The following incidents were selected from the Lexington Police Department log during the week leading up to June 16. Lexington Observer does not independently verify this information.
Arrests
Friday, June 13, at 5:10 a.m., officers served an arrest warrant outside of Lexington. An adult male residing at Main Campus Drive in Lexington was placed under arrest on a warrant issued out of New Hampshire. This individual was taken into custody and transported to the station.
Saturday, June 14, at 5:55 a.m., an officer observed an operator parked on the opposite side of the road, facing the wrong way of traffic. After careful observations, it was determined the male had been operating the vehicle under the influence. Mals was notified for a tow. This Hyde Park resident was taken into custody for Operating Under The Influence (OUI).
Community Engagement
Tuesday, June 10, at 6:05 p.m., Lieutenant Dunbar attended a diversity course held at the Community Center.
Friday, June 13, at 9 a.m., Detective Chaisson conducted a Drive to School for three Estabrook students who won a silent auction raffle through the Estabrook PTA. K9 Watson assisted.
Friday, June 13, at 3:20 p.m., Lieutenant Dunbar and Officer Alfonzo attended the Holi Festival at Hastings Park.
K9 Community Engagement
Wednesday, June 11, at 10:10 a.m., Officer Brady, Detective Hankins, and K9 Watson returned to Knowledge Beginnings for their annual visit with the children and staff.
Thursday, June 12, at 8:30 a.m., K9 Watson accompanied SRO Chaisson on a student’s ride to Hastings Elementary School.
Thursday, June 12, at 4 p.m., K9 Watson hosted his 1st birthday party at Hastings Park.
Directed Park, Lock, and Walk – Schools
During this past week, officers made five visits to elementary schools, one visit to a middle school, and two to the high 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
Monday, June 9, at 4:25 p.m., a Massachusetts Avenue resident reported kids climbing up a ladder to the roof of her building. The responding officer reported everything appeared in order, and the kids were gone upon arrival.
Monday, June 9, at 11:50 p.m., a Main Campus Dr. resident reported two suspicious motor vehicles. This was the second time he had seen the vehicles. The responding officer located a white convertible that matched the given description. He spoke with the individual, and no suspicious activity was occurring at this time. The other vehicle was registered to a painting company. All was in order.
Wednesday, June 11, at 9:45 p.m., a Harding Road resident reported a car parked between houses. The responding officer spoke to the Gleason Road owner of the registered car. He stated he parked it there so “his kids, who were new drivers, wouldn’t take his car.” He was advised to park the car in his driveway.
Noise Complaints and Town Bylaws
Monday, June 9, at 6:15 p.m., a caller reported kids set up a volleyball net and were playing a game on Battle Green. The responding officer advised the individuals they were violating a bylaw, and they left.
Thursday, June 12, at 6:30 a.m., a Hayes Road resident reported a company using a pressure washer she believed was in violation of the noise ordinance law. The responding officer advised an individual from the painting company of the town’s bylaws. He wrapped up for the day.
Thursday, June 12, at 8:10 p.m., a Castle Road resident reported contractors continuing construction after the allowed time. The responding officer reported checking the premises, and there was no work being done outside. The officer advised the company of the complaint.
Friday, June 13, at 5:10 p.m., a Castle Rd. resident reported contractors working past 5 p.m. in violation of the town bylaws. The responding officer spoke with the homeowner. Independent contractors were working and were advised of the town’s bylaw. They wrapped up for the night.
Town Bylaws – Leaf Blower Infractions
During this past week, six 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. If necessary, remind your employees to follow Lexington’s Bylaws.
Animal Control and Complaints
A difficult week for canine bites. Please respect Lexington’s leash law. Thank you.
Tuesday, June 10, at 11:15 a.m., a Birch Hill Lane resident reported two beagles without tags in her yard. The Animal Control Officer (ACO) took the dogs to the shelter. The owner came into the station, and then met the ACO at the shelter to retrieve his dogs.
Wednesday, June 11, at 4:50 p.m., a caller reported a snapping turtle in the middle of the road near Evergreen Lane and Crescent Hill Avenue. The responding officer relocated the turtle to the pond.
Thursday, June 12, at 1:30 p.m., a caller reported a turtle in the middle of the road near Lowell Street and Whipple Road. The responding officer relocated the turtle.
Saturday, June 14, at 9:55 a.m., a caller reported a driver of a red vehicle let her dogs chase her up and down the road at Bowman School.
Saturday, June 14, at 6:10 p.m., an individual was delivering packages on Banks Avenue when a dog from Fern Street bit her arm. The responding officer spoke with this individual, and she stated she was trying to make a delivery when she noticed a man, his son, and two black dogs standing by the side of the house. As she was doing her job, she was “swarmed” by the dogs and bitten on her tricep. The son stated the dogs were friendly, and the father ignored the fact that his dog bit her. The man insisted he saw the dogs jumping up and down, but he did not see the bite. The boy stated he didn’t see or hear anything. The mother said there was no history of aggression or biting with their dogs. The dog was licensed, and shots were up to date. The ACO will follow up with the dog owners.
Sunday, June 15, at 6:45 p.m., a Turning Mill Road resident’s son reported his mother had been bitten by a dog. At the time, she was on Turning Mill Rd. when she suffered a puncture wound on her right bicep, along with her small dog that suffered a puncture wound to its back. The dog in question lived nearby, but nobody was home.
Breaking and Entering
Thursday, June 12, at 7:45 a.m., a Scotland Road resident reported her unlocked vehicles were entered overnight. A detective arrived on scene to process the vehicles. Two other Scotland Rd. residents reported vehicles that were unlocked and entered. One reported her purse had been taken. Another neighbor had video footage from 3:45 a.m. showing two individuals exiting a car and approaching vehicles in the area. However, the video didn’t show the year, make, or model of the vehicle involved.
Fraud
Monday, June 9, at 7:15 p.m., a Manchester, NH resident stated she was called by an FBI agent and directed to withdraw money from her bank account and deposit it into a Bitcoin machine at the Mobil Gas Station on Waltham Street in Lexington. They directed her to wire the Bitcoin to an account or she would be charged with multiple crimes. They explained she would be arrested if she failed to follow instructions. After she deposited $1,400, she realized it was a scam.
Tuesday, June 10, at 11:35 a.m., a Smith Farm Lane resident reported an individual gained access to her personal information and opened a Santander checking and savings account with her name. She contacted Santander and they froze the accounts, advising her to contact the Social Security Administration. There was no monetary loss, and she registered for monitoring with a credit bureau.
Tuesday, June 10, at 11:40 a.m. a Woodcliff Road resident reported someone hacked her computer after she clicked on a link emailed to her. She was instructed to call a number, then go to her bank to withdraw funds. She had not provided any Citizens’ account numbers or personal information. When she realized the scam, she checked with the bank, and there was no monetary loss.
Wednesday, June 11, at 2:25 p.m., a Greeley Village resident reported she received emails from Norton Antivirus stating someone attempted to hack her information. She checked with her bank and there were no fraudulent charges. She did not provide any personal information, so there was no loss of funds.
Thursday, June 12, at 3:05 p.m., a Winthrop Road resident reported he lost $149,500.98 through a cryptocurrency scheme. An individual claiming to be a fellow college alum contacted him. She convinced him to invest in cryptocurrency using the Bullish App, but sent him a fraudulent web page he downloaded instead. On June 11, he submitted an official complaint to the FBI.
Excerpted from AARP’s Seven Tactics Criminals Use To Perpetrate Scams Against You
“Scammers have learned how to manipulate people’s emotions and take advantage of their trust in others. Many people believe they are too smart to become victims of a scam. But they miss the point: Scammers mostly bypass your intellect and rely on sophisticated psychological and emotional manipulations to get you to say yes. “You don’t have to be a fool to be fooled,” says Robert Cialdini, author of Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion. “These people are using tactics and strategies that all of us are susceptible to.” Specifically, he explains, they weaponize human instincts such as fear, love and trust. Here are some of their techniques.”
1. They establish camaraderie
2. They play on our aversion to loss
3. They flatter you
4. They make you anxious
5. They scare you
“Grandpa, help! I’ve been arrested and need money for bail right away!”
Why it works: “When you’re afraid, the emotional part of your brain takes over the cognitive part of your brain,” Shadel says. “That’s what they want. When your emotions kick in, it swaps out the logic.”
6. They seduce you
“I love talking to you. I have not felt so close to someone in so long.”
Why it works: “In a romance scam, as in a [real] love relationship, you’ll have reciprocating self-disclosures,” Pratkanis explains. “I’ll tell you a little bit about me. In return, you tell me a little bit about you. And as we go further down the path, we say more intimate things, and that creates a sense of closeness, even love.”
7. They intimidate you
“I’m with the police; you’ve missed jury duty again. Either pay a $900 fine now or go to jail.”
Why it works: Scammers present themselves as an authority (say, a cop, IRS officer or Medicare rep). “Technology makes it so easy now to pretend to be someone you’re not,” Shadel says. “Criminals can program their caller ID so it says ‘San Diego Sheriff’s Office.’”
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.