Firefighters Rescue Cats from Popham Road House Fire, Squatter Arrested and an Update on Car Vandalisms

A Popham Road house caught fire on Sept. 8. Firefighters arrived on scene two minutes after receiving the call. The fire was seen to be emitting from the attic of a one-story section of the house, and the fire was determined to have originated in the attic. Firefighters attacked the fire with a hose line and kept the fire contained to where it had originated. They cut a vent hole in the attic to assist in fighting the fire by allowing smoke and heat to escape. All human occupants of the house self-evacuated. Firefighters extensively searched the house for missing pets, and they found two cats hiding inside the structure. Firefighters safely removed the cats unharmed. Firefighters successfully extinguished the fire within 30 minutes and conducted a search for any remaining potential hotspots, all of which were successfully addressed. No injuries were reported. Investigation suspected that a fallen tree in the front yard had taken down a wire and caused a short circuit that generated enough heat to support combustion, and this was suspected to be the cause of the fire. Con Edison cut power and gas to the structure. Firefighters from Greenville, Fairview and Hartsdale assisted – in addition to help provided by Scarsdale police and Scarsdale Volunteer Ambulance Corps. According to Fire Chief Chris Mytych, “We credit the homeowners for their rapid recognition of the fire, which limited its spread prior to our intervention.”

Follow up on car vandalism

We asked the Scarsdale Police for any information about the rash of car vandalism on Labor Day morning, when 50 car windows were smashed between 3 am and 6 am. Here is the response: "There has been no arrests in regards to these incidents. I will update you if or when there are further developments."

In a letter to the community dated September 10, 2024, Mayor Justin Arest said this about the incident:

"We are keenly aware of the public’s concerns stemming from the recent rise in local crime, including last week’s acts of vandalism. Let me reassure our community that your safety is our top priority. The Village has been proactive in deploying advanced technology, including License Plate Readers (LPRs) strategically placed throughout key locations, as well as other cutting-edge surveillance tools. We continue to explore new technological solutions to bolster the efforts of our dedicated police department.

Our collaboration with Westchester County’s Real-Time Crime Center, alongside partnerships with other municipalities and state and federal agencies, ensures a coordinated response to what is unfortunately a regional issue. No one in our Village Government or Police Department finds the recent criminal activity acceptable, and we are committed to identifying those responsible while also strengthening deterrence measures. SPD continues to maintain a strong presence in the community, and we will also continue to share crime prevention tips to keep everyone informed. Together, we will ensure that our Village remains a safe and welcoming place for all."

Package theft
On Sept. 4, a Thies Court resident reported a package was stolen from his porch. Property valued at approximately $8, related to this theft, was recovered by Greenburgh police as Greenburgh police arrested two suspects on other charges. The suspects were then subsequently arrested by Scarsdale police as well. The suspects were described as two Bronx males of undisclosed ages, living at separate addresses.

Squatter
A real estate broker discovered signs of a person squatting inside an unoccupied Parkfield Road house that was in the process of being sold Sept. 6. Following an investigation of the house, police arrested the alleged squatter. He is described as a 47-year-old Yonkers man. He was charged with second-degree criminal trespassing. The police report noted the suspect has displayed violent tendencies in the past.

Stolen
On Sept. 3, a Wildwood Road woman reported a larceny that occurred in the past.

Identity theft
On Sept. 4, a Morris Lane woman reported someone used her credit card without her permission.
On Sept. 5, a Chase Road woman reported being the victim of identity theft. She discovered multiple fraudulent checks cashed against her account. The checks ranged in value from $1,000 to $20,650.
On Sept. 6, a Ridgecrest West man reported someone opened a fraudulent credit line account in his name and withdrew $6,000 in funds.

Scams
A Penn Road resident received an email from an unknown person who alleged to have compromising videos of the resident which he said he would make public if she did not pay a certain amount of money Sept. 3. Google image photos of the resident’s house were also included in the email. The resident was advised to block the sender’s address and to not respond to the email. The resident said no such videos exist, to the resident’s knowledge.

A Mayflower Road resident received an email from an unknown person who alleged to have compromising videos of the resident which he said he would make public if she did not pay a certain amount of money Sept. 6. Google image photos of the resident’s house were also included in the email. The resident was advised to block the sender’s address and to not respond to the email. The resident said no such videos exist, to the resident’s knowledge.

A Vernon Road resident received an email from an unknown person who alleged to have compromising videos of the resident which he said he would make public if she did not pay a certain amount of money Sept. 6. Google image photos of the resident’s house were also included in the email. The resident was advised to block the sender’s address and to not respond to the email. The resident said no such videos exist, to the resident’s knowledge.

Criminal mischief
On Sept. 6, a Brite Avenue resident reported one of car’s windows was smashed on Sept. 1. She believes the incident occurred during the rash of criminal mischief that happened that night and which resulted in approximately 50 cars’ windows being smashed.

Youths were reportedly throwing fireworks off of the Freightway Garage Sept. 6. They were gone from the scene when police arrived.

Trespassing and loitering
Police told a homeless man he was not permitted to hang out inside a Popham Road garage Sept. 5.

Police told a person loitering inside a Depot Place business that he was not allowed to stay there for an extended period of time without making a purchase Sept. 6. The person said he would make a purchase and alleged he was waiting for someone.

On Sept. 6, a Post Road woman reported an elderly woman with a white ponytail, white jeans and two dogs showed up at her residence, stood in the driveway – thus making it impossible to leave for work—and made obscene gestures. The elderly woman is known to the Post Road woman, she said. The elderly woman left the scene before police arrived.

A homeless man was allegedly loitering on the train station platform and shouting insults at people who were getting on and off the trains Sept. 6. Police told him he was not allowed to engage in such behavior, and they assisted him in boarding the train.

A Harwood Court store owner reported approximately 7-10 male youths were being disruptive in her store. Sept. 7. Police told the disruptive boys they needed to leave and were not permitted to behave in a way that disrupted patrons or business.

Help
On Sept. 3, police stood by while library employees informed a patron that he was being banned from the library.

Police helped a Garden Road woman with her phone, as a courtesy, after she called headquarters requesting help Sept. 3.

Police received a report of a disheveled individual wearing a black hoodie and a surgical mask on Brite Avenue Sept. 5. Police helped the individual to a bus station, as per the individual’s request. The individual then proceeded to walk along the bus route.

A mother requested help because he was not answering his phone and she was concerned about some messages he had sent her Sept. 5. Her phone was showing he was in the area of Garth Road. She requested a welfare check and was transferred to Eastchester police. Then she called back to say she had made contact with her son, and everything was ok.

A person called police on Sept. 8, claimed to have been walking around the Village for hours and asked for help with directions Sept. 8. Police helped organization transportation so the person could leave to get home to White Plains.

Cars and roadways
Police notice a car’s trunk left open on Murray Hill Road at 2:30 a.m. Sept. 3. Police closed it and left a note for the owner.

A Colvin Road resident reported people looking into car windows on neighbors’ properties at 3 a.m., Sept. 3.

Police taped off an area of Stratton Road around a fallen branch Sept. 3.

On Sept. 3, police informed drivers to park their cars in a way that did not obstruct traffic on Gorham Road, after a bus driver complained of tight passage.

Police assisted Greenburgh police help a semi-truck driver back down Ardsley Road after he got stuck Sept. 4.

Police taped off an area of Scarsdale Road around a broken tree branch and informed highway department workers for removal Sept. 4.

Con Edison was notified about a cracked branch on wires on Richbell Road Sept. 6.

Police informed highway department workers of a falling branch on Richbell Road Sept. 7. The area was taped off to prevent drivers from passing beneath the dangerous branch.

A caller reported a car was driving “burnouts” in the parking lot of a Mamaroneck Road temple Sept. 7. The car was gone when police arrived.

On Sept. 7, police conducted a traffic stop on Boniface Circle and learned that the driver was operating a car with a suspended registration. The driver was issued summonses, and the car’s license plates were removed.

One car accident was reported in the Village this week.

Village code
After a neighbor complained, police told a group of youths on Crossway that they were being too loud Sept. 8.

Animals
A caller reported an injured bird on Mamaroneck Road Sept. 7. The bird was determined to be deceased.

Lost and found
On Sept. 4, a Village resident walked into headquarters and reported losing a front license plate.

On Sept. 6, a Village resident walked into headquarters and reported losing a front license plate.

On Sept. 6, a Village resident walked into headquarters and reported her daughter lost a gray wallet containing a driver’s license, credit cards and a debit card. The wallet was believed to have been lost in the area of Sunset Drive.

A passerby found a cell phone at Claremont Road and the Bronx River Parkway – and brought the cell phone to headquarters for safekeeping Sept. 7.

Firefighters
Firefighters assisted with a motorcycle accident involving injuries on the Hutchinson River Parkway Sept. 2.

Firefighters helped Scarsdale Volunteer Ambulance Corps members with a patient in Edgewood who needed to be moved from an ambulance to a second-floor bedroom Sept. 2.

Firefighters helped a Tunstall Road resident with a water leak infiltrating a smoke detector Sept. 3.

A fertilizer odor was mistaken for a gas odor on Whig Road Sept. 3.

On Sept. 3, firefighters helped lift a 90-year-old man to the couch inside his Christie Place residence after he fell to the floor. Care was transferred to SVAC personal as soon as they arrived.

Firefighters helped Village staff clean up water in a Popham Road building after a plumbing defect caused a water leak to occur during a fire detection system test.

A person got stuck inside her garage on Clarence Road after a portion of the door lift cable snapped Sept. 3. Firefighters opened the door to allow the person to leave the garage.

On Sept. 7, firefighters helped a resident of Wildwood Road who accidentally got locked out of her house.

On Sept. 7, firefighters stood by for Con Edison at the site of a gas leak in a Lee Road house.
Firefighters helped SVAC personnel with a lift assist on Post Road Sept. 7.

This report covering police and fire department activity from Sept. 2-8 has been compiled from official information.

(Photo Credit Jon Thaler: See more photos here.)

This police report is sponsored by Scarsdale Security who does more than just security. Contact them about remote video for your home or business. Call 914-722-2200 or visit their website.