Police Nab Village Jewelry Thief

Scarsdale Police announced the arrest of a jewelry thief who has robbed stores in Scarsdale, Eastchester, Pleasantville and Bronxville. Donald Jones of Yonkers was arrested on November 30th as a result of a coordinated effort among detectives from these towns. The incident in Scarsdale occurred at 1 pm on Saturday, October 22nd, when Jones entered Sam Lehr Jewelry on Harwood Court and asked to see two diamond rings. He fled the store with the two rings, valued at $15,000. Scarsdale Police Officer Ronnie Arefieg saw the man running from the scene even before the theft was reported. Arefieg made a note of the suspect’s description and the getaway car. Several minutes later the report of the jewelry theft was broadcast and the officer’s observations were reported.

Scarsdale Detectives followed up on the license plate number noted by Arefieg which was later reported as stolen by the original owner. The jewelry store thefts continued in Eastchester, Pleasantville, Tarrytown and Bronxville. Detectives from those agencies worked together to link the license plate number seen in the Scarsdale theft to Donald Jones of McLean Avenue in Yonkers. According to Scarsdale Detective Altizio, Jones has been or will be charged with the jewelry store thefts in Eastchester, Pleasantville and Bronxville. Jones was positively identified by Scarsdale Officer Arefieg and will be charged with Grand Larceny in the Scarsdale jewelry store caper. Arefieg’s work was instrumental in identifying the suspect and putting an end to the thefts.

Arrests: Police were called to River Road around 9 pm on 11/23 to investigate a report of a car parked in front of a home for an extended period of time. When they approached the car, someone inside threw something out of a rear window. Police spoke to the occupants of the car and smelled marijuana. Christopher Avila-Chanza, age 20 of White Plains and a companion whose name was not released admitted to smoking pot. Another woman in the car was not under the influence and was let go. Police found a bag with an Aplrozolam pill on the ground near the car and a bag of marijuana in the car. Avila-Chanza and his companion, both from White Plains, were charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance, and unlawful possession of marijuana. They were each released on $180 bail and given a court date of Wednesday, November 30th.

Bradley Alvelo, age 24 of Yonkers, surrendered to Scarsdale Police on 11/23 on the strength of a bench warrant issued in January, 2011 for failure to pay a fine. He appeared before Judge Galloway and agreed to pay the outstanding fine of $390.

Damage: Valley Road residents called police at 1 am on 11/22 when they noticed a suspicious car at their neighbor’s house. The neighbor only stays at the house on the weekends and during the week the house is empty.. The house is near Red Maple Swamp where kids often hang out. A Police Officer inspected the house and found that a rear window and basement window were shattered and the banister to the deck was damaged. It did not appear that anyone had entered the house and the officer was unable to determine if the damage had occurred due to criminal mischief or a falling tree branch. Police were unable to reach the homeowners by phone.

A Lincoln Road resident reported that a portion of his fence was kicked in and damaged overnight from 11/19 – 11/20. On Springdale Road residents reported that someone had damaged the fence in their backyard at 1:30 am on 11/26. The resident suspected that kids in the area were responsible.

Identity Thefts: On 11/25 an Old Orchard Road woman was advised that someone had used her American Express card number to purchase a $2,000 Lanova computer. In addition, there were two attempts to purchase auto insurance using the same card. The woman cancelled her account and called credit agencies.

A Montrose Road man received a statement in the mail on 11/20 showing that someone had used his identity to open a Victoria’s Secret account and purchase $989.87 in merchandise. The purchases were made in a store in Harlem. The man also received letters from Target, Macy’s and the Burlington Coat Factory telling him that his applications for credit cards were denied. He had never applied for cards at these stores.

A Kensington Road man got a call from a Citibank branch in Brooklyn on 11/25 asking him if he wrote a check for $16,000. He said that he had not and the bank did not cash the check. In addition, someone opened a Citibank charge account using his name which he was able to cancel. Apparently checks were printed with the Scarsdale man’s name and mailed to another address. The FTC and credit reporting agencies were notified.

A Carthage Road woman was advised by a company named “Life Lock” that someone had tried to open a JP Morgan Chase and an AT&T credit card using her personal information. On 11/27, the woman got a call from Bloomingdale's in Chicago to say that someone purchased $4,893 worth of merchandise using an HSBC credit card issued in the Scarsdale woman’s name. The suspect was subsequently arrested by the Chicago Police and was found to have another receipt for fraudulent purchases at the GAP using the Scarsdale woman’s identity.

Theft: A Yonkers woman who works as a babysitter in Scarsdale reported that her purse was stolen while she was at Crossway Field on the afternoon of 11/26. The purse contained her credit card, $160 in cash and two gift cards valued at $100. She suspects that another nanny in the park may have been responsible.

Mischief: At 1 am on 11/23, a Ridgedale Road man called the Police because a dark colored SUV had driven by his house several times and the driver honked the horn. The last time, a man got out of the car and threw two garbage bags of empty beer cans onto his lawn and sped away. The following night police waited in front of the Ridgedale Road home in a car with the lights off. They saw a silver minivan stop in front of the house and open the doors. Police stopped the minivan and one of the youths in the car admitted to throwing garbage onto the lawn but denied responsibility for the previous incidents. Police took down the names and addresses of the six youths in the car and instructed them to pick up the garbage.

Stranger at the door: A Walworth Avenue woman called police at 5 pm on 11/23 when a stranger knocked on her front door and then sat down on her front stoop for 15 minutes. The resident did not open the door but saw the woman through the window. The woman had a piece of luggage, and was possibly wearing a wig.

Home for the holidays: A Fenimore Road woman called police on the evening of Thanksgiving when her 38- year-old stepdaughter came to the house and banged on the door. The stepdaughter has a history of mental health issues and the resident wanted her to leave. Police spoke to the stepdaughter and she agreed to go away.

Unwanted customers: An employee of Starbucks called police on the night of 11/25 when an unwanted customer came into the café. In September the customer had caused a disturbance by taking photos of the employees. The man returned on 11/25 and was rude. Police told the man that if he returns again he will be charged with trespassing.

At Dunkin Donuts, the manager called police on the evening of 11/26 when a customer stood in front of the counter texting and refused to order something or move. When he was asked to step aside, Danny Sigler of Brookly became angry and words were exchanged. Police told Sigler to leave the store and instructed him not to return.

Overturned front loader: During the demolition of a house at 338 Heathcote Road on 11/25, a front loader overturned and the operator, Dominic Marchese of Pelham, cut his lip. SVAC responded but the operators refused medical attention.

Found: A lost credit card was found in front of Lange’s Deli and turned into police on the morning of 11/22.