Category: Nearby News

GLOUCESTER –Mayor Sefatia Romeo Theken, Police Chief Edward Conley and Fire Chief Eric Smith would like to alert the community to a phone scam spoofing the phone numbers of the police and fire departments.

The Gloucester Police Department had received approximately 10 reports of the scam as of Thursday afternoon.

“Unfortunately, these types of phone scams are becoming more and more common,” Mayor Romeo Theken said. “We’re urging residents to be cautious and familiarize themselves with the signs of a scam. If you do get one of these calls, don’t pick up or hang up right away.”

The scam phone calls appear as local numbers, including the police and fire departments. During the call, the scam caller will share limited information about the person they’ve contacted, such as a name and address, in an attempt to gain that person’s trust.

“A police or fire department will never call a resident and ask for their personal or financial information over the phone,” Police Chief Conley said. “If you don’t recognize a phone number, let it go to voicemail. If it’s important, whoever is calling will leave a message and you can always call back.”

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has several tips for residents looking to protect themselves from falling victim to a phone scam:

• Let calls from unknown phone numbers go to voicemail. Do not answer.
• If a caller claims to represent a company, like Google or Apple, hang up. Call the company, and verify if that individual was actually who they were claiming to be. Be sure to call the correct phone number by going to the organization’s website or looking at a recent bill from that organization.
• Know that even “local” numbers on caller ID may not be from a local caller.
• Never pay for a service with a gift card. Legitimate companies and organizations will not ask you to pay for any service with a gift card.
• Report scam calls with the FCC Consumer Complaint Center by visiting consumercomplaints.fcc.gov/hc/en-us.
• Report any money lost to a scam call to local police.
• Check to see if your phone company has a service that will block robocalls.
• Consider adding your telephone numbers to the National Do Not Call Registry www.donotcall.gov/. Law abiding telemarketers will not call phone numbers once they are added to the list.

“Hopefully these tips can help residents identify the warning signs of a scam and prevent anyone from falling victim to these calls,” Fire Chief Smith said. “If you do receive one of these calls, hang up.”

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METHUEN — Mayor James P. Jajuga and Chief Joseph Solomon report that Methuen Police arrested two men Saturday suspected of stealing money from ATM machines.

THARUSHAN NIRMALACHANDRAN, 30, OF QUEBEC, CANADA  and AJITHARAN RAVEENDRAN, 28, of ONTARIO, CANADA were each charged with Possession of a Burglarious Instrument and Receiving Stolen Property Over $1,200.

Hudson, New Hampshire police had been actively investigating a case involving larcenies from ATM machines by an organized group of criminals when they received information that the suspects were likely operating out of a room in the Days Inn on Pelham Street in Methuen. 

Methuen Police applied for and received a search warrant for the hotel room and executed the search warrant on Saturday, April 27 at 6:53 a.m.

Methuen police found two men in the room, one of whom presented Canadian identification. The other man had no identification. Methuen Police contacted the Department of Homeland Security seeking assistance with identifying the two subjects, who were identified as NIRMALACHANDRAN AND RAVEENDRAN.

After applying for and receiving an additional search warrant for a rental car in the possession of NIMALACHANDRAN, police uncovered during their search of the vehicle large amounts of cash inside duffel bags as well as gift cards, debit cards, a printing device and an electronic device determined to be used to activate and utilize bank cards.

Both men are being held at $250,000 bail, each, Saturday pending a court appearance on Monday.

“This is a great example of a successful collaboration between two departments, in two states,” Chief Solomon said. “Great work to the Hudson, New Hampshire Police Department, and to the Methuen Officers who swiftly and effectively executed this search warrant and investigated today.”

Added Mayor Jajuga: “The inter-agency cooperation shown among the Methuen Police Department, New Hampshire police and federal law enforcement demonstrates the partnerships built in this city and the professionalism demonstrated by our Methuen Police detectives, who were instrumental in breaking up a criminal enterprise.”

These are allegations. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty.

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SALEM, New Hampshire — The Salem Police Department  is actively searching for a man involved in an armed robbery at a local gas station.

Police responded to the Gulf Gas Station on South Broadway at approximately 7:40 a.m. Friday for a report of an armed robbery. Upon arrival, officers initiated an on-scene investigation and learned that a male suspect had entered the store, brandished a black pistol, demanded money from the clerk and fled the scene with an undisclosed amount of cash.

No one was injured in the incident.

The suspect was wearing a mask covering the bottom half of his face, dark hooded sweatshirt with white draw strings, black sweatpants and black sneakers.

Officers subsequently attempted to track the suspect at the scene with the assistance of a K-9.

The Salem Police Department is actively investigating this incident, and anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact the Salem Police Department at 603-893-1911.

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METHUEN — Methuen Police Chief Joseph Solomon and Officer-in-Charge Capt. Joel Dolan report that the Methuen and Salem Police Departments partnered on a national distracted driving enforcement and awareness campaign earlier this month.

On Thursday, April 11, Methuen and Salem Police participated in Connect to Disconnect (C2D), a four-hour enforcement period where law enforcement agencies across the country stop and issue warnings to drivers for violating state and local cell phone and texting bans.

The two cities share a state border, and were able to broaden their education and awareness campaign for safe driving by working together.

“This was a great example of the interstate cooperation between the Methuen and Salem police departments,” Capt. Dolan said. “We share a border, and it makes sense that we should work together on these initiatives to keep our communities safe.”

New Hampshire law bans drivers from using their cell phones while driving.

In Massachusetts, state law prohibits drivers from writing, sending or reading electronic messages, using apps or browsing the Internet while driving, even if stopped at a light or in traffic. Drivers under 18 are prohibited entirely from using mobile phones and other electronic devices while driving. Fines for violating this law can be as high as $500 and teen drivers can also lose their license for up to one year.

April is designated as National Distracted Driving Awareness Month by the National Safety Council. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately nine people are killed daily in motor vehicle crashes that involve a distracted driver, and approximately 1,000 are injured.

“Looking at a cell phone while driving, even for a second, is incredibly dangerous,” Chief Solomon said. “Please put these devices away, start your GPS before you begin driving and keep your eyes on the roads and hands on the wheel. Attentive driving is safe driving.”

Methuen Police issued approximately 20 written warnings during the enforcement initiative in an effort to educate local drivers and raise awareness about the dangers of texting and driving.

The EOPSS Highway Safety Division recommends that motorists:

• Turn your phone off and put it where you can’t reach it before driving.
• Let your friends and family know that you’ll be driving and can’t take their call/text.
• Pull over to a safe place if you have to make a call or send a text.
• Do not text and drive, browse the internet or read email while driving. It is illegal in Massachusetts and dangerous.
• Start GPS navigation or review maps before you start driving.
• Secure pets properly before driving so that they do not become a distraction.
• Avoid drinking, eating, smoking, or any other potentially distracting activities while driving.

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