Billerica Police | MA

During this festive time of year, with the holiday parties and other occasions, many people will be drinking, and the likelihood of impaired driving increases along with drunk-driving related fatalities. Billerica Police will join the 191 eligible local law enforcement agencies and the MA State Police running extra patrols through the New Year as part of the national Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over mobilization. This campaign is funded by a federal grant administered through the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security’s Highway Safety Division (EOPSS/HSD).

“It’s time for all drivers to get the message,” said Chief Dan Rosa. “Drunk driving isn’t a victimless crime. You could kill yourself or someone else.”

The facts are grim. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that in 2012 in Massachusetts, 123 people were killed in crashes that involved drivers with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher. Nationally, in December of 2012, there were 830 people killed in crashes involving at least one driver with a BAC of .08 or higher. 26 of those deaths occurred on Christmas Day.

As part of the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over enforcement campaign, police will increase patrols, conduct sobriety checkpoints, and conduct public outreach through local media with hopes of delivering their life saving message to drivers. If you’re drinking and driving, Billerica police will find and arrest you. No warnings, no excuses. You’ll face jail time, fines, loss of your driver’s license, towing fees, and other OUI expenses, totaling $10,000 on average.

Billerica Police suggests anyone drinking should designate a sober driver ahead of time, call a friend or family member, use public transportation, or call a taxi. The alternatives are all far less expensive than the $10,000 cost of being caught and charged with OUI or taking someone’s life.

“We can’t stand to see this tragic loss of life again and again,” added Chief Rosa. “It’s heartbreaking to drive up to a house all decorated for the holidays, and knock on the door to deliver terrible news. So leading up to the holidays, we are really cracking down, and we will show zero tolerance for drunk drivers on the road.”

In addition to reminding all drivers to drive sober, Chief Rosa is calling on everyone to be alert. If someone you know is about to drive after drinking, take their keys and help them get home safely.

Tonight at approximately 4:54 PM, the Billerica Police Department received a call for a Pedestrian Accident. The accident was reported to be in the area of 252 Salem Road. Initial reports were that there was a woman struck by a SUV and that although she was breathing, she was unconscious. Arriving units found the victim to have sustained life threatening injuries and was subsequently transported by Billerica EMS to the hospital where she died.

The operator of the SUV immediately pulled over after the accident occurred and is cooperating with investigators. At this time there is no indication to suspect any drug or alcohol involvement as a contributing factor to the accident.

The Mass State Police accident reconstruction team responded to the scene and is assisting in the investigation, along with the Middlesex District Attorney’s office and the Billerica Police. The name of the parties involved are being withheld pending notification to the family.

Update of Fatal Accident that occurred on Route 129 in Billerica on November 29, 2014

The Billerica Police are releasing the identity of the victim that was struck in the vicinity of 251 Salem Road in Billerica at approximately 5pm on November 29, 2014. The victim is identified as Alexandrina Petro, 85, of Billerica. The accident is being investigated by the Billerica Police and the Massachusetts State Police Accident Reconstruction Unit. Any additional questions should be directed to Middlesex DA Press Officer, Marybeth Long, 781-897-8325

Package thefts are crimes of opportunity.  The Billerica Police Department would like to remind citizens to take extra care this time of year when having mail and packages delivered to their residence. Package thefts from doorstops and front porches during the day usually increase between the months of October and January. There are steps you can take to be proactive in keeping your package safe from theft.

Encourage family and neighbors to pick up packages as soon as possible after they are delivered.

Track your packages. Try to be present at the time of delivery. Many mail carriers allow you to track your shipment online or receive email or text messages once deliveries are made:

• DHL
• Fedex
• UPS
• USPS

Thieves will follow or watch for FedEx, UPS, US Mail and other delivery trucks and then target a home after a delivery is made. To reduce the chances of being victimized by package delivery thieves, the Billerica Police Department offers the following advice:

• Choose a shipping option that requires you to sign for delivery.
• Arrange to have the package shipped to another location where someone can receive it. This could be your workplace, a friend or relative’s home, the leasing office at your apartment complex or even the local “mailbox” business that may agree to accept shipment of your item for a fee.
• Ask the delivery service to hold your package for customer pick-up at their local shipping facility.
• If you do not receive your shipment on time, check with the company of origin and confirm the delivery. If the item was delivered and you did not receive it, report the theft or loss to the original company, the shipping company, and the Billerica Police Department at 978-667-1212.
• Many of these crimes occur during broad daylight. As always, be alert about suspicious behavior in your neighborhood, especially if you see a delivery truck making the rounds and a vehicle following behind or unfamiliar subjects on foot. Be prepared to call the Billerica Police Department at 978-667-1212 to report this type of suspicious activity or call 911 if you observe a crime in progress.

Your calls can have an impact on crime and criminals. Please continue to partner to prevent crime.