Crime Log: Bored Teenagers Torment Animal Clinic With Perverted Prank Calls

Crime Log, Friday, April 24

• Truck Accident, 9:20 a.m., Overlook Road

The driver of a white truck was momentarily distracted when a tool box began to slide off the front passenger seat of his vehicle. While trying to catch it, he inadvertently swerved and hit a parked Mercury, inflicting significant damage to the vehicle.

A witness who spoke with Arlington Police said the truck proceeded to “tear off” following the accident. The witness felt the need to get in his car and follow the truck around several corners, until the truck stopped, and two men got out to observe the damage on their vehicle. Then they turned around and returned to the scene.

The truck driver says he wasn’t trying to flee. Instead, he said, he was merely trying to find a place to park - hence all the corner turning.

• Debit Card Fraud, 9:30 a.m., Dudley Street

A business owner reported to police that his Bank of America card had been used to buy a $130 Louis Vuitton bag without his knowledge or consent. Upon noticing the charges, he called the company and had the order canceled. The company explained to him that the bag was ordered to be shipped to his business’s address, but under a different name and email.

• Harassing Phone Calls, 3:13 p.m., Arlington Animal Clinic/191 Broadway

Arlington Animal Clinic’s office manager said an unknown individual or individuals - presumably teenage males - had been prank calling the clinic on a regular basis for some time. These calls included repeated use of racist epithets, bizarre questions about an “autistic cat,” and inquiries such as “What is the best animal to have sex with?” The frequency of these calls increased during school vacation.

The manager said Verizon’s anonymous call rejection system had failed to prevent the nuisance. Police suggested the officer manager call Verizon and have them tap the phone.

• ID Theft, 3:20 p.m., Wollaston Avenue

A resident reported that the Massachusetts Department of Revenue told him he owed $15,000 in back taxes, that he used to work in Southbridge, and that made $70,000 while employed at a hospital in 2012.

Having never heard of Southbridge or the hospital, he figured something may be amiss. Upon dialing up the Mass. Revenue Service, it was quickly determined that someone else has been using his social security number.

• Suspicious Condition (Attempted Break-In?), 4:05 p.m., Pleasant Street

Several Spanish roof tiles were reported damaged on a reporting party’s roof. While uncertain what exactly was going on with the roof tiles, the reporting party’s home was broken into a year ago - albeit not through the roof - and they felt the need to inform police of the situation.

• Malicious Destruction, 11:05 p.m., Academy Street

A reporting party told police someone apparently smashed the rear driver’s side window of his 2004 Toyota, sometime between 7:30 and around 11 p.m.

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