Massachusetts
Saugus police warn of home repair scam
Police in Saugus, Massachusetts, are warning homeowners to be alert after a resident was scammed out of more than $100,000.
Investigators say a crew of men told her she needed repair work on her home.
Another Saugus resident tells NBC10 Boston she believes she was a victim, as well.
“He was very much like a car salesman,” said Fran Salamone. “So I said, ‘Maybe I can trust him.’”
Salamone says she was out in her front yard when a crew approached her and asked if she wanted repair work done to her property.
“What he wanted me to do originally was the whole retaining wall for $25,000,” she said.
She needed her front steps done, so she agreed to pay $800.
The crew did most of the work, but Salamone says it was sloppy and the job was never finished.
“The only red flag was when they left, he said they’d be back in about five minutes with the power washer, and that is the last time I saw him,” she said.
Saugus police have posted on Facebook, warning residents that construction scammers have been turning up in neighborhoods.
In one case, an elderly woman lost over $100,000 after agreeing to unnecessary work on her deck and foundation.
“As soon as I saw the post, I said, ‘This has to be the same people,’” said Salamone.
Police say the crew usually targets senior citizens, asks for the money upfront, and then finds additional work that needs to be done for even more cash.
“That folks would prey on our senior citizens and people who should be enjoying their golden years, it’s truly disgusting,” said Shawn Duhamel, CEO of Mass Retirees. “People panic, they want to trust folks and they panic and they make a mistake at times, and all it takes is just one instance for someone to be unfortunately cleared out.”
Salamone says she knows better, but needed the work done and took a chance.
“My warning is do not hire somebody that knocks on your door,” said Salamone.
Police say the scammers have been hitting other communities in the Boston area.
Massachusetts
What’s open and closed in Massachusetts on Christmas Day?
It’s Christmas Day! Time to open presents, be with loved ones and celebrate the beauty of giving. Even on Christmas, there are still a few places you can go for last-minute provisions. But can you go to the bank or post office or catch a bus?
Here’s what is open and closed on Dec. 25, 2024.
Government
City and town offices: Closed
State offices: Closed
Registry of Motor Vehicles: Closed
State and local courts: Closed
Federal courts: Closed
Finance
Banks: Closed. Most ATMs will remain open.
Stock market: Both the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq are closed.
Alcohol and recreational drugs
Liquor stores: Open
Cannabis dispensaries: Massachusetts regulators don’t identify specific holidays when cannabis dispensaries must close, according to the Cannabis Control Commission. It’s up to the respective cannabis store as to whether they choose to be open or closed on Christmas Day.
Convenience stores and gas stations
Gas stations are allowed to be open on holidays, according to Massachusetts labor laws.
The following gas stations and adjoining convenience stores should be open on Christmas:
- BP
- Citgo
- Circle K
- Cumberland Farms
- Exxon Mobil
- Gulf
- Irving Oil
- Neon Marketplace
- Season’s Corner Market
- Sunoco
- Shell
- Speedway
- 7-Eleven
Shopping
Auburn Mall: Closed
Holyoke Mall: Closed
Hampshire Mall: Closed
Eastfield Mall: Closed
Natick Mall: Closed
Big Y: Closed
Stop & Shop: Closed
Market Basket: Closed
Price Rite: Closed
Star Market: Closed
Walmart: Closed
Target: Closed
Wegmans: Closed
Safeway: Open
Costco: Closed
CVS: Open
Walgreens: Closed
Aldi: Closed
Whole Foods: Closed
Trader Joe’s: Closed
Parcel services
Post offices: Closed
FedEx: Closed
UPS: Closed
Transportation
Lowell RTA: Lowell RTA will be closed
MBTA: Subway, bus and The RIDE will run on a Sunday schedule. Meanwhile, the Commuter Rail will run on a weekend schedule.
Merrimack Valley RTA: Buses won’t be running
MetroWest RTA: Buses won’t be running
Pioneer Valley Transit Authority: Buses won’t be running
Worcester RTA: Buses won’t be running
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Massachusetts
Massachusetts ‘belligerent’ woman allegedly assaults off-duty police officer in road rage incident
An off-duty police sergeant was allegedly assaulted by a “belligerent” woman during a road rage incident in the days before Christmas, police said.
Randolph woman Vashiyra Mason, 20, was arrested and charged by Stoughton Police after allegedly striking the off-duty cop’s vehicle and assaulting him.
Stoughton police officers responded to the area of 278 Washington St. for a report of a disturbance on Sunday at about 1:06 p.m.
An off-duty Stoughton police sergeant had called the station and reported that he was following a vehicle that side-swiped his car and left the scene.
Mason had allegedly driven into the oncoming traffic lane and around the off-duty officer’s vehicle on Pine Street, and side-swiped the front of his car. Mason later stopped in a parking lot, where the off-duty officer followed her.
“In the parking lot, the off-duty officer identified himself multiple times as a Stoughton Police sergeant in an attempt to de-escalate the situation,” police wrote about the incident. “Mason became belligerent, using slurs and hitting the off-duty officer in the upper body, neck, and face area.”
The off-duty officer then reportedly restrained Mason to prevent her from injuring him or herself.
The passenger of Mason’s car, a 19-year-old Brockton woman, then allegedly hit the off-duty officer in the back of his head and neck. The passenger also began to attack a woman who was with the off-duty officer.
Officers arrived shortly after, and saw Mason hitting the woman who was with the off-duty officer. Mason allegedly grabbed the woman by her hair, and punched her in the back of the head multiple times.
Mason was charged with assault and battery on a police officer, assault and battery, disorderly conduct, and operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license.
Mason’s passenger will be issued a summons to appear in Stoughton District Court on charges of assault and battery on a police officer, assault and battery, and resisting arrest. Because the suspect is being summonsed and the court has not issued a criminal complaint, her identity cannot be released.
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