Belmont Police Log, Nov. 2-8: Belmont employee reports threats from caller, neighbor threatened by another neighbor over parking, packages stolen, bank fraud 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, Nov. 2

2 p.m.: A Belmont resident reported she was a victim of fraud. She was approached about a job opportunity to earn quick cash. It required her to pick someone up, give them a ride and then get paid by someone named John Dobbs. She had to provide her debit card to John Dobbs to pay her. She was also instructed to send $3,000 in $1,000 payments through Apple Pay but the payments were unsuccessful in being sent to 617-963-4391. She provided her DCU card and recently learned it was used to purchase $6,000 worth of merchandise. She informed DCU that she did not use her card for the purchase. They informed her that she needed to document the incident before it could be rectified.

3:33 pm.: A Belmont resident reported his son’s backpack stolen from a park bench at Winn Brook Elementary School while he was playing soccer. The next morning, he located the backpack outside the playground fence near the tennis courts on Cross Street. It was rummaged through. His son’s Belmont High School identification and $150 cash was missing.

4:47: 10:23 p.m.: A Hoitt Road resident reported Amazon packages missing. She received notification they were delivered earlier in the day but did not go out to retrieve them until later. Video surveillance showed an individual wearing a light-colored hooded jacket walk up to the residence and take the packages. One package contained training bras valued at $26.63 and the other contained a Playmobile dollhouse valued at $30. She will contact Amazon to attempt to get a refund.

Sunday, Nov. 3

2:08 p.m.: A Belmont resident reported he ordered an iPhone 15 Pro Max on Oct. 27 for approximately $840 via eBay. He communicated with ‘txflips25’ on eBay. The phone was delivered on Oct. 31. When he opened the package, there was a damaged phone inside that was not an iPhone 15 Pro Mx. EBay told him there was nothing they could do and to file a police report.

Monday, Nov. 4

10:19 a.m.: Dispute between neighboring tenants on White Street over parking. One tenant received a threatening text from the other tenant because a vehicle’s tires were touching the other tenant’s grass. Officers advised the woman who sent the threatening text to communicate with the agent for the property if there are any future issues concerning parking.

10:51 a.m.: Threats received by an employee of the Homer building. A Winchester resident called to speak to Select Board member Elizabeth Dionne. She was told she is not available and could leave a message. The caller said the message was not good enough and wanted to know Dionne’s office hours. She was informed Dionne does not keep regular office hours but could leave a message. The caller began to shout, calling all Belmont town employees useless and insulting the employee, closing with the words, “You better watch your back.” The employee often receives calls from dissatisfied citizens who express their frustrations by raising their voices and not always being polite, but wanted this conversation documented. Belmont Police contacted the Winchester resident who said, although she doesn’t live in Belmont anymore, she owns multiple properties in town. She said she is frustrated because the town government employees are never available when she needs them. She admitted taking out her frustrations on the employee but would never threaten or hurt anyone. She was advised a report would be on file and to be more cordial if she calls in the future.

Tuesday, Nov. 5

8:04 a.m.: An MBTA van collided with a 2018 Jeep Cherokee operated by a Connecticut resident. The operator of the Jeep admitted she wasn’t paying attention when she rear-ended the MBTA van. The operator of the van was complaining of back pain and transported to Mount Auburn Hospital. The operator of the Jeep was issued a citation.

4:20 p.m.: A Belmont resident reported $86,520 taken from her bank accounts. On Oct. 31 she noticed that $46,000 was withdrawn from her Citizens account without her knowledge. The account is in the name of her mother and she is the executive of the estate. The withdrawal took place on Oct. 2 at Oak Grove branch in Malden. She also discovered on Oct. 3, $31,600 was withdrawn from one of her checking accounts and on Oct. 4, $8,920 was withdrawn from another checking account. All three withdrawals were made at the Citizens Bank, Oak Grove branch in Malden. Citizens has been notified of this and is working with the FBI on a large investigation regarding similar incidents at Citizens Bank.

6:15 p.m.: A Belmont resident reported identity theft. He received a letter from US Bank stating his credit card application was denied. He never applied for a credit card from US Bank. He also received a Walmart debit card in his name today, which he never applied for. He has frozen his credit and changed all pertinent information connected to his banking accounts. He believes data may have been compromised due to a lost iPad that had all of his personal information on it.

Wednesday, Nov.  6

7:14 a.m.: A School Street resident reported fraud. He received an email from LifeLock (identity protection agency) that they received a new property record for a property on North Road in Gilead, Maine. The property was purchased through a loan from Cape Cod Five Cent Bank. He did not make the purchase. He notified credit agencies and froze all his accounts. He called Cape Cod Five Cent Bank and is awaiting a call back for more information.

Thursday, Nov. 7

8:21 a.m.: The Belmont Middle School principal reported a seventh grader said a video of his genitals was posted on Snapchat by another student. The video was taken six months ago, and he thought it was erased. He said he got into an argument with another student who posted the video and believes this is retaliation. He also said the student wanted to fight with him in the bathroom and he believes he paid two freshmen to beat him up after school. Belmont Police spoke to the assistant high school principal who said he would contact the student who he believes was asked to beat up the other student.

8:47a.m.: Belmont residents reported fraud. They requested an extension of their state and federal tax filings with both respective governments. The extension was granted until Oct. 15. They filed before Oct. 15 and were informed by their accountant they would receive a return of $14,072. On Nov. 4, a letter from the United States Department of Treasury stated $7,023.55 of the $14,072 was applied to a debt they owe to the Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance. Neither of them ever applied for unemployment assistance. They contacted their current and former employers, and none reported an unemployment filing in their names. They contacted their financial institutions and there is no suspicious activity at this time. They also ran a credit check, and their scores appear to be in good standing. They have attempted to call the Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance but have not been able to reach anyone. They plan to go in person to the office in Boston. They provided a case number and account number.

10:04 a.m.: Vandalism reported in the boy’s bathroom near the main office at Belmont Middle School. Someone drew male body parts and wrote the words, “small PP,” with a black magic marker on the urinals and bathroom walls. The principal will check the video surveillance footage to see who entered the bathroom.

11:28 a.m.: A bus collided into an inactive fire alarm pedestal fixed to concrete on the corner of Waverley and Beech Streets. The bus was chased down by Belmont Police. There were no children on board. The operator of the bus said he was late picking up students. He was informed what happened and advised he needed to return to the scene of the accident. There did not appear to be damage to the school bus. The driver was advised a police report would be filed. Belmont Light also responded and determined the fire alarm pedestal would need to be replaced and the cost would be $1,130. A supervisor from Eastern Bus Company was also on the scene.

2:38 p.m.: A Stults Road resident reported a stolen Jack o’lantern and Black Lives Matter sign. The pumpkin was carved and placed on his front steps on Halloween with a lit candle inside. There are no video surveillance cameras on the property. None of the neighbors have cameras or footage of his front yard.

6:15 p.m.: A Temple Street resident reported fraud. Money was stolen from her bank account. On Nov. 3 she was made aware by several friends that her Facebook page was hacked or duplicated. She discovered someone posted an image of a car to sell and there were multiple offers for the vehicle. In response, she reported this to Facebook’s support team, but wanted this to be fixed immediately. She found a phone number (213-674-3525) online to call in regards to this issue. She called the number and spoke to an individual for three hours. Sometime during the conversation, she allowed the person to share her screen on her electronic device. After the phone call ended, she became suspicious of possible fraudulent activities. She filed a report with Bank of America’s fraud division, the FTC and credit bureaus. She was monitoring her bank account statements and noticed several $100 transactions through Apple pay. Between $500 and $700 was taken from her bank account. She has informed Bank of America again and was told it would take 30 days to review this.

4:49 p.m.: Vandalism reported to a USPS relay box located at the corner of Clark and Thomas Streets. Writing on the side facing Clark Street with the word, “Nigga” written in black. The other side of the relay box appeared to say, “Jonk ler.”  The United States Postal Service Inspection Services was informed and advised to clean up the writing.

5:08 p.m.: Collision at the Concord Avenue bridge between a 2019 BMW operated by a Belmont man and 2019 Toyota operated by a Belmont woman. The operator of the BMW was turning left onto Common Street when it he was struck by the Toyota. The operator of the Toyota said she thought she had the right of way. Both vehicles had moderate damage.

7:15 p.m.: Collision on Village Hill Road at Wellesley Road between a 2024 Ford operated by a Roxbury man and a 2004 Dodge operated by a Dedham man. The operator of the Ford was delivering groceries for Stop and Shop. He said the operator of the Dodge did not have his headlights on. The operator of the Dodge said he didn’t see the Ford when he was traveling through the intersection. The operator of the Dodge was issued a citation for failing to stop.

Belmont Police responded to two mental health and four domestic calls between Nov. 2 and Nov. 8.