Excerpts from the Marblehead police log Dec. 5-17, 2024. Consistent with state law, police have adopted a policy of not providing media outlets reports related to incidents involving domestic violence, juveniles and matters that remain under investigation.
Dec. 5
1:46 p.m. — Officer Douglas Mills took a report by phone regarding an attempted scam targeting a resident. The caller received what appeared to be a legitimate email from DocuSign concerning a Norton Antivirus subscription. After calling the provided number with account questions, the caller said scammers requested and obtained remote access to the victim’s computer. The perpetrators created a ruse about duplicate subscriptions costing $299.99 and $399.99, then manipulated the screen to show a false credit of $3,999.99. They attempted to convince the victim to purchase gift cards from CVS as repayment for the supposed error. The resident recognized the scam before any financial loss occurred. Though the victim had logged into online banking while scammers had remote access, no unauthorized transactions were detected. Mills advised the resident to contact their bank about potentially closing the compromised account, place credit freezes with major agencies and maintain vigilant monitoring of all financial accounts.
Dec. 7
4:23 p.m. — Officer Robert Picariello responded to a missing property report at the police station. A patron of The Beacon Restaurant on Pleasant Street had left behind a beigeFendi handbag containing approximately $250 cash, multiple credit cards and identification documents. A waitress attempted to locate the owner in the parking lot without success. Management searched three separate safes but could not locate the item. Follow-up investigation by Sgt. Sean Brady on Dec 12 included interviews with restaurant staff and cleaning crews, but the purse remained missing.
Dec. 11
7:11 a.m. — Officer Nicholas Fratini met with a resident at the police station regarding alleged ongoing issues at a Farrell Court apartment complex. The complainant reported that smoke from an upstairs neighbor’s unit was entering their apartment and affecting their health. Fratini contacted housing authorities who agreed to investigate the situation. Housing staff are currently working with the affected resident to address the concern.
2:55 p.m. — Officers Douglas Mills, Mastrangelo and Sweeney responded to Robert Road after a resident observed an unknown person in a black hoodie allegedly entering their home through the front door. A black sedan with multiple rear bumper stickers was seen leaving the area toward main roads. Officers conducted a thorough search of the residence, finding no signs of disturbance. Two interior security cameras were present, and residents were advised to review footage and report any discoveries. All exterior doors were found unlocked, and officers recommended securing the property.
Dec. 12
5:58 p.m. — Officer Jason McDonald spoke with a resident at the police station regarding a civil matter on Pond Street. The complainant alleged a neighbor had accessed their mailbox to leave court documents. McDonald explained that leaving such documents in a mailbox did not constitute a crime but documented the incident at the resident’s request.
Dec. 13
1:10 p.m. — Officer Nicholas Fratini assisted a resident who fell victim to an alleged fraudulent travel documentation scheme. The victim had received what appeared to be an official email regarding a required form and fee for London airport travel. After submitting passport information through a link at “UK-ETA.com,” the resident realized the site was fraudulent. The victim had already taken proactive steps, including contacting the State Department to cancel the compromised passport and notifying AAA and financial institutions about the incident.
3:25 p.m. — Officer Andrew DiMare met with a resident at the police station regarding an ongoing dispute on Naugus Avenue. The complainant reported concerns about a neighbor’s construction project encroaching on their property and deviating from town-approved plans. Recent interactions had become hostile, including unwanted text messages. Though no direct threats were made, DiMare advised the resident about their right to apply for a harassment prevention order and suggested ceasing direct communication with the neighbor.
Dec. 14
3:10 a.m. — Officer Jason McDonald investigated an alleged unauthorized use of a motor vehicle from Pond Street. The victim’s 2010 Lexus ES350 was taken from their driveway with the key inside. Officers quickly located the vehicle parked on Beacon Street, with skid marks leading from the owner’s driveway, apparently caused by the perpetrator’s inability to disengage the emergency brake. A witness reported seeing a male suspect in a black sweatshirt walking toward Norman Street around 3:10 a.m.5:13 p.m. — Officer Robert Picariello responded to Pickwick Road regarding an alleged package theft captured on doorbell camera footage. The homeowner, monitoring remotely while in Florida, observed someone removing two packages from the front steps. Picariello canvassed neighboring properties for additional security footage and interviewed residents. By December 17, follow-up revealed the packages had been collected by an authorized neighbor for safekeeping.
Dec. 15
2 p.m. — Officer Tyler Bates responded to Sewall Street for a motor vehicle collision involving a cyclist. Investigation revealed the cyclist had exited the National Grand Parking Lot and struck the passenger side of a passing vehicle. A witness confirmed the cyclist allegedly failed to stop when leaving the lot. The juvenile cyclist was evaluated by an emergency medical technician and released after proper medical refusal documentation was completed. Bates transported the cyclist home at the parent’s request.
Dec. 16
4:33 p.m. — Officer Dean Peralta took a report of missing jewelry from an apartment on Lee Street. The resident reported the disappearance of several valuable items, including a two-carat oval diamond ring with a one-carat band in 14K white gold and a 14K yellow gold wedding band. The alleged victim noted recent access to the building by an architect, though they hadn’t entered the specific unit. Surveillance footage from a neighbor’s camera revealed no suspicious activity. The case has been forwarded to detectives for further investigation.
