Man Swiped 2 Bottles of Hennessy, Tires Slashed, Theft at Hospital: Newton Police

NEWTON, MA -- The following are excerpts from the Newton police log.

Dec. 31

• Police responded to 150 Needham St. (Upper Falls Liquor) for a report of a black male taking several of bottles of alcohol and leaving the store. The male was described as being between 50-60 years old, wearing a black hat with a black trench coat and black sunglasses, and left in a grey Toyota Camry. A clerk said that around 12:05 p.m., he saw the man, later identified, at the register paying for a 375 ml bottle of Hennessy Black Cognac. The employee said he had a “significant bulge in his trench coat” and when he confronted him, he denied having anything and went to touch the coat where he saw the bulge. The suspect pulled away and began making a scene, stating loudly that he couldn’t believe that the employee was touching him. The employee backed away and wrote down the license plate number, and went back to view the surveillance tapes. It confirmed that he had put two, possibly three, bottles of Hennesy black Cognac (valued at $51.98 each), inside his trench coat and then didn’t pay for them. Police are requesting a probable cause hearing against this man, who is 57 and from Framingham, on a shoplifting by concealing merchandise, third offense.

Jan. 1

• A resident came in to police headquarters to report that someone stole two of his trash barrrels from his home in the last two weeks.
• A complaintant said that he attempted to buy tickets for the Bruins winter classic on Craigslist. He sent $750 through Moneygram to the seller and never received the tickets.
• A resident came in to headquarters to report that all four tires of her grandmother’s car were slashed sometime overnight. A second vehicle also had its tires slashed in her driveway last week.
• Police took a report at the front desk for a past breaking and entering into a motor vehicle. The reporting party said that she and her husband went to the West Newton post office in the afternoon of Wednesday, Dec. 30. They believe that someone went into the car while they were in the post office and took the handicapped placard that was hanging from the rearview mirror. The vehicle was unlocked.
• Police responded to Newton Wellesley Hospital’s emergency room for a larceny that just occurred. He said that he put his black leather Montblance handbag on the chair, and it contained credit cards and a driver’s license. The person said that he had become uncomfortable in the chair and moved to a different chair. When he switched chairs, he walked away from his bag, and left it next to the original seat. A short time later, after being triaged, and noticed his bag was no longer where he left it. Viewing video security footage, an officer saw that a female who was later identified walked past the bag, stop, look at it and back up. She then walked over and sat down next to the bag. A short time later, a male party walked up and sat next to her, and then she was seen on video picking up the bag and placing it under her sweatshirt, which was drooped over her shoulder. She brought it into the women’s bathroom. The man got up from his chair and stood at the bathroom door until she came out, and it appeared he was keeping an eye out to make sure nobody entered the bathroom. She came out of the bathroom wearing her sweatshirt, and left the bag in there. Police will be seeking charges against a male, 19, and female, 21, from Newton, for larceny from a building.