6/21/2016 to 6/22/2016

6/21/2016

5:43am: A phone was reported stolen. The victim stated that they may have accidentally left it on a Dexter Park bench, and when they returned to look for it, the phone was no longer there.

9:02am: A man was arrested at a traffic stop at the intersection of Newton Street and Grove Street for Operating after Suspension.

3:29pm: Multiple bike thefts were reported at a residential building on Freeman Street.  A facility staff of the building reported that a metal bar designed to secure bikes had been forcefully removed. This building has seen a string of bike thefts lately, and which are under investigation.

7:09pm: A backpack was stolen at Brookline Public Library (Main Branch) after it was left unattended for a two-hour period.

6/22/2016

1:00am: A man was arrested during a traffic stop at the intersection of Harvard Street and Green Street for a default arrest warrant.

8:15am: A man was arrested at a traffic stop on Harvard Street for a straight arrest warrant.

1:23pm: Officers received a call about package theft. A witness stated that a man was seen taking packages from Browne Street before getting into a vehicle. Officers spotted the vehicle in the area minutes later. When officers attempted a stop, the suspect originally pulled a U-Turn to evade them, but the officers were able to stop the vehicle a short time later.

Officers asked the suspect if he had been in the Browne Street residence, and he admitted he had. They then located several packages from two Browne Street residences in his trunk, none of which were addressed to him. The suspect was placed under arrest.

8:06pm: A theft was reported on Comm Ave. A cell phone and several cards were taken from an unlocked locker at a gym.

Man Arrested for Stealing Over 60 DVDs from Local Library

On May 2^nd, 2016, Brookline Police spoke with an employee of Brookline Public Library. The Library staff took note of a male subject who was misrepresenting himself and his children to open additional library accounts, had been checking out the max amount of materials, and not returning them. It was determined that there were ten cards associated with the subject.

Detectives were able to determine the identity of the suspect and get a search warrant for information related to the library cards. It was determined also that the suspect had been using accounts of two children he claimed to be the guardian of to check out a large number of items.

Given the number and value of the items and the fact that most were significantly overdue, officers determined that he was planning to permanently deprive the Library of its property, and an arrest warrant was issued.

On June 7, 2016, Brookline Police, along with Boston Police, tracked down and arrested the suspect. During the arrest they located over 50 DVDs and video games and a number of empty cases belonging to several area libraries, including Brookline, Cambridge, and Boston. The items taken from Brookline Library have an estimated value of $4,124.50. He is being charged with 6 counts of Larceny Over $250 by False Pretenses and 2 counts of Identity Fraud.

6/20/2016

3:05am: Officers responded to an alarm at a school, and upon arrival found and arrested four suspects. The officers learned that the four had entered the building through a window, and also found a large quantity of marijuana on them. They are being charged with B&E and two possession charges.

8:38am: A bike was stolen from a driveway on Coolidge Street. It was unlocked at the time it was taken. The timeframe includes the evening and overnight hours of 6/19 and 6/20. An abandoned bike, not belonging to the victim, was found nearby.

5:27pm: A bike theft was reported on Stearns Road. It was left unlocked in a garage and went missing in the early evening hours.

7:38pm: Officers responded to a reported motor vehicle theft. The victim had let the suspect borrow the vehicle, but the suspect did not return it. Officers are investigating.

11:40pm: A theft was reported on Middlesex Road. The weather cover for a motorized scooter was taken.

6/17/2016 to 6/19/2016

6/17/2016

2:41pm: A bike theft was reported on Manchester Road. The bike was locked to a front porch at the time it was stolen. Officers were able to get a description of possible suspects.

2:49pm: A bike theft was reported, this time on Harvard Ave. It was locked to a residential bike rack and locked through the front tire. Officers found the intact front tire still attached to the rack, with the remainder of the bike missing.

5:13pm: Another bike theft was reported on Harvard Ave, also from a residential bike rack. The front tire of this bike was removed, similar to the previous case. The rough timeframe of these two thefts is early in the afternoon.

5:42pm: A larceny was reported from a local business on Harvard Street. The tip jar was stolen and a description was given of a suspect. They are described as a black male in his 20s or 30s, with long hair and a green shirt.

6/19/2016

12:42pm: A bike theft was reported on Stearns Road. It was left unlocked at the time.

12:45pm: A bike theft was reported on Coolidge Street. The crime occurred during the overnight hours when the bike was left unlocked on a porch.

12:58pm: The breaking and entering of a motor vehicle was reported on Columbia Street. It was unlocked at the time, and change and a bottle of water were taken. Three other vehicles nearby were locked at the time and did not show signs of being broken in to.

1:22pm: A vehicle was reported broken into on Harvard Ave. Money was taken, likely during the overnight hours. The vehicle is believed to have been left unlocked.

1:38pm: A larceny was reported on St Paul Street. Officers were notified that approximately 20 plants were taken from in front of a building. This occurred over the course of a week.

7:40pm: A vehicle was broken into in a parking garage on Boylston Street. The victim found the interior of the vehicle in disarray, and discovered cash and a GPS missing. The theft occurred at some point over the past week. No signs of forced entry were found.

6/15/2016 to 6/16/2016

6/15/2016

4:23pm: A resident approached an officer to report a larceny on Harvard Street. The victim left their bag on a bench and when they returned found it missing.

5:17pm: A shoplifting occurred on Comm Ave. A suspect, described as a tall white male in a white button down and blue jeans, was witnessed leaving the store with unpaid merchandise.

8:22pm: A resident reported that their wallet was taken while shopping at a local business on Beacon Street. The victim gave the description of a possible suspect to officers and stated that they believe they were pickpocketed. The description was given as a Middle Eastern man, about 40 years old, heavy set, and wearing a brown t-shirt and khakis.

6/16/2016

9:47am: A shoplifting was reported at a business on Harvard Street. Officers were given the description of a suspect, and were able to recover the suspect’s bicycle nearby. The suspect was described as a male in his 20s, wearing dark pants, an orange t-shirt, and a green and orange baseball hat.

Busy Night - Two arrest and One suspect being sought

Last night at approximately 8:30PM, Brookline Dispatch sent several units to the area of Pond Ave. and Highland Rd. for a report of a subject who was exposing himself. The subject was last seen in the area of Ward's Pond. The caller, described the subject as a hispanic/latino male, 5'05" to 5'06", in his forties or fifties. He was wearing a navy blue jacket or sweater with a white stripe across the shoulders and with navy blue or black pants.

  Two victims were walking their dogs around Wards Pond when they observed a male subject standing on the path facing them with his zipper down and he was exposing himself. Officers responded and located the subject a short distance away. As a result of the investigation the subject was arrested and charged with Open and Gross Lewdness.

Last night at approximately 9:50PM, Brookline Dispatch received a call for a robbery in progress on Vernon Street.  Reporting party was a witness to the incident and immediately contacted Police.  A Suspect description was given as a black male, approximately 26 years of age, clean shaven, wearing dark colored pants, and dark colored puffy jacket or hoodie with a logo on the front.  Suspect was last seen running on Vernon Street heading towards Park St. The adult male victim was discovered to have suffered non life threatening stab wounds to his upper body. He was taken to Massachusetts General Hospital. This is an active investigation.

At 3:45AM this morning an officer on patrol spotted a subject in a drive way on Upland road. As a result of the investigation, the subject was found to be breaking into cars.  Evidence was also recovered from a vehicle on Irving Street and from a vehicle from Juniper Street. The subject is a juvenile out of Boston. He faces several charges related to breaking into cars. Residents are reminded to lock their cars and keep valuables out of sight.

6/13/2016

2:16am: A man was arrested at a traffic stop on Skyline Park for Operating After Suspension.

8:02pm: A bike was stolen from Davis Ave. The bike was taken from an open garage earlier in the day.

6/10/2016 to 6/12/2016

6/10/16

1:02pm: A man was arrested on an existing warrant on South Street.

6/11/2016

2:15am: A man was arrested at the intersection of Comm Ave Fuller Street for Tagging and Disorderly conduct. The suspect originally fled on a non-motorized scooter, but officers were able to apprehend him.

8:40am: A bike was reported stolen from a bike rack at Brookline Place on 6/10. The bike was locked to the rack when it was taken.

11:41am: A vehicle was reported broken into on Walnut Street. Sunglasses and cash were taken when the vehicle was broken into earlier in the morning. The car was unlocked at the time.

8:17pm: Officers responded to a shoplifting call on Beacon Street. Both the item and a suspect were quickly located. The suspect will be summonsed to court.

6/12/2016

3:26pm: Officers responded to the activation of the Brookline Police Bait Bike. The combination lock was cut, removed, and left by the bike. The suspects left the Bait Bike behind, and officers were able to locate two suspects. They will be summonsed to court.

8:42pm: A package was reported stolen from a communal area in a residential building on Beacon Street. The theft is believed to have occurred on 6/10.

6/8/2016

11:36am: A theft was reported on Washington Street. A phone was left in a common area of a residential building, and was missing when the owner went back to look for it.

7:51pm: A bicycle was stolen from Brookline Place when it was left on a bike rack, possibly unlocked. The theft occurred at some point earlier in the day. This matter is under investigation.

2015 Police Officer Awards

At Tuesday’s Selectmen’s Meeting, four Brookline Police officers were given service awards, which were voted on by their peers. We had a great ceremony with many officers, family, and community members there to show their thanks and support.

Officer Teahan was awarded Police Officer of the Year 2015. Officer Teahan began his service in 2003, and ever since has gained a reputation as a thorough, caring professional. He has worked many routes while serving in Patrol, and enjoys getting to know the community around him. He was chosen for this award after a year of great police work that included a number of arrests and life-saving CPR on a baby.

Officer McNeil was awarded the Brookline Public Service Medal. He joined the force in 1980, and has held numerous positions in Patrol, Traffic, and the Community Service Division. He coaches 3 sports in Brookline and is an involved fitness and nutrition instructor, both in the Department and in the Community. He is well-known for leading by example, always has the health of his colleagues in mind, and was voted unanimously to receive this award.

Detective McHugh was also awarded the Brookline Public Service Medal. Detective McHugh came onto the force in 1977, starting in Patrol and quickly working his way into Detectives. He has dedicated much of his time to educating teenagers about the dangers of alcohol & substance abuse, speaking for the past 14 years at St. Theresa’s School in West Roxbury. He is a great detective and member of the community, and was voted unanimously to receive this award.

Sergeant Amendola received a Commendation Medal after receiving five Certificates of Commendation, including two in 2015. One commendation was for his handling of a traffic stop involving a known firearms offender, in which Sgt. Amendola helped in a search that found marijuana, cocaine, measuring equipment, and a large sum of cash. In the second case, Sgt. Amendola was instrumental in saving a teen who was threatening to jump off a roof. Sgt. Amendola is a combat veteran who served in the US Army Reserve in Afghanistan, where he was awarded the Purple Heart, and is now a Patrol Supervisor and a supervisor of the SRT Unit.

6/7/2016

5:24pm: A larceny was reported on Columbia Street. The nozzle of a garden hose was removed and taken from the yard of a resident. This occurred earlier in the afternoon.

6/3/2016 to 6/5/2016

6/3/2016

3:34pm: A larceny was reported on Harvard Street. A resident’s wallet was stolen from their purse at a local restaurant. This is an active case.

6/4/2016

11:04am: A resident reported the theft of their bike from the West Roxbury Parkway. It was left unlocked and resting against a tree earlier in the week, when it is believed to have been taken. 

Recent Car Breaks

Last night at approximately 3:30am, a resident witnessed the breaking and entering of a motor vehicle on Clyde Street. The suspect fled on a bike, and officers located him a short time later. The suspect refused to stop but was later stopped and detained after initially resisting arrest.

Officers found multiple stolen items on the suspect’s person, including items that may be linked to other car breaks in the area. The suspect is currently being charged with B&E of a Motor Vehicle, Larceny, Receiving Stolen Property, and Resisting Arrest.

If your car was broken into or you are missing property, Brookline Police is still holding unclaimed stolen property recovered in this case. Particular areas of concern for where we believe these items were taken from are in South Brookline, including Meadowbrook Rd, Dale St, Clyde St, and Newton St. If you believe your property was stolen, please call our non-emergency line at (617) 730-2222. 

5/31/2016

5/31/2016

6:17pm: A bicycle was stolen on Vernon Street. The bike was left locked to a sign post and was taken over the weekend.

On a related note, the Brookline Police Bait Bike is back in use. The Bait Bike appears normal, but has a GPS tracker equipped that alerts police to its movements. It gets placed in various fixed locations where bike thefts are known to occur in order to proactively combat and deter bike thefts. Our Bait Bike led to several arrests last week.

On 5/25: The Bait Bike was locked to a sign post at the intersection of Brook and Kent. Officers were alerted to its movement at around 2:30pm, and were able to locate it and arrest a juvenile suspect.

On 5/27: The Bait Bike was locked to a sign post on Beacon Street when the alarm went off at around 1:30am. Officers located two male suspects. One was riding the Bait Bike and in possession of bolt cutters, and the other admitted to involvement in the theft. Both suspects were placed under arrest.

Follow-Up:

5/25: At noon, officers noticed a man acting suspiciously with a package. Believing this may be a possible package theft; officers stopped and questioned the man, who initially gave a false name. Officers learned his real identity and discovered that he was neither the recipient nor sender on the package, and could not provide information about the listed sender on the return label.

Based on the man’s behavior during the investigation, he was found to be in possession of marijuana. A Boston Police K-9 Unit was dispatched to investigate the box, and the dog alerted officers that something suspicious was in the package. A search warrant was obtained for the suspect’s package, which was seized, and his apartment. Detectives discovered a large sum of cash in a vacuum sealed bag within the package.

The search of the apartment yielded a large amount of marijuana and pure THC oil, as well as mailing and measuring equipment. Detectives found cash hidden in various locations as well. The man was placed under arrest for numerous charges related to Possession and Distribution.

5/27/2016 to 5/30/2016

5/27/2016

11:40pm: Officers responded to a business on Commonwealth Ave. A store manager confronted a male suspect for possibly attempting to shoplift. The suspect then hit the clerk in the hand and knocked over a Lottery machine before exiting the store. This is under investigation.

5/28/2016

2:54am: A man was arrested for Operating Under the Influence at the intersection of Beacon and Winchester.

3:40pm: A packaged theft was reported on Babcock Street. The box was delivered earlier in the month and was found open with its contents missing.

5:47pm: A shoplifting call came in from Harvard Street. A suspect took electronics from the store before exiting. A description of the suspect was noted and this is under investigation.

5/29/2016

3:55am: An assault/attempted robbery was reported on South Street. The victim managed to fend off two suspects, who fled. This is an active case.

6:22am: Attempted Breaking & Entering of a Motor Vehicle was reported on Aspinwall Ave. A victim noticed the suspect attempting to gain entry into the vehicle. The suspect was unsuccessful and fled. Nothing was taken. This is under investigation.

9:52am: A package theft was reported from Beacon Street. The package was delivered this weekend according to the delivery company, but the caller had not received it.

5/30/2016

4:41am: A Breaking and Entering of a Motor Vehicle was reported on Grove Street. The glove compartment was found open and items were missing. This is believed to have occurred the previous evening.

5/26/2016

9:54am: A larceny was reported on Salisbury Road. A maintenance company stated that a piece of their equipment was taken from a work site earlier in the week. This is under investigation.

5:45pm: A phone was reported stolen after it was mistakenly left in a restroom on Cypress Street. When the owner returned to look for it, it was not there. It was likely taken in the early evening hours. This is an active case.

5/25/2016

1:33pm: Officers stopped a moped on Beacon Street for driving erratically. The driver initially refused to pull over. Officers then determined that the moped was recently stolen. The moped was recovered and the juvenile driver will be summonsed to court for traffic charges and Receiving Stolen Property.

Follow-Up - A stolen bicycle was recovered during search warrant executed in an unrelated case. Officers executing the search observed the bike, which they later did some research on and matched it up to bike stolen in April. The victim confirmed bike was theirs and it was returned to him. The suspect will be charged with Receiving Stolen Property over $250.  In addition, other items also observed during the search warrant, which are believed to be stolen from Motor Vehicles. There is an ongoing investigation to see if the suspect is tied to rash of B&Es of Motor Vehicles in the sector four area.

Follow-Up – After a follow-up on a house break on Clark Road, a flier was developed on a suspect who used a credit card stolen from the house at a Cambridge business.  The suspect was later ID'd by Cambridge Police as having been arrested by Massachusetts State Police for breaking into vehicle in Cambridge. 

Follow-Up - A home healthcare worker caring for an elderly client has been charged with larceny after an extensive investigation by detectives. 

Follow-Up - In another case of money being stolen by an entrusted Home Healthcare worker from elderly victims, officers and detectives unveiled video evidence of a suspect using a victim’s credit card without authorization in order to access victims account and steal money. 

5/24/2016

9:31am: A moped was reported stolen on Beacon Street. The moped was secured via a chain lock, and is believed to have been taken during the overnight hours. This case is under investigation.

9:52am: A moped was reported stolen on Linden Street. It was secured via chain lock, and is also believed to have been stolen during the overnight hours. This is an active case.

5/21/2016 to 5/22/2016

5/21/2016

3:02pm: A shoplifting occurred on Harvard Street. Items were stolen from the counter of a local business. This is an active case.

7:56pm: A package theft occurred at a residence on Washington Street. The package was delivered earlier in the evening, and the addressee found it cut open with the contents missing.

5/22/2016

2:18pm: A bike theft was reported on Corey Road. It is believed that the bike was taken at some point over the past week, when it was left unsecured on a back porch. 

3:08pm: A theft occurred on Harvard Street. A cell phone was lost at a local store and was not located by store employees. This is under investigation.

Arrest made today /incident in woods behind School

Today shortly after 8:30 dispatch received a call from a person reporting a man with a long gun firing shots in the woods in the Hoar Sanctuary behind Baker School. Officers responded with assistance from Boston and State police. A male subject was found hiding in the woods, and as a result of the investigation, the subject was placed under arrest. He is being charged with Disorderly Conduct, Disturbing the Peace and Discharging a Pellet Gun over a public way. The department will be seeking assistance from the Brookline Municipal Court obtaining an evaluation of the subject. Subject will be arraigned later today in Brookline Court