Friday, Aug. 25
Stolen before midnight: An officer was dispatched to Euston Street for a report of a stolen bicycle. The victim stated he had last seen his bicycle on the morning of 8/24, but when he returned home at approximately 11:30 p.m., his bicycle was missing. The resident’s roommate stated she observed the bicycle still locked to the stairs at approximately 2:00 p.m. The lock had been cut and was found on scene.
Suspicious man?: A Winchester Street resident called police to report was walking home a few days earlier on Aug. 22, when she encountered a man who attempted to engage in conversation. As he continued to try to speak to her, she became fearful and ran into her building. Then today she saw the same guy in the vestibule of her apartment building and contacted the police. Officers spoke to the subject who stated he was waiting for a friend. He was advised that he needed to vacate the premises unless he was specifically invited by a resident and future visits might result in trespassing or other charges. He vacated the premises and the caller was escorted to her apartment.
A little while later: An officer spoke to a representative of the management company at the same address on Winchester Street regarding an suspicious individual in the building. Police found the same man in the building, claiming he was looking for a friend. He was seen knocking on several apartment doors. Officers escorted the man out of the building per the property owner he was issued a verbal no-trespass order and was advised he would be subject to arrest if he went onto the property again. Officers requested that the management company remind tenants to lock their doors and deny access to unknown individuals.
Alleged car break in artist arrested: Francis McDonald, 41, of Roxbury was arrested and charged on an active arrest warrant related to a car break that occurred on Naples Road after officers and detectives found him near the corner of Commonwealth Avenue and Winslow Road. At the time of his arrest, the subject was in possession of bolt cutters, screw drivers, a wrench, and stolen gift cards. Officers received the property owner’s address and information on where his vehicle would have been left. His vehicle was located and appeared to have been broken into. The property owner could not be contacted, but he was provided information via email. The bolt cutters and gift cards were placed into evidence.
Landscape scam?: An officer spoke with a party who believed he had been scammed by a landscaper. On 8/3, the reporting party provided the landscaper with a check for work that was to be done in his back yard. The landscaper was meant to bring a contract to the resident before any of the work was done and before the check was cashed; however, the check was cashed and the reporting party never received a contract. The landscaper stated he would bring the contract on various occasions, but failed to do so and the victim can no longer contact him. The victim has started civil proceedings at Brookline District Court.
Saturday, Aug. 26
Spare a spare? A citizen reported that a spare tire had been stolen from the back of her vehicle. She stated that she had parked her vehicle on Linden Street on 8/23 between 6:30 and 10:30 p.m. and when she returned to the vehicle, the spare tire and cover had been removed.
Polly want a parrot scam: A Brookline resident reported he purchased two parrots from an online site and sent a money gram to an individual in Virginia. He later sent an additional sum of money for the birds’ insurance to another individual in Virginia. When asked to send more money, the reporting party stated he believed he had been scammed and stopped responding to emails from the company. Officers were provided copies of the transfers made and emails between the two parties. No parrots made it to the man who paid for them.
Bike theft: Someone called police to report their bike was stolen from a bike rack on a car parked on Harvard Street around 7:05 p.m. At 10:10 p.m., the bicycle was missing. The lock had been cut and was left on the vehicle.
Sunday, Aug. 27
Found bike: 1:21 a.m.: An officer reported finding a white bike on the ground near the beginning of a driveway on Worthington Road. The garage door at the rear of the residence was also unlocked and open. But none of the residents were home at the time and it did not appear that forced entry had been used to enter the garage. Police closed the garage door and took the bike to the station for safe keeping.
Some snooping leads to arrest: Around 3:30 a.m. an officer saw three men looking into buildings on Harvard Street with a flashlight. The officer stopped the individuals and other officers arrived to assist. While speaking to the three, it was discovered that one of them had a default warrant. He was placed under arrest. Officers safely removed a hypodermic needle from his person during the process. A camera was also found in his possession and placed into evidence. The subject was later transported for medical attention.