The following incidents were selected from the Lexington Police Department log during the week leading up to Feb. 3. The Lexington Observer does not independently verify this information.
Community Engagement
Monday, January 27 at noon, Captain Barry attended a Zoom meeting regarding the construction of the new Lexington High School.
Friday, January 31 at 3:30 p.m., Detective Chaisson conducted a presentation for the residents of Waterstone Assistant Living regarding current scams.
Directed Park, Lock, and Walk – Schools
During this past week, officers made three visits to elementary schools, two visits to middle schools, and one to the high school. During a visit to Harrington School, an officer met with staff, spoke with students, and checked exterior doors for security. Everything was in order.
Suspicious Activity
Tuesday, January 28 at 2:00 p.m., a Downing Rd. resident reported a suspicious person in front of her home. The responding officer located the individual. He was a refugee working in Winchester and staying at a shelter in Boston. His Uber ride back to Boston had been terminated, and he appeared to have had too much to drink and left his phone in the vehicle. He was unable to contact the Kingston Street shelter directly. The responding officer attempted to make contact, but couldn’t speak directly to anyone, so he couldn’t inform the shelter of the situation. For his safety and security, this Boston resident was transported to Lahey by Med1.
Saturday, February 1 at 5:20 p.m., a report came in regarding a white Mercedes parked or stopped in the main driveway entrance to the Aloft on Marrett Rd. The reporting party provided the plate number, and responding officers located the vehicle, and notified Mal’s for a tow.
Saturday, February 1 at 5:50 p.m., an Asbury Street caller reported his security camera alerted him to someone on his construction site. He stated there shouldn’t have been anyone at the site and asked the police to check it. The responding officer checked the area and found fresh footprints along with paw prints, but nobody was on the property.
Disturbance and Noise Complaints
Friday, January 31 at 10:50 p.m., a Marrett Rd. resident reported a house party with several loud juveniles on the street drinking. Responding officers spoke with an individual who was not cooperative and then contacted the homeowner who managed the situation. Partygoers called for rides and ended the night.
Friday, January 31 at 10:45 p.m., a caller reported that a party had been playing loud music for several hours at a Main Campus Drive address. Responding officers spoke with the residents, and all was quiet upon their arrival. There had been a nine-year-old’s birthday party.
Sunday, February 2 at 2:25 a.m., a Mass Ave. resident reported loud music at a Clelland Rd. address. Responding officers spoke to the homeowners who agreed to turn down the music.
Animal Control and Complaints
Three cheers and congratulations to our pet owners. There was only one complaint reported this week regarding a canine.
Monday, January 27 at 11:15 p.m., a Reed St. caller reported a barking dog. The responding officer found the barking dog on Centre St. There was no answer at the door, but the dog had gone back inside the house.
Larceny and Burglary
Monday, January 27 at 2:00 p.m., a Waltham St. resident reported that four sets of gold earrings had been stolen from her home between Dec. 10 and Jan. 27. A total of $7,000 worth of gold had been taken. She thought it was the same home health aide company that had stolen from her in October 2024. A detective was called to process the scene.
Tuesday, January 28 at 12:05 p.m., a Stedman Rd. resident reported that Amazon delivered a package on Jan. 25 and claimed her neighbor might have taken it. The responding officer spoke with the neighbor who denied stealing the package. The resident told the officer that she would provide more documentation.
Friday, January 31 at 7:15 p.m., an American Alarm Company notification came in for a 2nd-floor window at a Sherburne Rd. address. The responding officer discovered an open window on the 2nd floor. An additional unit was sent out for backup.
Fraud
Three cheers and congratulations to all for conscientious awareness regarding potential fraud attempts. There was only one incident of fraud reported this week.
Thursday, January 30 at 12:15 p.m., a Vine Brook Rd. resident reported his nonprofit, Vision Aid for Blind Children, had been defrauded. This resident’s e-mail account was hacked, and a wire transfer for $93,000 was sent on Jan. 27. This resident collaborated with the responding officer, the lender, and Regions Bank and determined that the money wired on Jan. 27 was received by an unknown individual. Several checks have been written to numerous banks in Florida on Jan. 28. The banks are working with this individual to investigate the incident.
Excerpted from AARP January 2025: “25 Great Ways to Avoid Scams”
1. Accept your vulnerability
2. Practice radical skepticism
3. Pause and Think
Scammers are skilled manipulators of their targets’ emotions. If you find yourself growing anxious or upset by someone who’s contacted you out of the blue, that’s a red flag. “Real customer service representatives at banks, tech companies and government agencies are trained to put you at ease, not rile you up,” says Marti DeLiema, an assistant professor at the University of Minnesota who studies financial scams and older adults. “Criminals are trying to make you feel anxious because strong emotions overwhelm your ability to make rational decisions.” The FBI recently began a “Take a Beat” scam-awareness campaign, urging the public to “resist pressure to act quickly, pause for a moment, and assess the situation.”
January 2025 Stats
Assisting Fire Department: 92
Animal Control: 15
Community Relations: 16
Cruiser Check: House 25, Business 243, Person 30, General 42 = Total 340
Directed Traffic: 185
Directed PLW: 1
Fraud: 13
*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.