Belmont Police Log, Jan. 3-8: Craig's List scam, offensive stickers, harassing texts 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, Jan. 3
1:29 p.m.: A Belmont resident reported being continuously harassed by a neighbor, along with another neighbor who lives on the same floor. She found a note on her door that said, “Listen you thieving (expletive), stay out of (name) house or your fired.” A Belmont Police officer will speak to the accused neighbor who wrote the note and advised the reporting victim about getting a harassment prevention order. The accused neighbor denied leaving a note on the victim’s door and said she does not harass anyone. She was advised not to be confrontational with any neighbors.
4:15 p.m.: A Texas resident said he rents two rooms at his Belmont house and advertises them on Craig’s List. On Dec. 27th, he was contacted by an individual who expressed interest in renting both the rooms Jan. 1 through Feb. 1. She provided him with three separate checks as payment in the amounts of $4,800, $3,800 and $6,500. He received the checks via email and then printed them out and mobile deposited them into his bank account. The checks were issued in the name of a Belmont woman who he does not know, and the potential tenant did not mention. After depositing the checks, he was instructed by the potential tenant to withdraw $4,000 from the deposited funds and send it to her via Zelle because the money was needed to rent vehicles during her stay at his house. He complied and sent her $4,000 via Zelle. After the funds were withdrawn, the Zelle account was frozen for suspicious activity. He was also contacted by his bank after depositing the third check for $6,500. He was advised the check was chemically altered with payee and amounts changed without authorization and the bank was freezing his account. All three checks were reversed and taken from his account. He is out $4,000 from Zelle and another request from the potential tenant for an additional $300 worth of Apple credit cards. Belmont Police spoke with the Belmont woman whose name was on the checks and she said on Dec. 30th she received nine letters stating she had insufficient funds to cover a check that was attempted to be cashed. She notified her bank of the unusual activity and the transactions were frozen. There were several attempted transactions on Dec. 22 totaling $32,600. She was advised to contact her bank fraud department immediately and request her account to be frozen and to also notify the credit bureaus.
Sunday, Jan. 4
6:47 p.m.: A woman who parked her car at Cambridge Eye group on Jan. 3 at 9:52 a.m. reported damage to the passenger side door of her vehicle. Her car was parked in the corner of the lot and there was only one other vehicle parked in the lot when she went into work, which was her boss’s car. He was inside during the period of time. There is a camera on the premises that may have captured the incident. She is requesting footage from the landlord of the property. She was advised to send the footage when she receives it.
Monday, Jan. 5
4:49 p.m.: A Belmont resident reported multiple offensive stickers placed on signs and stone walls in the parking lot of his apartment complex over the past few months, starting back in September. The stickers included, “Free Palestine, “Black power fist with the Palestinian flag colors,” and a “Run DMC style” sticker with the letters, “FCK ISRL.” He is Jewish and has taken offense at these but does not believe they are directed specifically at him. He has not seen who is placing the stickers on the signs and stone walls but does feel safe living there. He admitted placing other stickers on top of some of the obscene stickers in an attempt to cover them up because he could not remove them. He was able to successfully remove some. He spoke to his landlord about the ongoing situation who advised him to file a police report, and he would look into the matter. He was advised to contact the police if he observes more. He did not want the police to speak to his landlord at this time as he is hopeful he will be able to resolve the issues with the landlord himself.
Tuesday, Jan. 6
3 p.m.: A Belmont woman who has a joint account with her friend who lives in England reported money being withdrawn without authorization. In November she noticed activity in the account that was not from her. There were several transactions totaling almost $22,000 beginning in November and ending in December. She was advised to notify her bank to resolve the issue.
Wednesday, Jan. 7
8:50 a.m.: A Belmont woman reported an incident that occurred at the Belmont Hill Club parking lot on Jan. 6. She is a nanny for two children. She was waiting to drop off one of the children at the Belmont Hill Club at 8:15 a.m. She was driving the mother’s car at the time. She was waiting inside the vehicle. A man approached the vehicle telling her she could not park in the parking lot, and he would call a tow company to tow the vehicle. The man is a member of the club. She ignored his comments and that made him upset. He pulled the driver’s side door open, and she immediately shut it and locked the vehicle. She took a photo of him and provided it to the police. She told the children’s mother who was not happy about the incident.
8:30 a.m.: The Beech Street Center reported an incident with a man on Dec. 30th. He asked the Veterans Services Officer (VSO) to him to make copies of some papers for him. The VSO asked who the papers were for but refused to tell him who they were for. He informed him he could only make copies of paperwork pertaining to veteran services. He was adamant that he must make the copies for him. He continued to deny the request, and he became very agitated and aggressive. He began talking about the devil and how he must have the devil in him. He was also blocking the doorway. The employee became concerned for his safety due to the aggressive behavior and how he was talking about Satan. The employee was finally able to leave the room and go downstairs informing the man he needed to leave. The man followed him downstairs still acting aggressively and talking about Satan and Jesus. His behavior frighted a woman working at the front desk. The employee called the police, but the man left. He provided officers with his contact information. The man has a criminal record which includes several threats and harassment. The employee was advised to get a no trespass order. The social workier said he paperwork he needs to return to her for state services he is requesting. A plan was discussed how to inform him of the no trespass order if he shows up unannounced at the Beech Street Center again. The officer then learned the man was still inside the Beech Street Center and called for another offer to assist in issuing the no trespass order. The man was informed he is no longer welcomed at the Beech Street Center. He raised his voice and spoke in a threatening manner. The officer had to raise his voice back to explain he needed to finish giving him the no trespass order but could still help him with his paperwork for the state. The officer gave him his card and told him to call when he gets home to arrange for the paperwork to be picked up. He said the paperwork was about sex offender neighbors he had and didn’t like how the Belmont Police treated him. He was informed he could speak to Captain Donahue about his concerns. The officer had to take him outside to read the rest of the no trespass letter. The officer attempted several times to walk him off the property but each time he kept stopping and talking. He was reminded he cannot be on the property and to call the police officer when he gets home to pick up paperwork for the social worker.
11:30 a.m.: A Belmont woman reported a check she mailed was stolen and washed. It was mailed at the post office on Concord Avenue on Dec. 13th. It was made out to Citibank Visa in the amount of $7,374.48. On Jan. 4th, she received a letter from her bank stating her credit card payment was overdue. She realized her check was stolen and cashed under a different name. Officers attempted to find the name in Crime Tracer but did not get relevant results. She was advised to contact her bank and three major credit bureaus.
7:35 p.m.: A Belmont resident reported a hit and run while his wife parked their vehicle at Star Market on Trapelo Road between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. There was a large dent in the rear driver’s side bumper, just below the liftgate.
Thursday, Jan. 8
11:54 a.m.: A Belmont resident found five $100 bills on Jan 6 between 11:15 and 11:30 p.m. The cash was folded near his parked car on Walden Street in Cambridge. He reported it to the Cambridge Police Department but was told to report it to Belmont.
6:03 p.m.: A Belmont resident reported receiving harassing text messages from a man for more than a year using various phone numbers to contact her. He previously attempted to retain massage services from her, but she declined and said she did not have availability. He then texted her, “why did you block me (expletive)?” She has not texted back. This has caused her emotional distress and concern for her personal and professional well-being. She was advised if actions continue to take documentation to Cambridge District Court and request a harassment prevention order. She was apprehensive to obtain one because she attempted previously and was denied. Officers contacted the man at the most recent number he called her from and advised him that continued contact could result in criminal charges. He said he understood and found another place to get a massage and would cease communication with her. He also said he thought she was leading him on as he believed he would eventually be a client and was confused why he could not be her client. He was advised again that continued communication could result in criminal harassment charges, and he said he understood and would not call or text her again.
Belmont Police responded to four mental health and two domestic calls Jan. 2-8, 2026.