7/6/2016 to 7/9/2016

7/6/2016

5:50 pm: An officer assigned to the front desk of the Brookline Police Department was approached by a Brookline resident who came to report a larceny. The victim reported entering a local restaurant on 7/6/2016 to utilize the restroom. The victim reported leaving her purse on the bathroom sink and on her arrival home she immediately called restaurant to check for the bag. The employee stated the purse was no longer in the restaurant.

9:13 am: An officer assigned to the front desk of the Brookline Police Department and was approached by a Brookline resident who came to report a larceny. The victim reported on 6/4/2016, his son was selling flowers in the front of his house. While he was distracted, a white male operating a gray SUV grabbed a crystal vase used to hold the flowers and fled. The reporting person was able to give the officer a detailed description of the vehicle and license plate number. This matter is still under investigation.

7/8/2016

10:31 am: An Elm Street resident reported she was a victim of credit card fraud. Her account was used in Detroit though she has no ties to anyone in the city. The resident is obtaining more information regarding the report.

1:32 pm: An individual reported a license plate was stolen from his vehicle while it was parked in a hotel garage on Webster Street. The car had been parked in the garage for a week. Surveillance footage was not available for the area of the garage.

7/9/2016

12:05 am: A piece of concrete was thrown through a window of a Babcock Street residence. A pile of broken concrete was found near the window and a maintenance worker reported seeing the concrete block bench intact on 7/8/2016. A responding officer observed a group of 4-5 males in the area. These males began running when they saw the cruiser. The officer was able to stop and identify the individuals who denied any involvement in the events that took place.

12:12 am: A Babcock Street resident reported hearing his basement door open. Responding officers found the basement door wide open and cleared the basement and house. They did not locate any individuals or find anything out of place. The resident stated that the basement door is usually left unsecured, but always closed. There was no evidence of forced entry. No link has been found between this event and the malicious damage report on Babcock Street.

8:59 pm: An individual reported a suspicious vehicle parked on Kent Street. The vehicle had been left on cinder blocks without any wheels. The vehicle’s owner was informed of the situation and has made arrangements to have his vehicle moved to a secure area. Lug nuts were left at the scene and were collected as evidence. This matter is still under investigation. 

7/5/2016

Blog 7/5/2016

3:52 am: Officers were dispatched to a residence on High Street for a report of a victim receiving threatening text messages from an individual who they have a restraining order against. Upon arrival, officers observed the suspect in a close enough range to the victims’ residence to violate the terms of the restraining order.  A further query of the suspect’s information revealed he also had an outstanding warrant and the suspect was immediately placed under arrest.

7/1/2016 to 7/4/2016

7/1/2016

10:49 am: A wallet was stolen from an unlocked locker at a gym on Commonwealth Avenue. A separate party stated that a pair of sunglasses was also stolen from their unlocked locker. Surveillance camera footage is being used to identify any suspicious parties and will be provided to the police when available.

1:22 pm: An individual reported that two purchases had been made using her credit card by an unknown person. She stated she had never lost possession of her credit card. She notified her credit card company and has been reimbursed for her losses and cancelled her account.

11:15 pm: A Washington Street resident who informed officers that he believed two of his friends had stolen his medication. The victim stated his residence was unlocked and the two suspects had access to his apartment. Two individuals were seen by another officer walking down Washington Street acting in a suspicious manner. Damage was made to the officer’s personal vehicle and the two individuals were stopped and linked to the B&E report. Multiple bottles of pills prescribed to other individuals were found in their possession. The two individuals were arrested for attempted B&E with the intent to commit a felony, larceny and malicious damage over $250.

11:50 pm: Multiple items were reported missing from an Egmont Street apartment. It appears the suspect entered the residence through an unsecured window and left through the front door. A missing laptop was located in Dorchester and the Boston Police Department has been notified.

7/02/16

9:18 pm: A woman reported her phone had been stolen from a nail salon on Harvard Street earlier in the day.

7/03/16

12:30 am: A credit card used for a transaction at a hotel on Beacon Street was found to have been used fraudulently. The same man who had used the credit card then attempted to check into the hotel again, but did not provide identification or a credit card. The manager working the front desk informed him there were no additional rooms and the man left in a black Audi. The vehicle was located and the owner matched the description provided by the hotel manager. Follow up with detectives has been requested.

1:23 am: Two males were observed attempting to steal bikes on Pond Avenue. The individuals were then spotted on Cypress Street and taken into police custody. A knife was also found in their possession. One of the individuals was charged with Larceny over $250 and Vandalism of Property while a hearing for the same offenses has been requested for the other individual.

7/04/16

1:16 am: Police received a call reporting a disturbance on Smythe Street. An individual was seen walking down the street with a bloody nose that resulted from an altercation between two males prior to the responding officer’s arrival.  After speaking to both parties and witnesses to the event the two were requested to be summonsed to court for Disturbing the Peace and Assault & Battery.

6:30 pm: Officers responded to an incident of shoplifting on Washington Street. The suspect was stopped and identified on School Street, but denied stealing anything from the store. He was then arrested for warrants already in effect for his arrest. Surveillance footage from the store shows the suspect placing items into a bag before paying for another item and exiting the store. A chain and padlocks were in his possession and upon confrontation he swung them at a store employee. The individual will be charged with Armed Robbery and Shoplifting from a prior incident.

Health Care worker arrested for stealing from client

On May 10^th officers responded to an elderly housing complex to investigate a fraud. As the investigation unfolded it was found that the home health care worker was actually stealing from the disabled elderly client. Officers sought an arrest warrant, and on June 30th the Brookline District Court issued an arrest warrant for the following charges.

266/37B/A: Credit Card Fraud Under $250

266/37B/A: Credit Card Fraud Under $250

266/25/B: Larceny From A Person +65

266/37B/A: Credit Card Fraud Under $250

On 07/01/2016, Members of the Brookline Police Warrant Unit, along with members of the Boston Police Fugitive Unit, went to Hyde Park to attempt to serve a straight warrant issued for the subject.

The subject was placed under arrest without incident, she was brought to the Brookline Police Station and booked. This morning she was arraigned in Brookline District Court, and released on $1,000.00 cash bail.

6/29/2016

6:45pm: The theft of a cell phone was reported from Linden Park. The victim mistakenly left the cell phone on a bench on 6/26, and was unable to find it when he noticed the next day. There have been a number of phone thefts recently in which the victims mistakenly leave them in parks. Before you leave any public location, please make sure you have all of your belongings

9:18pm: A resident reported the theft of their backpack from the Main Branch of Brookline Library. The crime occurred between 7:30pm and 9:15pm, when it was left hanging from the back of a chair near the victim.

This is the second backpack theft from the library in recent weeks. Please make sure your backpack is always in sight when in public. If possible, keep it under your control by putting a leg or arm through the strap. This will make it far more difficult to take without your noticing.

6/28/2016

9:30am: Officers responded to a shoplifting on Harvard Street. A store manager described a suspect and stated that multiple bottles of cough medicine were taken. Upon searching the area, officers located a subject matching the description and spoke to him.

During the conversation officers noticed that the subject was holding a bottle of red liquid and that the pockets of his vest appeared to be weighed down. Officers determined that the liquid was cough medicine and that the man had a prior arrest warrant. The suspect resisted arrest initially but officers were able to apprehend him.

4:36pm: A past shoplifting was reported on Harvard Street. A suspect was seen acting suspiciously in the store and taking multiple pairs of yoga pants. The suspect is described as a black male, 30-40 years old, bald with sunglasses on his head, wearing blue jeans and a grey Henley-style long-sleeved shirt.

6:27pm: A call about soliciting came in on Walnut Street. The caller gave officers description of an unwanted solicitor going door-to-door in the neighborhood. Officers spoke to him and discovered that the solicitor had no license to do so. They also discovered a default warrant for his arrest. The solicitor was taken into custody.

6/27/2016

6/27/2016

12:55am: A man was arrested during a bicycle violation stop on Harvard Street for running a light. Officers learned during the stop that the cyclist had an active arrest warrant and placed him into custody.

6:53pm: Officers responded to a call of malicious damage on Westbourne Terrace. The victim reported that three of their bikes had significant tire damage.

7:40pm: During a traffic stop at the intersection of Beacon St and Charles St, officers arrested a man for a default warrant.

6/23/2016 to 6/26/2016

6/23/2016

5:21pm: A local business on Harvard Street reported a theft from their store. A pair of shoes was taken the previous weekend.

6/24/2016

2:21pm: A package theft was reported on Marshall St. The sender stated that the package was delivered, but the victim was unable to locate it.

5:31pm: Officers assisted Brookline Fire Department and Fallon Ambulance at a fire on Freeman Street. The fire was located in a basement level trash chute. No foul play is suspected.

7:11pm: Officers responded to a past burglary call on Cameron Street. The victims stated that they found their front door unlocked and both a laptop and camera missing. There were no signs of forced entry. The crime occurred between 0730 and 1745hrs.

11:39pm: A broken window was reported on Beacon Street. Officers responded and found a broken window in the front of the building.  They determined that no entry was made and that it was malicious damage.

6/25/2016

8:46am: A man was arrested for driving while not duly licensed. An officer had pulled the vehicle over on Newton Street for a traffic violation and discovered the driver had no valid license.

12:14pm: A caller reported that a pair of shoes was taken from in front of her residence on New Terrace Road. One was located in a nearby parking lot, but the other was not found.

6/26/2016

4:53pm: A resident walked into the station to report a theft from their store on Boylston Street. The reporting party stated that a rug was stolen from the business at some point between Thursday evening and Saturday morning.

6:58pm: A man was reported swinging nun chucks at bushes in front of an address on Beacon Street. When officers arrived they learned that the man had gone into the building. The caller stated that the man had threatened and assaulted him over a debt and was under the influence of alcohol. During the response, he also threatened officers. He was arrested and charged with two counts of A&B and two counts of Threats to Commit a Crime.

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.