Police Log: Shoplifter Hit Store 2 Days in a Row, Phone Scam Used WPD Number

The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department.

Arrests

Aug. 23, 8:29 p.m.: Police received a report from a concerned person to check on the welfare of a woman who had left her home and was out in her vehicle. A short time later, police received another call about an erratic driver in the area of Warren Street and Waverley Avenue. The caller stayed on the phone and followed the vehicle, which was driving extremely slowly and would stop in the middle of the road and force other vehicles to go around. Officers located the driver on Waverley Avenue and the driver showed signs of impairment, including a strong odor of alcohol. The woman admitted to drinking alcohol before driving, and there was an open container of wine in the front passenger’s seat. She did not pass five field sobriety tests. Cynthia Sprogis, 61, of Watertown, was arrested on a charge of driving under the influence of alcohol.

Aug. 26, 7:48 p.m.: A shoplifter was spotted at Best Buy. Security determined that the same man had been in the store the previous day and took items without paying. Police were called and located the man in the store. The man had been seen taking several items worth a total of $1,900 and put them in a bag or jacket. On the 25th the man was seen taking $1,239.93 in merchandise. The items from Aug. 26, nine pairs of headphones, were located in his backpack and returned. The merchandise taken on Aug. 25 was not recovered. Yegor Velykyy, 27, homeless from Boston, was arrested on two counts of larceny over $1,200.

Also this week:

Incidents

Aug. 22, 8:26 a.m.: A Bigelow Avenue resident reported an identity theft. The person received an email from an address from WorldHealthCareers.org for a posting for a job at the World Health Organization. The woman responded and expressed interest in the job, and got an email back saying that part of the job application included sending $2,000 using Zelle. The money was sent and then the woman got suspicious and began researching names and email addresses. She found that the email had been connected to fraudulent job postings. She had also included personal information in the application. She notified her bank, but appears to be out $2,000.

Aug. 24, 6:30 p.m: A package was taken from a home on Langdon Avenue. The victim said the package had been delivered on Aug. 22, and when the resident returned on the 23rd it was not there. The package contained a $50 pair of pants.

Aug. 25, 5:14 p.m: A person was spotted spray painting the bridge on Grove Street near the former Tufts Health Care building. Police responded and spotted a man who had entered the bike path and was spraying graffiti on the wall of the bridge. Officers spoke with the man who admitted to tagging the area. The 20-year-old Watertown man was summoned to Waltham District Court for tagging property.

Aug. 26, 10:07 p.m.: Police received a report of a telephone scam which appeared to come from the Watertown Police Department’s main number, 617-972-6500. The caller identified himself as “Detective James Davis, and requested that the person send money via Target gift cards to clear up a legal issue. Watertown Police said that the WPD will not contact people by phone to request payment for a fine, warrant or any other issue. “If you receive a call from our number or any number that is suspicious, stop speaking with the person and end the call. Next, call and report the activity to the WPD at 617-972-6500,” a Watertown Police announcement said.

Aug. 27, 6:25 p.m.: An employee of the Too Tempted Boutique at Arsenal Yards said someone came in and took clothing from the store. She noticed some items were out of place and when she reviewed security footage she found that two women came in with a young child. One appeared to distract the employee while the other one put items into her purse. Missing were a leather skirt, a white shirt, a blue denim shirt, and a ring, worth a total of $268. The suspects were described as two Hispanic women, one wearing a grey long-sleeved shirt, a blue mask, black pants, and had dark brown hair. The other wore a pink shirt, dark pants, glasses, and had brown hair. Police are trying to identify the suspects.

Aug. 28, 8:42 p.m.: A bicycle was taken from a home on Arsenal Street. The owner left her blue 2018 Trek Remedy 7 bike leaning up against the rear door of her home, and when she went back it was gone. The bike was valued at $1,600 and has handle bars that say “Fat Boy.”