Chief's Blotter

Grafton Chief Outlines 'Take 25' Campaign

The campaign coincides with National Missing Children's Day, which is May 25.

Submitted by Grafton Police Chief Normand A. Crepeau Jr.  In 1983, President Ronald Reagan declared May 25 to be National Missing Children’s Day, and each Administration since has honored this day as an annual reminder to make child protection a national priority. To further commemorate this day, in May 2007, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) launched Take 25, a nationwide grassroots effort designed to heighten awareness of the issues surrounding missing and exploited children.  The Take 25 campaign encourages law enforcement, parents, and educators to take 25 minutes to talk to children about ways to be safer, and encourages an ongoing dialogue with children about safety.  With a focus on prevention, Take 25 …

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Chief's Blotter

Chief Issues Reminders About Coyotes, Foxes

Residents have been seeing the animals around town.

The Grafton Police Department has received reports of sightings of coyotes and foxes in Town recently so I thought I would rerun this column for the safety of everyone.  (It should be noted that these precautions may be applied to both coyotes and foxes.) QUESTION: I was out jogging this morning when I saw a coyote and decided to turn around.  While I was jogging home, the coyote came up beside me and was watching me. I stopped and yelled at it to go home and it moved further away.  I continued yelling at it and started walking home.  What is the best thing to do when meeting up with a coyote?  Needless to say, I was scared and very glad to get home without any incidents. ANSWER: Coyotes are currently well established throughout the state…

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Chief's Blotter

Chief: Beware the 'Jury Scam'

Grafton's police chief says there have been incidences of this scam in recent months.

I recently received some information regarding a con referred to as the “Jury Scam.” Please review the warning below and pass it on to your friends, relatives and neighbors to ensure they don’t fall prey to this scam.  The information may be found on the FBI website at www.fbi.gov and the United States Federal Court website at www.uscourts.gov. The phone rings, you pick it up, and the caller identifies himself as an officer of the court. He says you failed to report for jury duty and that a warrant has been issued for your arrest.  You say you never received a notice.  To clear it up, the caller says he'll need some information for "verification purposes" - your birth date, social security number, or maybe even a credit card number.  This …

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Chief: Beware of Charity Scams

The Grafton police chief is sharing tips from the Attorney General's Office on fraudulent "charity sites" that have sprung up since the Marathon bombings.

In light of the recent tragic events in Boston and surrounding areas, several “charity sites” have sprung up claiming that they are raising money to assist the victims. While many may be legitimate, some are also fraudulent, attempting to prey on the goodness of others to raise money for their own use. To assist residents in avoiding these scam charities, the Grafton Police Department would like to offer the following information from the office of Attorney General Martha Coakley.  This and more information may be found at www.mass.gov/ago/. Attorney General Coakley encourages Massachusetts residents to consider donating to charities and support funds in the wake of this devastating event, but also warns potential donors to protect …

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Chief's Blotter

Grafton Chief Warns of Payment Scam

In his weekly column, Grafton Police Chief Normand A. Crepeau Jr. reiterates National Grid's warning to customers.

National Grid has sent out notices to municipal agencies and police chiefs regarding a nationwide utility bill scam. To ensure that everyone is informed, the Grafton Police Department is providing a copy of the press release recently issued by National Grid. NATIONAL GRID WARNS OF PAYMENT SCAM National Grid electric customers have received telephone calls from individuals claiming to work for National Grid.  These scammers demand payment, through a pre-paid card, on past due balances for electric accounts and threaten customers that their service will immediately be shut-off for non-payment.  In some cases the caller also tells the customer that they may have a faulty meter that is dangerous and in need of replacing for a substantial fee…

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Chief's Blotter

Police Getting Complaints About Driveway Sealing Scams

In his latest column, Grafton Police Chief Normand A. Crepeau Jr. advises residents to be leery of paving con artists.

QUESTION: My neighbor is elderly and on a fixed income.  She was approached by a driveway sealing company who offered to seal her driveway at a low price.  By the time the job was done, she paid several hundred dollars and it appears that her driveway looks worse.  She is unable to locate the company to have the driveway repaired properly.  What can be done so that this doesn’t happen to other homeowners? ANSWER: Spring, summer and fall are the times when paving con artists prey upon homeowners, especially senior citizens. They show up at your door, offer a very low price to asphalt or seal your driveway, and offer a great bargain because "they have material left over" from a job nearby.  Theses con artists may claim to offer a "lifetime …

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Chief's Blotter

What Kinds of Tickets Can Be Issued for Traffic Offenses?

Police Chief Normand A. Crepeau Jr. addresses a commonly asked question.

QUESTION: I was recently stopped by a police officer for speeding. The officer issued me a “warning citation” and told me that no further action on my part was required.  Could you please tell me what kind of tickets can be issued for traffic offenses in Massachusetts. ANSWER: A written traffic ticket, with "Massachusetts Uniform Citation" at the top is the standard ticket issued by local and State Police. Charges can be civil or criminal dependant on the seriousness of the offense.  In many cases, officers also have the discretion to issue warning citations.   If fines apply, you may have the option to pay online.  A citation may affect your insurance, as determined by the Merit Rating Board. Contact your insurance agent for more …

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Chief's Blotter

Do You Know Who's Gaming With Your Kids?

Grafton Police Chief Normand A. Crepeau Jr. offers safety tips for online gaming rooms.

QUESTION: My son has been playing lots of games on his computer. I just found out that he has been playing many of these games online with complete strangers who he met in “gaming rooms.”  I was wondering if you have any safety advice for people gaming online. ANSWER: When children and teens play online with friends or family, there is usually no problem; however, when complete strangers work their way into these games, serious issues can arise. To help avoid these issues, the Grafton Police Department would like to provide the following online gaming safety tips offered by NetSmartz, a program of the National center for Missing and Exploited Children.  More information may be found at www.netsmartz.org/Gaming. Some parents and guardians …

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What Are My Rights to Sex Offender Information in Grafton?

This is a question police are asked regularly; Chief Normand A. Crepeau Jr. addresses it in his weekly column.

QUESTION: I was recently notified that a sex offender moved close by. Could you tell me exactly how is a sex offender classified and how can I find out if there are any other sex offenders living in the area. I have young children and think this information is helpful to parents. ANSWER: A sex offender is any person who resides, works or attends an institution of higher learning in the Commonwealth and who has been convicted of a sex offense, or who has been adjudicated as a youthful offender or as a delinquent juvenile by reason of a sex offense, or a person released from incarceration or parole or probation supervision or custody with the Department of Youth Services for such a conviction or adjudication, or a person who has been …

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Valerie Parkhurst

6:50 am on Wednesday, March 20, 2013

My personal feelings are that Tier Levels are decieving. They dont take into account escalating behavors, plea deals, and often only look at the times the guy got caught, not offended. Many states dont list Level one's. The public needs to also ask themselves WHO is DESIGNATING these levels? Every state has multiple list of therapist, doctors who have quietly been shuffled out of Private Practice…   more ›

Chief's Blotter

Chief: Beware of Con Artists

Scam artists defraud millions of people each year; this week is dedicated to protecting you from them.

March 3 through March 9 has been declared National Consumer Protection Week and is dedicated to ensure that consumers are informed about scams and how they may protect themselves. To help protect local citizens from becoming the victims of scams and con artists, the Grafton Police Department would like to provide the following information offered by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0060-10-ways-avoid-fraud. Scam artists in the U.S. and around the world defraud millions of people each year.  They use the phone, email, postal mail and the internet to trick you into sending money or giving out personal information.  Here are 10 things you can do - or not - to stop a scam: What to Do Know who you’re dealing …

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