The following incidents were selected from the Lexington Police Department log during the weeks leading up to January 5. The Lexington Observer does not independently verify this information.
Comfort Dogs December Catch Up: Community Engagement
Thursday, December 4 at 10 a.m., School Resource Officer Hankins and K9 Watson visited the Community Center’s monthly “Pawfice” hours.
Thursday, December 4 at 4:30 p.m., Lexington Youth Commission members, Detective Hankins, Detective Sowle, and K9 Watson prepared for the Toys for Tots event.
Saturday, December 6 at noon, Detective Hankins, Detective Sowle, and K9 Watson hosted the police department’s annual Toys for Tots Drive in Lexington Center.
Monday, December 8 at 8:30 a.m., School Resource Officer Hankins and K9 Watson spent the day at Harrington Elementary School visiting with students and staff.
Monday, December 8 at 1:30 p.m., SRO Hankins and K9 Watson spent time at Lexington High School visiting with members of the high school baseball program.
Tuesday, December 9 at 8:30 a.m., SRO Hankins and K9 Watson spent time at Harrington Elementary School greeting students and staff.
Tuesday, December 9 at 4:15 p.m., SRO Hankins and K9 Watson attended the Lexington High School girls’ varsity basketball home game.
Thursday, December 11, at 7:00 p.m., Detectives Hankins and Sowle, along with K9 Watson, attended the monthly Lexington Youth Commission meeting. A review of previous events, including the Toys for Tots event, was conducted. The Police Department, in partnership with LYC, collected over 50 bags of toys during the month-long drive.
Thursday, December 11 at 6:00 p.m., K9 Watson assisted detectives with tours of the police station.
Tuesday, December 16 at 6:30 p.m., K9 Watson and SRO Hankins attended the high school girls’ varsity basketball home opening game.
Wednesday, December 17 at 9:20 a.m., SRO Hankins and K9 Watson visited Clark Middle School. While on campus, K9 Watson spent time greeting students and staff.
Suspicious Activity
Saturday, December 3 at 5:20 p.m., the owner of Crafty Yankee reported a potential shoplifting incident. The responding officer viewed camera footage and observed what appeared to be price tag switching on a stuffed animal. The staff stated that the individual purchased the item along with other merchandise for a total of $2,200. The original price of the item that was allegedly swapped was $50, and the item was scanned for the purchase price $35. The customer stated she had handled the price tag because she believed her young daughter had attempted to remove it. The responding officer reviewed the surveillance footage that Crafty Yankee provided but was unable to determine whether this individual had attempted to change the price of the item.
Disturbance
Tuesday, December 30 at 9:30 a.m., a Billerica resident reported an altercation with a delivery driver regarding the use of his alley on Waltham St. An argument had occurred over access to a dumpster. Responding officers spoke with the individuals involved, mediated the dispute, and advised them of their rights. No crime occurred, and peace was restored.
Wednesday, December 31 at 9:40 p.m., a caller reported a raucous party with underage drinking taking place on Rawson Ave. The responding officer spoke with the female occupant, who was having a small gathering. The music playing at the time was not causing a disturbance.
Animal Control and Complaints
Friday, January 2 at 1:15 p.m., an individual reported a deceased raccoon on Eldred St. near Bedford St. DPW was notified for removal.
Burglary/ Breaking and Entering
Monday, December 29 at 8:15 a.m., a Department of Facilities employee reported seeing an individual he believed was homeless, possibly sleeping in the bathroom at the Lexington Visitor Center.
Friday, January 2 at 5:15 p.m., a Winter St. resident reported returning home from a 10-day vacation and finding a smashed window in an unlocked door. After dropping off her belongings, she noticed the back door glass had been smashed. The responding officer checked the interior and noticed that a small safe had been cut open with a Sawzall. This resident stated approximately $10,000 in 20 and 100 bills, along with personal documents, were missing. A detective responded to the scene to process it.
Saturday, January 3 at 6:40 p.m., a Burlington St. resident returned home from a two-week trip and found his house had been broken into, and the safe had been searched. The responding officer reported a window next to the main entrance had been broken and used for entry into the house. The locking mechanism had been broken, and items from the windowsill were on the floor. The safe in the basement had been forced open, and multiple pieces of jewelry were missing. The resident also noticed jewelry missing from the bedroom. The remainder of the residence appeared untouched. A detective responded to the scene to process it.
Sunday, January 4 at 6:15 p.m., a Blake Rd. resident reported returning home from vacation and finding a broken window. Several pieces of jewelry appeared to be missing. The responding officer confirmed a B&E. A detective responded to the scene to process it.
Fraud
Tuesday, December 30 at 11:05 a.m., a Chase Ave. resident reported credit card fraud. Her credit card information had been obtained and fraudulently used to purchase an iPhone and 30 baseball hats. These items were shipped to Aloft.
Excerpted from: AARP: 15 Ways to Protect Yourself From Fraud
Learn how to avoid scams and lower your risk of money loss and identity theft. By Amy Nofziger and Mark Fetterhoff Updated March 27, 2025
1. Stop mail fraud at the mailbox
2. Halt scammers at your front door
3. Prevent garbage theft
4. Watch for credit card skimming
5. Monitor your credit report
Routinely check yours (many credit card companies provide it for free; if not, go to AnnualCreditReport.com or call 877-322-8228). Watch for unusual activity; if you see any, report it immediately to the appropriate financial institution.
Then freeze your credit report. This prevents scammers from opening new credit cards or making big purchases in your name. You can unfreeze it as needed for legitimate transactions. Visit IdentityTheft.gov for more information.
6. Safeguard your wallet
Remove cards and information you don’t need to carry (such as your Social Security or Medicare card). Make copies of the remaining cards (front and back) and store in a safe place.
Audit your wallet and purse frequently. Take out any unnecessary items that collect and could compromise your personal information if lost or that would be a hassle to replace.
December Stats
Assisting Fire Department 83
Animal Control 6
Community Relations 5
Cruiser Check: House 18, Business 268, Person 31, General 47 = Total 364
Directed Traffic 137
Directed PLW 2
Fraud 15
*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.