Scam Alert

The Brookline Police Department would like to warn Brookline residents about several recent telephone scam which appear to be targeting Brookline residents.
•
• The first Scam is the IRS Green Dot Money Pack Scam.  Green Dot Money Pak Cards themselves are legitimate products when used for the intended purpose,  The intended use allows consumers to reload MoneyPaks to other pre paid cards, add money to a Pay Pal account without using a bank account, or to make same day payments to major companies.  Because the cards can be bought with cash, consumers never need to disclose their personal or financial information to a retail cashier or to make a payment.
•
• The traditional wire transfer scam involves crooks asking for funds to be directly wires to them, but the Money-Pak scam has the added benefit of the crooks not having to show up at an office to claim the money.  Anyone with the 14 digit number found on the back of the Green Dot Money Pak Card can drain the card of funds.
•
• The scam works in many ways including phone calls to residents implying that the resident is behind on a bill or owes money for back taxes.  The person calling identifies themselves as being from the IRS or a Utility Company.  The person posing as an IRS Agents demands money for back taxes and threatens to have the person arrested or deported.  The scammers then agree to accept payment for the back taxes by directing the victim to a nearby store that sells Green Dot Money-Pak Cards.  The victim is told to purchase a Green Dot Money Pak card in the amount of the back taxes.  Once the card is purchased they tell the victim to give them the 14 digit code on the back of the Green Dot Money Pak Card.  Once the scammers have the 14 digit code they can obtain all of the money that has been put onto the Green Dot Money Pak card.
•
• The second Scam that we have recently been seeing involving Brookline residents is the Traffic Accident Scam.  In this case a victim receives a call from someone claiming that one of their relatives has been involved in a serious traffic accident causing considerable damage.  The caller claims that the damage exceeds $6,000.00.  The caller claims that they are holding the relative and demand payment for the traffic accident damage.  They request that the victim go to a nearby Western Office and wire money to a location to cover the cost of the accident.  The victim is then told to simply give the caller the number on the Western Union Money Gram.  When the scammer has the number for the Western Union Money Gram he can usually go to any Western Union Office and get the funds.
•
• We believe that most of these scams are originating outside of the United States.
•
The scammers appear at this time to be targeting immigrants or elderly people who are usually to frightened to call the police until it is to late.

Police Report: Arrest for Texting while Driving.

About 12:00 PM, on Saturday, December 14, 2013, I, Officer ------ in the unmarked 1B20 unit observed the operator of a gray Volvo Sedan texting while driving, in the adjacent lane on Commonwealth Ave. The vehicle turned right into an alleyway next to St. Paul St. Then turned left onto Dummer St. The operator continued to use his mobile device the entire time. I activated my low profile emergency lights and safely initiated a traffic stop at the intersection of St. Paul St. and Dummer St. All streets listed are public ways in the Town of Brookline.


I approached the vehicle with my badge displayed and identified myself as a police officer. I advised the operator as to the reason for the stop. The operator was identified as ------ . A query of with the registry of motor vehicles, using my cruiser laptop, revealed that had a revoked drivers license. This information was confirmed to be accurate by Brookline Dispatch.

------- was placed under arrest and transported to the station by Officer ------ in the marked 544 unit, followed by Officer in the marked 543 unit. was booked by SGT with the assistance of booking Officers.

------- was charged with the following Offenses:

(MGL 90:23) Operating After Revocation (License)

(MGL 90:13B) Texting while Driving.

l was issued Massachusetts Uniform Citation for the above listed offenses.

12/18 - 12/19

Sector 3

Larceny: 08/21/2013 at 10:00 a.m. – Summit Ave
An officer was dispatched to Summit Ave to take a report of a past larceny. Upon arrival, the officer was met by the victim who had just discovered several items missing from her jewelry box. The victim informed   the officer that the third floor of their house was currently undergoing renovations, allowing workers access to the bedroom where the jewelry was kept. The matter is currently under investigation.

Sector 4

Operating After Revocation: 12/18/2013 at 5:36 p.m. – Park St.
An officer observed a vehicle fail to stop for the stop sign. The officer initiated a traffic stop on Park St. A query of the driver’s information revealed his license was revoked. He was placed under arrest for Operating After Revocation.

Operating After Suspension: 12/18/2013 at 5:47 p.m. – Park St.
An officer observed a vehicle fail to stop at the stop sign. The officer initiated a traffic stop on Park St. A query of the driver’s information revealed he had a suspended license. He was placed under arrest for Operating After Suspension.

12/16 - 12/17

Sector 1

Operating After Suspension: 12/16/2013 at 10:29 p.m. – St. Paul St./ Commonwealth Ave.
An officer observed a vehicle operating without a headlight working. The officer initiated a stop on St. Paul St. A query of the driver’s information revealed he had a suspended license. He was placed under arrest.

Sector 4

Operating After Suspension: 12/16/2013 at 11:03 a.m. – Washington St./ White Pl.
 An officer observed a vehicle fail to yield for a pedestrian. The officer initiated a traffic stop at the intersection of Washington St. and White Pl. A query of the driver’s information revealed his license was suspended. He was arrested for Operating After Suspension.

Motor Vehicle Theft: 12/16/2013 at 6:04 p.m. – Washington St./ Park St.
Several officers were dispatched to Washington St. to take a report of malicious damage to a motor vehicle. Officers were informed that a cyclist had smashed the rear window of a motor vehicle before fleeing the scene. Officers were met by the victim who stated she had safely driven around a cyclist, who then caught up with her vehicle while she was stopped at a red light. The cyclists became agitated and began yelling at her. The cyclists then used his bicycle lock to smash the rear window of the vehicle. A search of the area revealed a suspect matching the witness’s description. He was placed under arrest for malicious damage to a motor vehicle.

Operating After Suspension: 12/17/2013 at 12:50 a.m. – Boylston St.
An officer observed a vehicle traveling at an accelerated rate of speed. The officer initiated a traffic stop on Boylston St. A query of the driver’s information revealed he had a suspended license. He was placed under arrest.

Sector 5

Larceny: 12/16/2013 at 4:00 p.m. – Greenough St.
An officer was dispatched to Greenough St. for a report of a stolen cell phone. Upon arrival, the officer was met by the victim who states she had mistakenly left her cell phone unattended in a classroom. When she returned to get it, she saw it had been taken.

12/14 - 12/16

Not Duly Licensed: 12/13/2013 at 12:51 a.m. – Boylston St./ Reservoir Rd.
An officer observed a vehicle traveling at an accelerated rate of speed. The officer initiated a traffic stop on Boylston St. A query of the driver’s information revealed he had a suspended license. He was placed under arrest for being Not Duly Licensed.
Operating After Suspension: 12/13/2013 at 12:39 p.m. – Boylston St./ Heath St.
An officer observed a vehicle make an illegal U-turn. The officer initiated a traffic stop on Boylston St. A query of the driver’s information revealed the driver had a suspended license. She was placed under arrest for Operating After Suspension.

Sector 1
Malicious Damage: 12/13/2013 at 8:03 a.m. – Pleasant St.
An officer was dispatched to a residence on Pleasant St. after receiving a report of malicious damage. Upon arrival, the officer was met by the victim who informed the officer that a glass panel on his front door had been smashed.
Operating After Revocation: 12/14/2013 at 12:24 p.m. – St. Paul St./ Dummer St.
An officer observed an operator of a vehicle using his cell phone while driving. The officer initiated a traffic stop on St. Paul St. A query of the driver’s information revealed he had a revoked license. He was placed under arrest.

Larceny: 12/14/2013 at 6:50 p.m. – Harvard St.
Several officers were dispatched to a business on Harvard St. after receiving a report of larceny. Upon arrival the officer were met by a store employee who had the suspect detained in his office. A review of video surveillance revealed the suspect placing items into his backpack. When the employee confronted the suspect, he attempted to flee. A search of the suspect’s backpack also revealed a small plastic bag containing a green, leafy substance believed to be marijuana. The suspect was placed under arrest for Larceny and issued a citation for Possession of Marijuana.

Sector 3

Larceny: 12/14/2013 at 6:03 p.m. – Beacon St.
An officer was dispatched to a business on Beacon St. after receiving a report of a shoplifter who was still in the store. Upon arrival, the officer was met by the Asst. Manager who stated he observed the suspect place an MP3 player in the pocket of his coat. The suspect was placed under arrest for Larceny.

Sector 4

Operating After Suspension: 12/13/2013 at 5:07 p.m. – Boylston St.
An officer observed a vehicle make an illegal U-turn. The officer initiated a traffic stop on Boylston St. A query of the driver’s information revealed the driver had a suspended license. He was placed under arrest for Operating After Suspension.

Possession of Heroin: 12/15/2013 at 5:14 p.m. – New Terrace Rd.
An officer was on patrol and noticed two people acting suspiciously. The officer approached the individuals and asked for their identification. A query of one of the suspect’s information revealed she had an arrest warrant. She was placed under arrest without incident. A search of her person revealed a small bag containing what officers believed to be heroin. She was further charged with Possession of Heroin.

Sector 5

Suspicious Activity: 12/14/2013 at 9:03 a.m. – Addington Rd.
An officer was dispatched to a residence on Addington Rd. to take a report of a suspicious phone call. Upon arrival the officer met with the victim who stated he had received a phone call from an unidentified male. The man told the victim he was holding his brother hostage until $1000 was wired to him. The victim then became suspicious of the call and hung up. Similar scams have been perpetuated in Brookline before. If you receive a similar phone call, please report it to the Brookline Police Department.