Massachusetts

Police, neighbors look for ways to stop porch pirates in Massachusetts

Published

1 year ago

December 10, 2024

Press Room

Police, neighbors look for ways to stop porch pirates in Massachusetts

How police, neighbors are trying to stop porch pirates in Massachusetts

02:03

ASHLAND – They’re quick, they’re bold and police say porch pirates are out there waiting for the right opportune time to swipe your package right from your front doorstep.

“I’m watching my back everywhere I go,” said a FedEx delivery driver in Ashland. He says he has seen it firsthand. “Absolutely. I’ve had someone actually stand five feet from a front door. It wasn’t their house; it wasn’t their package and signed for it. Had the fake ID and everything just recently happened,” the driver said.

Packages shipped to police department

Sterling Police Chief Sean Gaudette says the department has a Stop Porch Pirates program allowing residents to have their packages delivered to the station. “Allows people to use our address as their mailing address. Dispatch staff take it in and secure it for the time being then they need to show an ID to get the item out,” Chief Gaudette said.

The chief says the program has cut down on the amount of porch pirate thefts in the town.

Akshi Sindhwani of Ashland says he gets packages delivered to his home every week. Many of them are expensive, so on top of his Ring doorbell, he’s taking extra precaution. “I’m planning to put a garage keypad for the Amazon deliveries that come in,” he said.

Neighborhood watch

Shweta Sharma runs a small business and is constantly shipping things off. She says during the holiday season she and her neighbors must be extra cautious. “Especially during the festive season it’s very bad,” Sharma said.

In Ashland to help quell porch pirates, they have a neighborhood watch and they call and text each other whenever some gets a package, and they go and pick it up for each other. “If I am not there they will bring into their house, and I bring theirs into my house. And we have everyone’s numbers,” Sharma said. To make sure these packages get delivered to the right person.

Paul Burton

Paul Burton is a general assignment reporter for WBZ-TV News.

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Massachusetts

Heavy police presence due to ‘ongoing incident’ in Tewksbury

Published

7 hours ago

April 22, 2026

Press Room

Heavy police presence due to ‘ongoing incident’ in Tewksbury

There is a heavy police presence in a section of Tewksbury, Massachusetts, on Wednesday afternoon due to what authorities are describing only as an “ongoing incident.”

“There is currently a heavy police presence on Salem Road due to an ongoing incident,” Tewksbury police said in a social media post just before 1 p.m. “Motorists are advised to avoid the area and seek alternate routes if possible. Please allow emergency personnel the space they need to respond safely and efficiently”

No further details were released. Police said they will provide updates as more information becomes available.

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Massachusetts

Wrong-way crash closes I-495 southbound in Chelmsford, 1 seriously injured – Boston News, Weather, Sports | WHDH 7News

Published

19 hours ago

April 22, 2026

Press Room

Wrong-way crash closes I-495 southbound in Chelmsford, 1 seriously injured – Boston News, Weather, Sports | WHDH 7News

CHELMSFORD, MASS. (WHDH) – A wrong-way driver crashed into another vehicle on I-495 in Chelmsford Tuesday night, shutting down the soundbound lanes in that area, according to Massachusetts State Police and The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT).

State police said Troopers from the Concord Barracks responded to a two-car crash on I-495 at the Hunt Road overpass shortly before 10 p.m. They said preliminary information indicates the crash happened as a result of a wrong-way driver striking a vehicle traveling in the correct direction.

Chelmsford Fire and EMS responded to the scene, and the driver was taken to the hospital by MedFlight. State police said they suffered life-threatening injuries.

MassDOT said the highway southbound is currently closed at exit 88 due to the crash, and is expected to remain closed for several hours.

Drivers are asked to seek alternate routes at this time.

This is a developing news story; stay with 7NEWS on-air and online for the latest details.

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Massachusetts

Two stabbed at Cedar’s Mediterranean Foods plant in Haverhill

Published

1 day ago

April 21, 2026

Press Room

Two stabbed at Cedar’s Mediterranean Foods plant in Haverhill

Two people were seriously injured in a stabbing at the Cedar’s Mediterranean Foods manufacturing facility in Haverhill, Massachusetts, on Tuesday morning.

Haverhill police said they responded to the Cedar’s plan on Foundation Avenue around 10:30 a.m. for a report of a disturbance involving a weapon. When they arrived, they found two people suffering from apparent stab wounds.

Both people were provided with medical assistance on scene and taken to area hospitals with what police described as serious injuries. Their names have not been released, and no update on their conditions was immediately available.

Preliminary investigation determined that the two people knew each other, and police said there is no ongoing threat to the public. They said their investigation into the incident remains active.

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