Police Log: Phone Scams, a Stolen Wallet and a Stolen Car

You've won $2.5 million! ...just kidding

A woman filed a scam report with the Newton Police Department on Dec. 7 after she received multiple calls from the number 876-882-9118 claiming that she had won $2.5 million and needed to send $4,500 to receive her cash prize.

Police told the woman that the 876 area code is common in U.S. phone scams. The department then called the number and spoke with a man who claimed to be "Rev. Anderson" and later in the conversation identified as "Mr. Smith." The man, who reportedly spoke with thick accent, said he was from a "claims department to claim your prize."

Police told the caller to stop calling, as his number had been identified as one tied to scams. 

Stolen wallet

On Dec. 7, a woman told police her wallet was stolen while she was at the Mall at Chestnut Hill on Dec. 6.

According to reports, the theft happened sometime between 1 p.m. - 2 p.m. and the wallet was either stolen from the purse or the woman accidentally left it on a counter. 

The thief was able to use the woman's Nordstrom Visa card at the Apple Store, reports said. 

Family disturbance leads to arrest

A Newton man was arrested on Dec. 8 after police responded to Dudley Road for reports of a family disturbance.

Sanjay Singh, 25, of 490 Dudley Road was arrested and charged with domestic assault, police said. 

Teen arrested for assault

A 16-year-old Newton teen was arrested on Dec. 8 after police responded to Nevada Street for reports of a domestic incident.

The teen was arrested and charged with assault and battery, police said.

Another phone scam

Police responded to Marlboro Street on Dec. 11 after a resident reported she had received several phone calls that she believed were tied to a scam.

According to reports, the calls claimed the woman had won $1.5 million and needed to get a "PayPal Green Card" for $1,400 in order to pay for the taxes on the winnings. 

The woman was also told that if anyone asked questions about the Green Card, she should say it is a Christmas gift. 

The caller spoke with a foreign accent, the woman said, and identified herself as Martha Gibbs of Las Vegas, Nevada.

Stolen car

Police responded to Whitlowe Road on Dec. 11 for reports of a stolen motor vehicle.

According to reports, the man parked his 1989 Chevy Caprice on the street in front of his house around 7 p.m. the night before. When he returned the next morning at 10 a.m., the car was missing.

Unlocked cars = car break-ins

Police responded to Pine Street on Dec. 12 after multiple residents reported their cars had been broken into sometime overnight.

According to reports, four cars were broken into sometime between midnight and 6 a.m. on Dec. 12. All four of the owners live at the same residence.

All four owners told police they left their cars unlocked overnight. Police advised the owners to remember to lock car doors and secure valuables.

Domestic disturbance leads to arrest

A Newton man was arrested on Dec. 12 after police responded to Brierfield Road for reports of a domestic disturbance.

James Everett Howe, 52, of 28 Brierfield Road, was arrested and charged with domestic assault and battery, police said.

For questions on this police blotter, email Editor Melanie Graham at Melanie.Graham@patch.com.