Police chief warns of car thefts, truck traffic problems
Police Chief Normand Crepeau threw in a PSA while meeting with the Select Board Tuesday night: Lock your car.
“I just want to warn people, especially with the holidays coming,” Crepeau said.
Grafton, along with surrounding communities, has been targeted by late-night thieves who check cars for purses, computers, and other valuables, all easily available in an unlocked car — even in the owners’ own driveway. Crepeau said there were three reported Tuesday.
“People need to learn to lock their car doors, take their possessions out, and take the keys out of the car,” he added.
The public safety tip came on top of the Select Board’s approval of Traffic Safety Committee requests presented by the police chief:
- A request from David Minichiello for stop signs at the intersection of Keith Hill Road and Salisbury Street.
- A request from Keri Drake for a crosswalk between Gershom and Whitney Stree to signage in both directions on Old Westboro at the intersection of Gershom to indicate pedestrians in the road, at the discretion of the DPW.
- A request from Tracy Arredondo for “Slow Children at Play” signs on Deernolm, Hilltop, and Fairlawn Streets. Her daughter, Layla, presented a handwritten letter, Crepeau said. “Children at Play” signs on Deernolm, Hilltop and Fairlawn Streets with 20MPH advisory signs on Hilltop and Fairlawn will be addedat the discretion of the DPW.
- A request from Gregory Klocek for a speed limit sign as well as a possible “Blind Driveway” or “Disabled Child” sign in the area of 37 Old Westboro Road. The committee agreed to install two “Impaired Child” signs in both directions in the vicinity of 37 Old Westboro Rd at the discretion of the DPW. It also requested the DPW to research traffic speed zones and the criteria to install legal speed signs within the parameters of these zones.
The board also approved a request to have the DPW investigate the establishment of a truck route between Main Street (Route 122A) and Providence Road (Route 122).
“Not all roads are made for trucks, and the drivers for some reason blindly follow their GPS onto these roads,” Crepeau said.
The request from Robert Cardoza originally requested signage prohibiting trucks from Pleasant Street. The stone bridge there, repaired by the state in 2009 after years of inaction, is also lacking weight limit signs, a responsibility of the state.
