Police Log: Sweepstakes Scam and Another Copper Caper

Monday, July 18

9:28 a.m. -- A Russell Road resident reported a large, flatscreen was TV stolen from his home sometime over the weekend, when he was away. The thief gained entry to the home by breaking down the rear door, according to the police report.

4:01 p.m. -- A hookah pipe was found on Battle Road and Minuteman Lane. 

4:46 p.m. -- Police responded to a report of a barking dog on Waltham Street.

9:10 p.m. -- A vehicle was parked in an odd spot near a playground on Justin Street. Officers arrived and found out that the vehicle's owner was a nearby resident, and represented no threat.

9:57 p.m. -- A Verizon LG touchscreen phone was brought into the station.

Tuesday, July 19

7:02 a.m. -- A transformer fire was reported at 81 Hartwell Avenue. NStar arrived and put the fire out with no incident.

7:30 a.m. -- Police responded to a report of a sick raccoon in the area of Albemarle and Winn avenues. When they arrived, no raccoon was to be found.

1:20 p.m. -- Another possibly sick raccoon was reported two miles away, in the middle of the street at Maple Street and Ingleside Road. Again officers found nothing upon arrival.

6:20 p.m. -- A man grabbed a box of granola bars and a sandwich at Stop and Shop on Bedford Street before making a run for it, according to the police report. The store manager chased him on foot, and the thief eventually dropped the goods before getting away. The shoplifter was identified by police and given a trespassing notice.

7:46 p.m. -- Officers responded to a report of a man burning something outside of his home on Woburn Street. The man agreed to put the fire out.

7:49 p.m. -- A lifeguard at Lexington Town Pool reported her wallet stolen that afternoon. The lifeguard had put her wallet on the employee table in the locker room, and two hours later it was gone, according to the report. The wallet reportedly contained $100 and a Bank of America credit card.

Wednesday, July 20

9:13 a.m. -- Another wallet was swiped from a locker at Boston Sports Clubs on Bedford Street. While a man worked out between 7:30 and 8:45 a.m., a thief allegedly broke into his locker and took the wallet, which contained a small amount of cash, ATM cards and credit cards.

9:48 a.m. -- Eye glasses and their case were reported lost on Mass. Ave. and Pleasant Street.

11:30 a.m. -- An Eastern Avenue resident reported a possible sweepstakes scam in which he was promised $1 million and a new Mercedes in exchange for a $500 Walmart, Walgreens or CVS Moneypack card. The man refused to do, and soon phoned police.

3:25 p.m. -- A dead raccoon was found on Sutherland Road. The was notified, and quickly cleared the area.

3:30 p.m. -- Four 75-pound cell batteries were stolen from a T-Mobile property on Wood Street. The goods were taken from a locked gray container in a fenced-in area, and are worth around $700 total.

4:18 p.m. -- Both cars were towed and one person taken to the hospital as a result of a two-car accident on Stevens and Sutherland Roads. More than $1,000 of damage was done.

6:54 p.m. -- Police found a large bag of marijuana in a car after stopping it for a traffic stop at Mass. Ave and Depot Square and detecting a potent weed smell. Cops confiscated the drugs, and the incident remains under investigation.

8:57 p.m. -- An employee at 110 Hartwell Avenue reported her her parked car had been stuck at sometime during the day. Damage was done the car's right rear.

Thursday, July 21

2:00 a.m. -- A construction crew on Waltham Street struck a gas line. The gas company was called and capped the line.

10:57 a.m. -- A copper grounding plate for an antenna was reportedly swiped from a Metro PCS location on Bedford Street.

4:53 p.m. -- A vandal painted a blue frowning face and the words "Mail ME!" on a mailbox at LexMedia on Main Campus Drive. The vandal also ripped down two metal down sprouts, which are worth $50 total, according ot hte police report.

4:58 p.m. -- A man on Bridge Street reported his lawn mower stolen overnight.

8:02 p.m. -- A thief reportedly entered a house on Ross Road between 8 a.m and 7 p.m that day through the rear sliding door and took a few personal trophies before leaving. Police wouldn't say what kind of trophies were taken.

8:51 p.m. -- The same construction crew on Waltham Street struck another gas line, which was soon patched up.

11:17 p.m. -- Police responded to a report of youths breaking into a swimming pool on Worthen Road. When officers arrived, the found nobody in the pool, but a few kids playing pickup basketball instead.