Crime, Accidents Hit Cambridge

A rash of crimes and accidents this week proved once again that Cambridge is a town that rarely sleeps.

Leverett House residents got quite a jolt when a car crashed into a tree outside the house at 2:30 a.m. yesterday.

The Cambridge Fire Department reported that a car left its lane on Memorial Drive and Dewolfe and damaged a telephone before wrapping its frame around a tree. Fire officials reported that the front of the car was crushed on impact.

Lt. Edward L. Enos of the Fire Department said the vehicle's driver sustained wounds from the windshield, which penetrated his skull. The victim, a man approximately 42 years of age, reportedly walked 40 feet from the site of the accident before collapsing.

He was taken to Mt. Auburn Hospital. Fire officials said they do not know if the victim had been drinking. Enos said the accident could have been caused by anything.

In an unrelated incident, the Lechmere Square branch of Bay Banks was robbed yesterday afternoon. A white man entered the bank at 12:01 p.m. and passed a note to a teller indicating a holdup, Cambridge City police said. No weapon was seen during the theft.

The teller gave the perpetrator an undisclosed amount of money, according to police reports. Witnesses said he fled in the direction of Lechmere.

BayBank officials would not comment on the incident, deferring all questions to the policedepartment.

In other news, a man repeatedly impersonated afirst-year student living in Matthews to get moneyfrom the student's grandmother.

The student's grandmother, who lives inBelmont, reported to police that the man calledthree times in the past month asking for $1500. Hetold her to meet him in Central Square with themoney.

The student's grandmother called policeSaturday to report the suspicious calls.

Police in Belmont and Newton say that a rash ofsimilar scams has occurred in recent months.Harvard University Police Chief Paul E. Johnsonsaid he was not certain if the same person wasresponsible for all the scams.

"The scam becomes popular among professionalsuntil enough of them become aware of theprocedure," Johnson said. Then the conartists moveon to other tricks, he said

In other news, a man repeatedly impersonated afirst-year student living in Matthews to get moneyfrom the student's grandmother.

The student's grandmother, who lives inBelmont, reported to police that the man calledthree times in the past month asking for $1500. Hetold her to meet him in Central Square with themoney.

The student's grandmother called policeSaturday to report the suspicious calls.

Police in Belmont and Newton say that a rash ofsimilar scams has occurred in recent months.Harvard University Police Chief Paul E. Johnsonsaid he was not certain if the same person wasresponsible for all the scams.

"The scam becomes popular among professionalsuntil enough of them become aware of theprocedure," Johnson said. Then the conartists moveon to other tricks, he said