or wallet, Kingsley suggests. That means carrying only essential cards with you and leaving items you don’t need—including extraneous credit cards, passports and Social Security cards—at home in a secure place, such as a safe or lockbox. “Also, remember to keep your checkbook safe and destroy any checks you don’t use, or that have already cleared after you deposit them,” he adds. Along with checks, you should destroy any discarded documents that contain personal or financial information with a paper shredder. “Physical documents with sensitive information, like bank statements or credit card offers, can be used by scammers for identity theft,” Zirkle says.
24. Protect yourself from mail theft
Given the significant risks posed by online scams, you might assume that it’s safer to conduct transactions by mail than it is to conduct them on the internet—but that isn’t always the case. “The U.S. Postal Service has reported a rise in mail theft incidents,” Ray says, advising people to deliver sensitive mail directly to the post office. They are often looking for checks, so Kingsley suggests “using alternative payment methods, such as online bill pay.” You also can sign up for USPS’ Informed Delivery program. “You will receive an email with photos of your next day’s mail so you can be aware if something important is going to be delivered,” Weisman notes.
25. Be a savvy shopper
The internet is full of shopping scams, including scammers who steal your money and payment information by advertising and selling fake products through fake stores, complete with fake customer reviews. To avoid them, use your common sense. “If a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is,” Steinberg says. “That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t buy from stores with lower prices. But if you do a Google price search and see that everyone is selling something for $299 except for one company that’s selling it for $150, and you’ve never heard of that company, take a moment to ask yourself if it’s legit.” The same goes when paying for travel packages, cruises or hotels. “Scammers often lure travelers with incredibly low prices or exclusive deals, so it’s crucial to approach such offers with caution,” says Cody Candee, founder and CEO of the luggage storage service Bounce. And, again, because credit card companies will investigate fraud and refund you for fraudulent charges, you can further protect yourself by always paying with a credit card.
April Stats
Assisting Fire Department- 99
Animal Control- 17
Community Relations- 6
Cruiser Check: House- 10, Business- 221, Person- 42, General- 107 = Total- 380
Directed Traffic- 167
Directed PLW- 35
Fraud- 12
The Lexington Police Department updates its call log on Monday mornings. Lexington Observer coverage is a sampling of incidents and is not an exhaustive list. Logs are available for public viewing.