Newton Police Blotter: Locker Room Thief At Gym, More

NEWTON, MA — Newton police sends Patch copies of their arrest records and other police activity, showing the community who was arrested for what. Charges listed below do not indicate guilt or conviction; they solely indicate accusations of offenses having been committed.

Tuesday, Dec. 10

Around 2:30 p.m., a man working out at Lifetime Fitness on Boylston Street reported four credit cards having been stolen from his wallet, which was locked in a locker. He reported noticing multiple alerts on his phone from fraud departments after finishing his workout. The alerts said multiple purchase attempts were made at Apple and Bloomingdale's across the street, though none were successful, he said.

Police arrested Bruce Demelo, 44, of Waltham, on four felony counts of breaking and entering.

Wednesday, Dec. 11

A woman reported locking her personal items in a locker at the Lifetime Fitness on Boylston Street around 12:45 p.m., and later received several texts from American Express saying her card was used at Bloomingdale's across the street. She returned to her locker to find that everything was missing, police say.

Friday, Dec. 13

Police responded to River Street on a possible vandalized vehicle call, and found a woman claiming somebody had punctured her tires on three separate occasions, including once that morning.

Police got a call saying on Tuesday, Dec. 10, somebody had a credit card stolen from a locked gym locker in the locker room of Lifetime Fitness. Between 12:45 and 2:30 p.m., somebody stole the American Express card and made a purchase with it.

Police responded to Wegman's at 200 Boylston St. on a shoplifting call. Police were given a description of a white man in a black jacket who drove in a gray sedan. The police officer says staff showed them security footage, showing the suspect, which they identified as a 42-year-old man from Boston. He is being charged with shoplifting by asportation.

Police were dispatched to Glen Avenue on a report of a past vandalism. The victim says someone had thrown a rock through his car window about 30 minutes before reporting it.

Saturday, Dec. 14

Police went to Hanson Road for a call of a past breaking and entering into a car call. The car was unlocked in the victim's driveway, police say. The victim said nothing was taken from the car, though somebody had apparently smoked a cigarette inside.

Police responded to 250 Waltham St., the James Pallotta Athletic Center, on a report of a past breaking and entering into a motor vehicle. The victim said her car was broken into while she was inside watching a soccer game. A suspect stole her purse, police say.

Police arrested Andrea Black, 23, of Somerville, on a warrant out of Somerville District Court, accusing her of larceny over $1,200.

Police dispatched to the Chestnut Hill Apple Store on Boylston Street on a call of larceny under $1,200 between around 2:30 and 3 p.m. Police say four young African American boys were in the store, one of whom took an iPhone 11. They were wearing dark clothing and of average build and height. Staff showed police the surveillance footage, which confirmed the victim's claim, police say. The suspect was wearing a black jacket, gray hoodie, gray Nike sweatpants, an earring in the left ear and white sneakers.

Police responded to 225 Boylston St. on a call of a past larceny. Bloomingdale's employees told the officer there was a shoplifting the night before. An unknown African American woman can be seen on surveillance footage taking items into a fitting room and leaving without them, and when staff later checked the fitting room, the items weren't there. The five items stolen were a Burberry coat and three Burberry shirts, all for children, police say.

Police dispatched to the 500 block of Beacon Street on a found purse report. A man said he found the purse laying on his retaining wall. It turned out to be his neighbors. Police say the woman discovered that morning that her purse had been taken from her car. A Nikon digital camera was missing from the purse.

Police responded to the 300 block of Beacon Street for a recovered stolen car. State police responded and handled the incident, since the car was stolen from their jurisdiction.

Police responded to Kappius Path on an overturned car crash call. Police suspected the driver, Jessica Malenfant, 40, of Watertown, was driving under the influence of liquor. She was charged with OUI, negligent operation and a marked lanes violation.

Sunday, Dec. 15

Police got a report that sometime between Dec. 10 and Dec. 11, somebody cut the cord of a victim's Christmas lights.

Police responded to a Coach store at 199 Boylston St., on a report of a past larceny, which took place on Dec. 11. The victim said on that day, around 8:35 p.m., a man stole merchandise off the shelves. The suspect is described as about 30 years old, five feet, eight inches, heavy build with a pot belly, and was wearing a red baseball cap, red jacket and black pants.

Police got a report that a woman's Audi was broken into on Saturday, Dec. 14, between 5 and 6 p.m. at the Fessendon School Athletic Center. The suspect broke the right passenger window and stole a light gray and tan leather tote, police say.

Police responded to the area of Washington and St. James streets on a car accident report. A gray Jeep Grand Cherokee had gone completely off the roadway and crashed head on into a tree, police say. They arrested Dong Xing, 23, of Waltham, on charges of OUI, negligent operation of a motor vehicle and marked lane violations.