Police Log: Suspicious Man Steals Package, Copper Thieves and Vandalism

Theft at the library

Police responded to the Tuesday (Aug. 21) evening after someone reported his laptop was stolen from the second floor. 

According to reports, the man left the 13-inch silver MacBook Pro laptop on a desk for about 30 seconds while he went to fill up his water bottle. When he returned to the desk, the computer was missing. 

The man told police he did not notice any suspicious individuals or activity in the library.

That's not your package!

Police responded to Prairie Avenue on Tuesday (Aug. 21) after a man reportedly stole a package from a home and made off with the contents of the package. 

According to reports, witnesses reported a suspicious male on a bicycle tearing open a small package that was delivered to a nearby house. The cyclist then took off with the contents of the box, discarded the packaging, and headed northbound on Prairie Avenue. 

Police looked at the empty box and contacted the intended owner, who said he was expecting a delivery that day. The packages are typically dropped off on the his front porch, he said, which is about 40-50 feet away from the sidewalk area where the suspect was spotted. 

Stolen bike

A person living in the 300 block of Watertown Street told police Wednesday that his bike was stolen from his home around 11:30 p.m. that night. 

According to reports, the bike was described as a mountain bike with red handlebars that were duct taped, a grey-blue frame and a platform on the back to carry a basket. Although the bike was left unlocked, a cable lock was wrapped around a portion of the frame. 

While he was driving around looking for the bike, the victim told police he spotted a man riding the bicycle near Watertown Street and Walnut Street. The man was described as being white, in his 30s with short dark hair, a dark t-shirt and long pants. The victim said the man appeared to be intoxicated. 

Damaged fence

Police responded to Chandler Street Wednesday for reports of a damaged fence. When they arrived on scene, the reporting party said it appeared fence was damaged sometime between 8 p.m. Tuesday and 5 a.m. Wednesday. 

According to reports, it appeared as though a car may have driven through the metal fence. 

Copper thefts

Police responded to Wednesday after someone reported that a 20-foot copper downspout had been stolen from the building. According to reports, the theft happened sometime between 6 p.m. Tuesday and 6:30 a.m. Wednesday. 

Police also responded to the Parish of the Good Shepherd in Newton Centre on Wednesday for a similar theft. 

According to reports, someone stole a 15-foot section of copper downspout and two elbow-shaped pieces from the back of the church building. The incident happened sometime overnight Monday into Tuesday. 

The reporting party noticed the stolen section around 9 a.m. Tuesday after finding another piece of downspout that was removed from the building and left damaged in the back yard.

Magic marker bandit

A resident living on Anthony Circle told police Wednesday morning that someone had vandalized his home with a black magic marker. The incident happened sometime between 10 a.m. on August 15 and 8 a.m. on August 22, reports said. 

Smashed window

A Bellevue Street resident told police Friday that someone smashed the left rear window of her car, which was parked in her driveway. The incident happened sometime between noon and 2:35 p.m. Wednesday, reports said. 

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