Belmont Police Log, Aug. 16 to Sept. 4: Overnight car break-ins, check fraud, road rage, vandalism and more

The following are excerpts from the Belmont Police log as made available by the Belmont Police Department. The log is public and available for review. All persons are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law.

Saturday, Aug. 16

5:36 p.m.: A Belmont resident reported the theft of her 15-inch MacBook Air valued at approximately $2,000. She ordered it via the Apple website. She was notified it would be arriving between Aug. 19 and Aug. 21. She received a notification it was delivered on Aug. 16 at 11 a.m. with a photo, but it was very blurry and not visible. She was out of town and notified her landlord to obtain the package, but he was unable to locate it. She made Apple aware of the incident. The package did not require a signature. Apple told her there was not much they could do, and she needed to contact law enforcement.

Sunday, Aug. 17

10:40 a.m.: A Belmont resident believes he is a victim of extortion because he is a journalist. On Aug. 15, he was shopping at CVS on Leonard Street. While there, someone filmed him inside the store. He believes he was being followed by a private investigator hired by someone involved in an ongoing investigation with the FBI. This person posted two videos of him inside the CVS on X. One of the videos, which were altered using AI, showed him destroying candy displays near the registers. The other shows him being arrested by several police officers. He is concerned because the videos were not marked as AI. He received a text message that read, “Hey mother (profanity), stop posting stupid (profanity).” He also got another text asking him, “why are you giving CVS a hard time?” followed by, “there’s a video of you harassing a low wage worker. Do you have a comment?”

Monday, Aug. 18

12:36 p.m.: A Belmont resident reported a total of $60K was fraudulently taken from Beth El Temple’s bank account. She is the treasurer for Beth El and received a call from someone identifying themselves as a bank employee stating there was attempted fraudulent activity on the account. Over the next several days, she continued to receive calls from someone she believed was with the bank, stating they were working on resolving the issue and sending her codes to confirm it was her. On Aug. 11, she was contacted by the bank because on Aug. 7, Aug. 8 and Aug. 11, there were withdrawals of $20K each day. After talking to the bank, she realized the people she talked to before were scammers and the codes they were asking for were security codes to make transactions. The bank provided her with the name and account number the money was sent to. The compromised account is now closed.

3:53 p.m.: A woman who owns a Belmont property management company and is the landlord of several properties throughout western Massachusetts reported misuse of her Home Depot credit card by a contractor. The contractor fixes small things in and around her properties. She gave him the credit card to pay for supplies he needed while also paying for his labor. However, she noticed discrepancies in several of the invoices for the credit card. These discrepancies go back three months. She believes he is ordering an excess number of supplies for her projects and is growing suspicious. The total money charged to her Home Depot account is usually $1,0000 a month. She contacted Home Depot, and they froze her account for the time being.

6:15 p.m.: Belmont police responded to a motorcycle fire on White Street. It was in the parking lot in front of the Belmont Oil Company. Smoke was coming from the ground near the motorcycle, which had a tarp covering it. Belmont Fire extinguished the burning object. It appeared to be a nylon strap not connected to the tarp of the motorcycle. The tarp was removed and the engine of the motorcycle was cold to the touch and appeared to have no defects. Two other objects on the ground, 30-40 feet away from the motorcycle, a torch lighter and broken blender, off to the side of the parking lot near Grant Avenue. A message was left for the property owner. The motorcycle owner could not be reached. Video surveillance in the area will be investigated.

6:35 p.m.: A Belmont resident reported a hit and run on Oakley Road. As her mother opened the rear passenger door of the black four-door sedan, a vehicle sped by, hit the door and drove off. They could not get the license plate. There were no injuries. The car was dented, and the door was scratched. The driver was feeling tightness in her neck but denied medical attention. Footage from doorbell cameras were reviewed and one of them captured a black sedan.

7:53 p.m.: A Belmont resident who owns a business in Belmont said he mailed a check at the Waverley Square post Office. Someone attempted to cash the check in the amount of $13,450. The dollar amount was changed from the original check. His bank immediately flagged the check and froze his account before any money could be taken.

Tuesday, Aug. 19

10 a.m.: Officers responded to a road rage involving a person on a scooter and a motor vehicle in Belmont Center. A woman reported while she was driving on Lake Street, Cross Street and Channing Road, the operator of a motor vehicle behind her tried to run her off the road three times. While at a stop sign on Channing Road at Leonard Street the operator attempted to get her to pull over by yelling and beeping at her. The plate of the other vehicle is registered to a white female. She believes the operator was a black male.

1:08 p.m.: The Waverley Place at McLean Hospital restroom was vandalized at 1010 Pleasant St. There were two large swastikas on the wall written in blue pen. There were other markings as well.

Wednesday, Aug. 20

7:06 a.m.: A Washington Street resident reported a motor vehicle break-in. Items were rummaged through. Some loose coins were taken from the center console of the front seats. He believes the vehicle was unlocked.

4:14 p.m.: A Belmont resident reported one of her mother’s checks was washed and altered. A check for$16,770 was mailed and cleared. She believes she handed it to a post office employee. She later discovered the name on the check was altered.

8:45 p.m.: A Clark Street resident reported someone drove onto their front lawn. She believes the driver may have been having a medical emergency. The driver was wearing black latex gloves smelled of alcohol from three feet away. His speech was slurred and delayed as officers spoke with him, and he was supporting himself with his right arm on the driver’s side door. He admitted he had two shots of an expensive whiskey earlier. Belmont Fire and Rescue arrived on the scene. He said he lost his way and tried to stop before ending up on the front lawn. He said his last drink was at 7 p.m. He later admitted to drinking gin and vodka as well. A half empty bottle of Copper and Cask straight bourbon whiskey was located in a plastic bag on the left side of the trunk. A breathalyzer was administered. The operator was arrested, charged with OUI liquor and later transported to Mount Auburn Hospital.

Thursday, Aug. 21

8:55 a.m.: A Belmont resident reported his French driver’s license missing. He believes he lost it at Logan Airport after going through Custom’s.

11:21 a.m.: A Belmont resident said a check he mailed to an Arlington landscaping company for $6,700 at a mailbox located at 6 Channing Road, was never received. His bank fraud department called him to inquire if he wrote the same check for $9,000 payable to someone else. They also inquired if he wrote another check for $9,445 to someone else. He said he did not and didn’t recognize the second check number. Both checks were linked to his checking account. His bank account has been frozen, and he will be opening a new account. He has not suffered financial loss at this time.

7:06 p.m.: A Grant Avenue resident reported a motor vehicle vandalized while parked in the Claflin lot during the farmers’ market. Dollar signs were keyed into his vehicle on the passenger side back door.

Friday, Aug. 22

7:33 a.m.: A vehicle on Davis Street was vandalized. Two large “S” emblems were keyed onto the hood and front driver’s side door. She believes an autobody repair shop on Moraine Street had similar vandalism incidents made by a resident on Moraine Street. She has had her car repaired by the same autobody shop and believes the offender recognized her vehicle. The suspected offender has had several charges in the past for malicious destruction of property and will be charged for damage to the victim’s motor vehicle, subsequent offense.

12:11 p.m.: A fire that happened on Aug. 20^th was reported by a Belmont landlord. The tenant reported a small fire in the office. She said the damage was a lot worse than she was told. The office is located on the second floor. The printer and other debris were moved outside to the back of the house and some was thrown out. Belmont Fire is investigating.

Saturday, Aug. 23

3 p.m.: A Belmont business reported a problem with a customer. The owner has been the subject of harassment from a male youth for two months, calling the store every day and mocking the employees’ Indian accents and culture. The youth also shoplifted from the store, but the owner did not report him. The store owner played a recording of one of the harassing phone calls. The male youth also banged on the store’s window wearing a full-face mask with the photo of Kanye West on the front. He went to approach the youth, and he left his bike behind. He took the bike and brought it into the store. When the male youth returned for the bike, the owner of the store called the police. Officers spoke to the youth about the harassing phone calls. Officers learned hi is 13 and his parents were not available to pick him up. Officers were able to make contact with his mother who was able to send a family friend to pick him up. The store owner issued him a verbal trespass order, and he is no longer welcome inside the store. The youth provided the names of his involved friends. The School Resource Officer will be following up.

Sunday, Aug. 24

2 p.m.: A Lincoln Street resident reported both he and his son’s vehicles were left unlocked and entered overnight. Missing was an apple charger valued at $40.

Monday, Aug. 25

8:07 a.m.: A Common Street resident reported their vehicle broken into. Several items including $1,200 in cash, a $1,200 laptop, a $5,000 40 carat gold chain and cross and two Mastercard credit cards were taken. The credit cards were used to make approximately $1,500 in online transactions. Several health insurance cards were also taken but later located on Common Street The owner said the vehicle was locked overnight and he is unsure how entry was gained.

8:40 a.m.: A Horace Road resident reported his vehicle broken into. His $300 Ray Ban sunglasses were taken. His Ring camera did not record the crime as it was too far out of the motion detecting zone. His vehicle was unlocked.

9:22 a.m.: A Goden Street resident reported a motor vehicle break-in. Twenty in cash and a phone charger were taken. Cameras captured the break in at approximately 3:40 a.m. Three suspects, all wearing dark clothing and masks are seen walking down Chenery Terrace int eh direction of Goden Street, trying handles of every car on Chenery Terrace.

9:30 a.m.: A Chenery Terrace resident reported his vehicle broken into, but nothing was missing.

9:45 am.: An Upland Road resident reported her Louis Vuitton wallet was stolen from her car, which was parked in her driveway. An Air tag in her wallet pinged to an area near Claflin Street. Officers searched the area but were not able to locate the wallet. She said her car was not locked and there are no cameras in the area.

9:45 a.m.: A Chenery Terrace resident’s vehicle was broken into, but nothing was missing. The keys were inside but left on the front seat.

10:40 a.m.: A Pierce Road resident reported a motor vehicle break-in. The vehicle was unlocked overnight and parked in the resident’s driveway. A small black metal flashlight valued at $25 was missing. There were not cameras in the area.

A Holden Road resident reported a motor vehicle broken into. Approximately $10-$15 in change was taken. Security cameras captured the suspect enter the vehicle at 4:27 a.m.

5:53 p.m.: A Holden Road resident reported a motor vehicle break-in. The resident’s wallet was missing. It contained a debit card, driver’s license and insurance card. He is unsure if the vehicle was locked. There was fraudulent activity on his bank account for four charges over $100 The bank was notified about the stolen debit card.

6:07 p.m.: A Brettwood Road resident reported a motor vehicle break-in. Forty dollars cash was missing.

Tuesday, Aug. 26

4:30 a.m.: A driver in a Honda at the intersection of Belmont and School Streets was asleep at the wheel. She said she just finished dropping off her friends from a concert. The vehicle was unregistered and towed. The driver did not appear intoxicated and was transported to her residence.

Wednesday, Aug. 27

7:37 a.m.: A Cushing Avenue resident reported a motor vehicle break-in. Nothing was stolen.

8:25 a.m.: A Winslow Road resident reported a stolen motor vehicle. A 2017 silver Toyota Corolla was gone. The keys were inside the unlocked vehicle.

6 p.m.: A School Street resident reported his vehicle’s windshield was smashed in. It was parked on Orchard Street on Aug. 22 due to construction. The rear windshield was smashed, and no objects could be found inside the vehicle. Nothing was missing.

Thursday, Aug. 28

8:25 a.m.: The stolen vehicle from Winslow Road was involved in an accident in Boston and towed back to the Belmont Police station. The resident will pick it up from Waltham Auto and determine what items may have been taken.

10:36 a.m.: A Belmont business owner reported a check mailed to a business was altered. The amount was changed from $24.24 to $2,678 and who it was payable to was changed. The bank canceled the check.

12:14 p.m.: A Belmont resident reported three checks were altered and cashed. The amounts were $8,400, $9,600 and $9,500. She mailed them in the mailbox in front of M & T Bank on Leonard Street.

5:24 p.m.: A Belmont resident reported a scam. An individual claming to be from Medicare called her and asked if she wanted a new card She provided the person with her social security number and her husband’s Medicare number. When she contacted Medicare, she learned it was a scam. She reported it to Social Security.

Fridy, Aug. 29

12:45 p.m.: A dog bite reported on Sherman Street. The dog was leashed and the owner had her back turned, when it bit a worker on the property who bent down to greet it. The dog is licensed and up to date on its shots.

Saturday, Aug. 30

6:56 p.m.: A Belmont resident reported vandalism to the hood of his motor vehicle. Someone made a long windy scratch on the hood. Surveillance on the property’s security cameras will be investigated.

Sunday, Aug. 31

3:30 p.m.: A Star Market customer’s vehicle was damaged by a woman who purposely pushed her shopping carriage towards the car and walked off. Star Market will provide security footage. There was damage to the vehicle’s rear bumper and scratches on the front right panel, front right bumper.

Wednesday, Sept. 3

12:39 a.m.: A female was screaming on Long Avenue. When officers arrived, she said she was drinking and hanging out with her friends in a car when they left her on the street. They had her purse and cell phone. She thinks they saw cruisers and got scared and left. The female was transported to the police station to contact her grandparents who she resides with. Her grandfather arrived and was able to track her phone to the area of Pearson Road. The phone was found on a fence near the Belmont Authority parking lot. Her purse was not found. She was advised to cancel her credit cards.

4 p.m.: A woman reported a mixed potted flower arrangement stolen from her daughter’s gravestone marker at Highland Meadow Cemetery on Concord Avenue. The arrangement was valued at $60.

Thursday, Sept. 4

5:58 p.m.: A Belmont resident reported receiving a call from someone claming to be with the legal department for an insurance company. He told her she owed $32,579 for a knee replacement that took place at George Washington Medical Center on March 20^th. She never had knee replacement. The caller had an Indian accent and knew her social security number. Her call was forwarded to what she was told was a police department in the C.C. area. The next individual also had an Indian accent. They told her they had her medical statements, which is when she knew it was a scam. She did not give any financial or personal information and will keep an eye on her accounts and credit.

Belmont Police responded to nine mental health and three domestic calls, Aug. 16 to Sept. 5.