Belmont Police log, Dec. 11 to Dec. 18: Two vehicles stolen from Scooter Mutter, Home broken into on Scott Road, checks altered, mulit-car collisions with injuries 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.
Public safety warning
Do not mail letters with checks in mailboxes, drop them off to the post office, in person and be sure to confirm when your check arrived and check your bank statements more often.
Monday, Dec. 11
4:31 p.m.: A Berwick Street resident reported a forged check that was cashed. On Nov. 29th at 6:30 a.m., they dropped an envelope to Belmont Light in the mailbox in front of the post office on the corner of Trapelo Road and Church Street. There was a check made out for $324.89 to the Town of Belmont. However, it was forged and cashed for $7,223 and paid to Carlos Perea Palma. They contacted the bank, Citizens Bank who acknowledged the check was tampered with. The bank closed the account.
Tuesday, Dec. 12
11:27 a.m.: A Sycamore Street resident reported fraud. On Tuesday, Dec. 5th, he wrote a check for $50 for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. He put it in the mailbox located at the corner of White and Sycamore Streets. He was notified by the Align Credit Union that the check was deliberately altered and a mobile deposit was made into a Cambridge Savings Bank. The amount was changed from $50 to $8,945 and payable to Anthony Emanuel Rojas. The credit union told him he would not be held responsible for the lost money.
3:47 p.m.: A Trapelo Road resident reported vandalism to their 2012 Honda. He moved into the apartment building one week ago and parked in the lot behind the building the night before. The next morning he observed the vehicle was vandalized. There were deep scratches on the right side, trunk, left side and hood. The scratches also contained swear words on the trunk and hood. The parking spots in the apartment complex are assigned and he thought he could park in any space because he was not informed by the management team. Officers attempted to speak to the property manager but have not heard back.
10:16 p.m.: Officers filed a criminal complaint against a homeless Watertown man for two charges of threats to commit a crime.
Wednesday, Dec. 13
1:38 p.m.: Collision with possible injuries in area of Belmont Street and Common Street between a 2016 Nissan operated by a Waltham woman and a 2018 Toyota operated by a Belmont man. Belmont Fire also responded. Both vehicles were towed from the scene with heavy damage. The operator of the Toyota was issued a citation for failure to yield when making a left turn.
5:06 p.m.: Collision in area of 279 Belmont St. between a 2023 Honda operated by a Brighton woman and a 2019 GMC operated by a Bedford man. The operator of the Honda was attempting to make a right onto School Street when she struck the GMC to her right. The operator of the GMC said he was parked on Belmont Street. The light was turning red at the intersection. He checked to see if it was safe to merge when he was struck by the Nissan. The operator of the Honda was issued a citation for marked lanes violation.
5:54 p.m.: A Scott Road resident reported burglar alarm. When officers arrived they searched the home. They observed an open door, a broken lock and splintered wood on the floor. There were partially open cabinets in the kitchen. A K-9 assisted in the search. Detectives also responded. Neighbors said the home owners were away. The owners were made aware of the incident. Footage on Ring cameras will be checked. A man walking his dog said he saw a man walking down the street wearing a black hooded sweatshirt in front of the home broken into at 5:50 p.m. The home owner said when she comes home officers will meet her at the home to assess if anything was stolen.
9:13 p.m.: Collision into animal in area of Concord Avenue and Robinwood Road. A Watertown man operating a 2010 Kia said he was travelling on Concord Avenue when he struck an unknown animal. There was moderate damage to the front of his vehicle. A passerby said it was a deer. There were several clumps of white fur on his front bumper.
Thursday, Dec. 14
3:33 p.m.: A Fairmont Street resident reported larceny. Her son’s Apple watch was stolen out of his backpack during gym class at the Chenery Upper Elementary School on Washington Street. She is unsure what time it was taken. He realized it was missing when he came home from school. She tried tracking the watch’s location but was unsuccessful. The watch is valued at $400.
Friday, Dec. 15
11:15 a.m.: A Common Street resident reported fraud. On Monday, Nov. 20th, he mailed a check in the postal box located at 404 Concord Ave. It was written from his Cambridge Trust account for $2,100. On Nov. 30th, the check was deposited into a Citizens Bank account through a mobile deposit. The depositor of the check was Victor M. Sota. The memo note said, “2017 Honda” and the amount was changed to $9,623. Cambridge Trust said the funds would be withheld from Citizens Bank and he has not lost any money at this time.
5:19 p.m.: Four-car collision with injuries in area of 721 Pleasant St. between a 2016 Honda operated by an Arlington man, a 2008 Toyota operated by a Belmont woman, a 2011 Toyota operated by a Cambridge man and a 2009 Honda operated by a Belmont man. The operator of the 2016 Honda was traveling Northbound on Pleasant Street when he briefly looked down and when he looked up he was unable to stop in time, striking the vehicle in front of him. His vehicle had significant front end damage and airbag deployment. The operator of the 2008 Toyota said her back was sore. She was transported to Mount Auburn Hospital. Her vehicle had heavy rear-end damage front-end damage and a shattered window. The other two vehicles were struck from behind. The 2016 Honda and 2008 Toyota were towed from the scene. The operator of the 2016 Honda was issued a citation for following too close.
5:49 p.m.: Three-car collision with injuries in area of 329 Cross St. between a 2020 Ram operated by a Hyde Park man, a 2023 Ford operated by a Melrose man and a 2022 Honda operated by a Cambridge man. The operator of the 2022 Honda was bleeding from the head. Officers applied pressure until Belmont Fire arrived and took over care. The operator of the Honda said he doesn’t remember was happened. His vehicle turned sideways and he was transported to Mount Auburn Hospital. His vehicle sustained major damage and was towed from the scene. The operator of the Ram said his vehicle was parked on the side of the road. He works from Amazon and was transferring packages from another truck when the accident happened and he did not see what caused it. The operator of the Ford also works for Amazon and was parked on the side of the road. He was outside of the vehicle during the accident and also did not see what happened. Both the Ford and Honda were towed from the scene and no one was issued a citation.
Saturday, Dec. 16
10:45 a.m.: Officers responded to Scooter Mutter on Belmont Street for a report of a stolen scooter and four-wheel ATV. The owner of the business said he noticed the vehicles missing when he arrived this morning. He contacted the landlord to review the security cameras. The scooter was a 2018 Sanyang PCH50 black moped. The four-wheel ATV is a 2023 Tao Tao blue t-force. At approximately 1 a.m., the video shows a vehicle entering the driveway to the business on Vincent Avenue. Two individuals exited the vehicle and can be scene walking down the driveway. A few minutes later they are seen wheeling the scooter down the driveway. One person rides away on the scooter towards Bartlett Avenue. A short time later, four individuals returned and entered the driveway and were seen wheeling out the ATV towards the street. The owner will email copies of the security footage to Belmont Police. A resident on Vincent Avenue who abuts the driveway said he heard a commotion during the timeframe of the event. He saw two men inside a black Honda minivan and two men outside the van. He described them as young, having average build. One male was wearing a gray hoodie. Neighbors are supplying video footage from their cameras to assist in the investigation. The two stolen vehicles were entered into NCIC.
Sunday, Dec. 17
11:51 a.m.: A Walnut Street resident reported a dog urinating on her front steps. She knows the owner of the dog who lives on White Street. She has confronted the dog owner about the past incidents. She has photos and video. The owner of the dog said the Walnut Street resident was being aggressive, pounding on her door and yelling about the dog urinating on her property. This is not the first time she has been confronted. They denied the dog did anything. They were both advised to contact the police if another altercation occurs.
8:06 p.m.: Collision in the area of 762 Pleasant St. involving a 2016 Nissan operated by an Everett man colliding with a jersey barrier. The airbag fully deployed. When officers arrived the Nissan was still running, it was locked and unoccupied. Belmont Fire made entry into the vehicle and turned it off. The vehicle was registered to a Worcester woman. The Worcester Police made contact with the vehicle owner who said she loaned it to her friend, an Everett man. The Everett Police made contact with the Everett man and spoke to him through a translator. He said he got scared after crashing the vehicle and had a friend pick him up from the scene. He was issued a citation for leaving the scene of an accident with property damage. He was unlicensed and issued a citation for unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle.
Arrest
A 44-year-old Belmont man arrested on a fugitive from justice warrant at 10:36 a.m. on Dec. 14.
As of 1 p.m. on Dec. 18, there were 14 calls for tree limbs, wires and poles down due to the rain and wind. There were two calls for electrical hazards due to power lines down. There were six calls for flooded roadways .
Between Dec. 11 and Dec. 17, Belmont Police responded to three mental health calls.