Police Log: Intoxicated Teenagers, Phone Scam, Recovered Safe

Vandals Steal Mailbox Later Discovered at Mount Hood

Monday, Aug. 23, 9:46 p.m. A Slayton Road resident reported to Melrose Police that her metal mailbox and post was stolen sometime after 6 p.m. that evening, according to Melrose Police Lt. Mark DeCroteau.

Later that night, at 1:20 a.m., a patrolman was performing a check of Mount Hood and discovered miscellaneous objects scattered in the parking lot: potted plants, a political campaign sign and lawn figurines, amongst other items, DeCroteau said. The officer found the stolen Slayton Road mailbox in the bushes beside the parking lot.

"It looks like some kids causing some mischief in the area," he said.

Car Stolen From Street Near Wyoming Cemetery

Monday, Aug. 23, 11:49 p.m. A person who had parked his car on Beaumont Street before heading to the Boston Red Sox game returned to find his car stolen. The car was a 2006 white Ford F-150 pick-up truck, DeCroetau said. The theft is under investigation.

Damaged and Opened Safe Found Dumped on Penney Road

Tuesday, Aug. 24, 3:52 p.m. Melrose Department of Public Works employees found on Penney Road—an area often used for illegal dumping—a safe with the door broken off, DeCroteau said. Melrose Police detectives took photos of the safe on the scene before bringing it back to the police station and notifying other local police departments and law enforcement agencies, in case the safe matched the description of one stolen elsewhere.

"We do not have (safes) involved with any larcenies here," DeCroteau said.

Translation Scam Tries To Get Garage Owner To Wire Money

Thursday, Aug. 26, 8:58 a.m. The owner of Alan's Auto on Tremont Street told Melrose Police that he received a call from someone identifying themselves as a translation service representing one of his customers and asked him to provide credit information to Nebraska via Western Union.

DeCroteau said translation services are sometimes used by Melrose Police to speak to someone who does not speak English, or by businesses such as Alan's Auto to communicate with non-English speaking customers. The owner of Alan's Auto does have one customer who is hearing impaired, so at first he believed the person was calling in regard to that customer.

The person claiming to represent a translation service told the Alan's Auto owner that a customer of his had a broken down vehicle in Nebraska. In order to get the car towed and fixed, the scammer asked for the credit information on file at Alan's Auto, DeCroteau said.

"He did not fall for that or provide that," DeCroteau said. "He then contacted us and we're working with the Lexington, NE Police Department to follow up on the location where the call came from."

Intoxicated 14 and 15-Year-Olds Sent Home With Parents

Friday, Aug. 27, 3:23 a.m. Stoneham Police had responded to a report of a large group of young teenagers who were allegedly drinking in the woods across from J.J. Grimsby's on the Lynn Fells Parkway. The teenagers had begun walking up West Wyoming Avenue into Melrose and Melrose Police responded to assist.

DeCroteau said a Melrose Police officer already in the area, responding to a matter on Florence Street, heard the group yelling on Wyoming Avenue. The officer and others responded and stopped the teenagers, reporting that several of nine 14-15-year-olds appeared to smell of alcohol.

The officers then called the teenagers parents and stood by as the parents picked up their children, DeCroteau said.

Other Arrests and Summonses

A 51-year-old Woburn woman was issued a summons on Monday, Aug. 23 on the charge of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.

A 45-year-old Wakefield man was issued a summons on Monday, Aug. 23 on the charge of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon (car door).

A 36-year-old Medford man was issued a summons on Friday, Aug. 27 on the charge of an uninsured motor vehicle.

A 44-year-old Melrose man was issued a summons on Saturday, Aug. 28 on the charge of criminal harassment.

A 17-year-old Melrose man was issued a summons on Sunday, Aug. 29 on the charge of assault and battery and larceny from a building.

Sean Ventre, 38, 220 Essex St., Apt. 2, Melrose, was arrested on Sunday, Aug. 29 on the charge of assault and battery.