Meter Robber Arrested, Homes Burglarized and a Missing Menorah

meterMeter Robber Arrested: An observant Con Edison worker helped police nab a man who had broken into, or tampered with 24 parking meters in the area of Scarsdale Avenue around 4 am on December 9th. The Con Edison worker saw a suspicious person going into and out of a parked car in the early morning hours and called the police. They found Anthony Lucido of White Plains lying down in the back seat of a tan Suburban that was parked on Scarsdale Avenue. The officer recognized Lucido immediately, as the Bronxville Police had just sent out a flyer with his picture because he was a suspect in the larceny of over 30 parking meters in Bronxville.

When questioned by police, Lucido was nervous and evasive and claimed that he had pulled over because his car had overheated on the Bronx River Parkway. Lucido offered to let the officers check his car where they found a large open bag of loose change filled with quarters, gloves and two large screwdrivers. In the trunk they found more tools. When they checked the meters on Scarsdale Avenue they found that many had been emptied.

Lucido was taken to headquarters where a background check revealed that he had 39 prior arrests. In the meantime, Scarsdale police canvassed the area and found that 24 meters had been broken into or tampered with. Lucido’s car was impounded and he was arrested for petit larceny, criminal mischief, possession of burglar tools and criminal possession of stolen property. He was arraigned before Judge Galloway at 9:30 am where bail was set at $10,000. Since Lucido could not come up with the money he was taken to Westchester County Jail where he will be held until his court date on 12/15/10.

Burglaries: Two more Scarsdale homes were entered this past week – both during the day. On Potter Road the homeowner returned from work on Monday afternoon December 6th and found that her front door was unlocked. Though the house was not tossed, two white envelopes, each containing $5,000 were missing from a dresser in the master bedroom along with jewelry valued at $16,650. When police came to the home to investigate they found a broken basement window and a rock that had been thrown through it. They determined that the suspect had entered the home through that window.

On Thursday December 9th, intruders entered a Greenacres Avenue home via a rear window that may have been unlocked. They went through the bedrooms, tossed the master bedroom and left through the back door of the house. The owner will compile as list of missing items.

Missing: On Tuesday night 12/7 a Wayside Lane woman called police to report that her blue 2009 Acura, which was parked in the loading zone on Chase Road, had been stolen. While the woman was speaking to police, another officer found the car parked in the DeCicco’s parking lot. The owner had forgotten where she parked.

A Middle School boy reported that headphones were stolen from his locker on November 30th. The Monster-Beats by Dr. Dre headphones are valued at $350 and were taken from a bag in the boy’s unlocked school locker.

Menorah Check: Police checked Chase Park numerous times this week to see if a Menorah had been erected in the park. However, they were unable to locate one and it appears that the Village did not put one up this year.

Rental Car: Police were called to the Shell Station on Scarsdale Avenue on 12/9 where an Avis representative complained that a rental car had not been returned. The woman who rented the car called the station to report she was in the hospital, but later arranged for a friend to return the car to the station.

Where's Mom? An Edgewood elementary school student called police at 12:30 pm on 12/9 to report that she was locked out of her house. Her mother did not realize that school would let out early that day. Police took the girl to the school nurse who located the girl’s mom.

Found: Fish Tails: A Hazelton Drive man called police on the morning of 12/7 to say that he found five small dead fish on his front walkway.

At DeCicco’s on East Parkway the owner reported that someone had turned off two water valves that supply water to cool the stores freezers on 12/3. Though no damage occurred to the store’s freezers or merchandise, Mr. DeCicco wanted to file a report.

On 12/9 a Park Road woman reported that she was almost the victim of identity theft when someone tried to open up new accounts in her husband’s name at Citibank and Bank of America and transfer $80,000 from her existing accounts into the fraudulent accounts. Fortunately both banks contacted her before making the transfers and she was able to stop them.

Deer Here: At 11 pm on Friday night 12/10 a Brite Avenue man was driving on Heathcote Road near the Scarsdale Medical Center when he stepped on his brakes to avoid hitting a deer in the road. While he was braking to miss the first deer, another deer ran into the road and struck the man’s 2004 Acura. The second deer fled and the driver was not injured.

Fire: A utility truck struck a power line at 50 Tompkins Road at 1 pm on 12/9 and caused a fire that spread to the wires along Fenimore Road. Fenimore Road was closed between Post and Brewster Road while the Scarsdale Fire Department and Con Edison put out the flames.

The Fire Department and Con Edison entered four houses on Carthage and Fayette Roads on the afternoon of 12/10 to investigate for a potential gas leak. They entered through unlocked windows and a garage door and left notices for residents advising them that their homes had been entered.

Edgemont: On the morning of 12/7 the Principal of Seely Place School called police to report that she saw a suspicious car parked on Glendale Place. She had been alerted to look out for a car with the same license plate number in an email from a parent who had seen the occupant opening car doors in the area. The Principal and the School Custodian were about to approach the man in the car, when he made eye contact with them and drove away. The man was driving a 2009 gray Dodge Charger with license plate number FBG3471. Police identified the plate owner as Thomas Delano of White Plains and he is described as a white male in his 30’s with a stocky build, short-cropped hair, neatly dressed in a black leather jacket.

On Chedworth Road in Scarsdale on the night of 12/7 the resident returned from work at 10:50 pm and saw a man walk up his driveway and disappear into the backyard. A neighbor also saw a van pull up and a woman getting out with take out food.