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The end of 2015 was a busy time for the Norwood Police Department. They investigated a series of crimes that were considered atypical in the community, but the good news is, according to police reports, the overall crime rate was down for the year. At press time, robberies were down from five in 2014 to four and forcible rape remained the same at three offenses.
“As we look at our crimes against persons, which are things like sexual assaults and robbery, our [2015] numbers are down by 17 percent [compared to 2014],” Norwood Police Chief William G. Brooks III said. “Crimes against property were level compared to the previous year.”
Still, the department was left investigating some unusual crimes as the year came to a close, including a string of home burglaries on November 23. During the break-ins, thieves stole items such as jewelry, electronics and cash. One firearm was also taken from a residence.
“That was an odd occurrence to have 10 house break-ins in one day,” Chief Brooks said. “The theory is they were all done by the same crew because of the consistency of the descriptions.”
Brooks said the department is focusing in on three or four men in their 20s using a dark SUV as their getaway vehicle. At press time, no arrests had been made.
“There was no particular pattern other than they were forced entries that took place through a rear window,” Chief Brooks said. “But to have so many in one day is very unusual. Typically, we might get 50 in a year.”
While Brooks said he believes this was an isolated event, he encourages residents to be vigilant about protecting their property.
“We encourage people to lock their homes and cars,” Chief Brooks said. “Even cars in your driveway should be locked, because people can go around trying door handles. Of course, we don’t want people leaving their homes unlocked.”
Another crime took place on December 3, as a 24-year-old woman was attacked by two men as she was walking along Washington Street near Press Ave. One suspect, 21-year-old Chaz Moon, was arrested; the second remains at large.
“They approached her from behind, and one grabbed her phone, while the other grabbed her purse,” Chief Brooks said. “She was beat over the head with a pellet gun. This was a different sort of scene; most of our armed robberies are at places like retail shops, gas stations and convenience stores.”
An alert civilian witnessed the incident and chased down the suspect. Norwood Police Officer Silva responded to what he knew was an armed robbery and jumped into action. He used what he had learned in his training to act appropriately while on scene.
“Officer Silva ordered [the suspect] to show his hands several times, and the man taunted him,” Chief Brooks said. “He used his training and his judgment in this scenario, and showed remarkable restraint until the second officer arrived and took him into custody.”
Also in December, the FBI raided a home at 109 Washington Street, though Brooks could not comment on the specifics due to it being an ongoing investigation.
“I can say that no arrests were made, and it was evidence gathering as part of an ongoing investigation,” Chief Brooks said. “It is not related to terrorism or drug trafficking. The public is not at risk.”
Norwood Police are also still looking for leads in a December 3 incident that involved vandals damaging nearly all of the work vehicles for local company College Hunks, Hauling Junk. The business had to shut down completely for two days losing thousands of dollars of revenue. Owner and Navy veteran Dan Tereshko was also disappointed to have to cut down hours for his nine employees, and possibly their holiday bonuses. At press time, there were no leads, but anyone who has information on this incident can call the Norwood Police tip line at 781-440-5181.
Despite a busy end to the year, Brooks emphasized that Norwood remains a safe community, though residents should certainly take appropriate measures to keep themselves safe.
“Norwood is a nice little quiet town, and Massachusetts itself has a fairly low crime rate, but we still encourage people to use caution and common sense,” Chief Brooks said. “Be aware of your surroundings and of who is around you. As always, if you see something, say something.”