The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department.
Arrests
Feb. 3, 7:35 p.m.: A shoplifting in-progress was reported by Target security., While police were on the way to the store they received information that the suspect had fled the store. Officers located a man fitting the suspect’s description on Arsenal Street just outside the Watertown Mall. The suspect immediately said, “I am sorry for taking the items. I will give them back.” Target security personnel said they saw the man take a jacket, slippers, socks, sweatpants and approximately five boxes of headphones off the shelf and put them in a bag he was carrying. He had a total of $405.95 in merchandise from Target when he was stopped. Police also found items that appeared to be taken from other stores in the area, with the majority coming from Home Depot, including power tools. The man was also wanted on three warrants. The 31-year-old Hyde Park man was arrested on a charge of shoplifting by concealment and receiving stolen property under $1,200. Also, he had warrants from Somerville, Quincy and Plymouth district courts for larceny.
Also this week:
Incidents
Watertown Police received three report of unemployment fraud from Feb. 1-7.
Feb. 2, 9:55 a.m.: A Belmont Street resident ordered a telephoto lens through Amazon and it was set to be delivered by Jan. 27, but the resident never received it. The UPS records show the package had been delivered. The lens was a Sony SE 200-600 worth $2,016.03.
Feb. 3 at 7 a.m.: A Longfellow Road resident reported that someone may have attempted to break into the person’s home. At 7 a.m., the resident discovered footprints in the snow leading over the rear deck up to the rear sliding door. The resident believes this occurred during the overnight hours. There was no damage to the property or the door and the suspect did not get into the home. No other homes in the neighborhood reported anything suspicious.
Feb. 3, 12:10 p.m.: Police responded to Pierce Road for an attempted home break-in. The resident left at 10 a.m. and was gone until 11:50 a.m. When the resident returned home she observed fresh footprints in the snow right outside the rear sliding door, which she kept locked. She was certain the footprints were not in the snow prior to leaving, and Police observed what they believe to be fresh pry marks on the door frame and door locking mechanism. The suspect was not able to get into the home and nothing missing. Detectives are investigating.
Feb. 3, 4:05 p.m.: Police responded to a Robert Ford Road address for a possible credit card scam. A Watertown resident was attempting to rent a vehicle through Enterprise, and she received a phone call from somebody claiming they were working for Enterprise. She paid $300 for a downpayment on a rental car with a CashApp credit card. Then she received a second phone call during which she was told that the first payment did not go through and the caller asked for her to send $300 again. She did so with a different credit card. The resident is out a total of $600.
Feb. 3, 4:30 p.m.: A Duff Street resident reported that her Subaru Outback had been broken into. The car had been parked in her driveway overnight from Jan. 28 into the 29th. She later realized that a container of loose change had been emptied, and approximately $5 in coins was taken. The resident believes the break-in occurred sometime after 1 a.m. She let her dog out at about 1 a.m. and the dog growled at something near her driveway. She checked the area but did not see anything unusual. The car had been left unlocked. Police believe the incident was related to the nine car break-ins that took place that night.