Burglars Strike Franklin Road House; Police Recommend Lights and Alarms

A Franklin Road house was burglarized sometime while the homeowner was away from Dec. 3 to Dec. 8. According to the homeowner, jewelry worth $1,000 was stolen. The homeowner realized something was wrong when she observed the rear sliding glass door, which leads to the bar room, smashed. According to police, after the suspects broke through the rear sliding glass door, they left a trail of broken glass leading from the bar room, into the dining room, into the master bedroom, then upstairs Bedroom closets and dressers were open and tossed. Linens were thrown onto the floor from a hall linen closet. The house had an alarm, but it was not armed because it was broken. The house did not have automatic, motion-sensor lights.

In response to the recent rash of local burglaries, Sergeant James Newman advised the following: "If you have an alarm, you should arm it when you leave the house. If you don't have automatic lights, leaving one or two lights on might have the effect of deterring a would-be burglar. If residents are going to be away for an extended period of time, the police department offers a "dark house" program whereby police will check the exterior of the house during the daytime, if and when time permits. Being a vigilant neighbor is just as important as any alarm system. If you see someone or something that doesn't seem right, do not hesitate to call the police."

Package theft
On Dec. 13, a Madison Road woman reported two packages from Creative Irish Gifts were stolen from her front porch. The woman said she last saw the packages while leaving her house at 6:15 p.m., Dec. 3. When she returned at 8:30 p.m., the packages were gone. The packages contained gifts worth approximately $225. The store needed a police report to refund the merchandise.

Identity theft
Bloomingdale's fraud department notified a Brookby Road resident about fraudulent activity on her account Dec. 8. According to the resident, personal information was used to increase the resident's credit line, and an undetermined amount of fraudulent purchases were made. Police advised the resident to inform the credit reporting agencies.

Criminal mischief
On Dec. 14, a Nelson Road homeowner reported someone threw eggs at her house overnight. Later, the homeowner realized someone unplugged the electrical cord powering outdoor Christmas decorations.
A driver reported the hood and front bumper of her 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe were "keyed" while parked at the Scarsdale post office, on Chase Road, at approximately 2:25 p.m.

Suspicious
A caller was concerned about a man standing on Crane Road for an extended period of time Monday morning, Dec. 8. He was described as a white man with a goatee, wearing a gray sweatshirt. He left before police arrived.
On Dec. 9, a driver reported a person, dressed in black, was "walking and darting out in front of cars" on Post Road. The person was gone when police arrived.
The owner of a jewelry store in village center called police when a gray Acura backed into two parking spaces outside his store, when other spaces were also available, around 4 p.m., Dec. 13. When the store owner approached the driver of the car, the driver sped away. A license plate check revealed the car was registered to a Mt. Vernon address.

Welfare checks
At the request of Adult Protective Services, police attempted to check the welfare of a village resident Dec. 8. The resident was not home when police checked the house.
Police checked the welfare of a Popham Road resident who did not answer her RUOK call Dec. 9. The resident was fine and told police she had overslept and had not heard the phone.
On Dec. 10, police tried to check the welfare of a resident affected by a gas turn-off due to utility work in the area. The resident was not home, and a Con Edison supervisor confirmed the gas work was almost finished.

Doorbells, knocks
At 11 p.m., Dec. 11, a Madison Road resident reported someone knocked on her front door, but no one was there when she answered it. Police checked the house and found no signs of criminality.
A Nelson Road woman reported someone rang her doorbell and ran away when she answered the door shortly before 5 p.m., Dec. 12. The person was described as "short and wearing a light blue jacket." The person ran south on Nelson Road toward Barry Road. Police canvassed the area but did not find the person.
At 9 p.m., Dec. 13, an Asian man, approximately 50 years old, 5'7'' tall and wearing dark clothes, knocked on a Post Road door. He told the homeowner he knew her neighbors. After that, he immediately left the property. Police spoke with the neighbors, whom the man claimed to know. The neighbors were unsure about the man but thought his presence might have something to do with a possible real estate deal.

Open doors
After a front door was accidentally left open to a Springdale Road house, police closed and secured the house Dec. 9. Police checked a car in the driveway and determined its engine was cold. There was no evidence of criminal activity.
Police checked a Taunton Road house after the homeowner returned to find an open door Dec. 9. Police checked the house and found no signs of criminal activity.

Locked in
A one-year-old child was accidentally locked in a running car parked on Brewster Road Dec. 12. While police and firefighters were attempting to unlock the car, the child pressed the unlock button, and the door was able to be opened. The child was unharmed.

Naked man
Police assisted White Plains police in their search for a naked man on Old Mamaroneck Road at 2:30 p.m., Dec. 13. White Plains police successfully took the man into custody.

Cars and roadways
Police found a locked car running inside Christie Place garage Dec. 8. Patrol stayed with the car until dispatch informed the registered owner.
One car stalled in flooding water behind Scarsdale High School on Brewster Road Dec. 9. The principal said the administration was arranging for a towing company to assist the driver.
A tree fell on Saxon Woods Road Dec. 9. The highway department removed it.
A car became disabled near the intersection of Post and Drake roads Dec. 10. Patrol waited with the driver until a towing service arrived.
Police issued a summons to the driver of a car parked in violation of overnight restrictions on Bradley Road Dec. 11.
After a resident complained that a construction worker passed a school bus on Bradley Road, Dec. 11, police advised the construction worker to be cautious while driving through the area. The construction worker claimed the bus was stopped without showing any stop signs or flashing lights.
To alert motorists, police placed a traffic cone in a pothole on Brewster Road Dec. 12.
Fifteen car accidents were reported in the village this week.

Leaves
A Richbell Road resident said leaves from a neighbor's tree were falling into her yard and causing a flooding condition in her yard Dec. 9. The resident asked police to inform the building department.
On Dec. 13, an Olmsted Road man reported a neighbor's landscapers blew leaves onto his property. Patrol advised the landscapers to clean up the leaves and be more careful in the future.

Animals
A coyote was seen in a Meadow Road yard Dec. 9. It wandered away before police arrived.

Village code
Police removed an advertising sign, for a car driving service, posted at Weaver Street and Hutchinson Avenue Dec. 10. Police issued a summons to the business that posted the sign, in violation of village code.
On Dec. 13, a resident complained of noise coming from a Lebanon Road party. Police went to the house and noted the volume of music seemed to be at an acceptable level. A special duty officer who was working at the party said he would monitor the volume of music to make sure it did not violate village code. Two additional complaints were received about noise from the party. The special duty officer asked the party host to lower the volume of the music around 7:30 p.m. At 11 p.m., police spoke with the party host and advised her of the noise complaints. She apologized and turned off the music.

Lost and found
A passerby found a driver's license in the village and brought it to headquarters for safekeeping Dec. 13. According to information listed on the license, it belonged to a woman from Astoria, Queens. Police attempted to contact her but were unsuccessful.

Fire

Water in a Mamaroneck Road parking lot was caused by a problem in an underground drain line Dec. 9. A plumber was en route.

Firefighters helped mitigate a water entry problem at a Broadmoor Rd. house Dec. 9.

A Quaker Circle basement was flooding, and firefighters helped the homeowner remove items from the basement to prevent damage Dec. 9.

While checking a false alarm on Wayside Lane, firefighters discovered the building's sprinkler system was turned off Dec. 9. They reported this condition to the fire inspector.

Firefighters used a water vacuum to remove water from a window well at a Cayuga Road house Dec. 9.

Firefighters pumped approximately one inch of water from a White Birch Lane basement Dec. 9. They shut the natural gas supply to the furnace and hot water heater.

Firefighters notified the water department about water leaking in a pit on Catherine Road Dec. 10.

Firefighters helped Con Edison get inside a Windmill Lane house to address a problem with water in the gas main Dec. 11.

A Lawrence Road cat was stuck in a tree Dec. 12. Firefighters advised the homeowner on the appropriate course of action.

Due to elevated levels of carbon monoxide in the Christie Place garage, police instructed workers to refrain from using gas-powered pressure washers inside the garage Dec. 13. Firefighters used exhaust fans to ventilate the space and monitored air quality in the garage until it returned to safe levels.

A White Road resident lit a fire in the fireplace without opening the flue Dec. 13. The resident extinguished the fire before firefighters arrived. Firefighters ventilated the residence of smoke and verified there was no damage to the house.

This week firefighters assisted at six car accidents in the village and on parkways. They responded to 11 false fire alarms caused by device malfunction, cooking smoke, an overheated drill, dust, chimney cleaning and construction dust.

Scarsdale Village Justice Court from Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2014

Kristy Amoresano was arraigned on charges of driving while intoxicated (first offense), DWI with a blood alcohol level of at least .08 of one percent and reckless driving. Her license was suspended in New York State, pending prosecution. She was assigned, for evaluation, to Treatment Alternatives for Safer Communities. The case was adjourned to Jan. 28, 2015.

Lucas F. Calderon pleaded guilty to the reduced charge of DWI (first offense). His license was suspended for one year, and he was fined $900. He was ordered to attend a MADD Victim Impact Panel and a drinking and driving program organized by the NYS Department of Motor Vehicles. He was ordered to install an ignition interlock device in his car for one year.

Walter Collins pleaded guilty to the reduced charges of fifth-degree possession of stolen property. He was sentenced to six months incarceration. He was fined $224, plus a $50 DNA fee.

Jason Dent pleaded guilty to the reduced charge of driving while ability impaired. He was fined $560. He was ordered to attend a MADD Victim Impact Panel and a drinking and driving program organized by the NYS Department of Motor Vehicles. He was ordered to complete a program with Treatment Alternatives for Safer Communities and to install an ignition interlock device in his car for one year.

Saul Hernandez pleaded guilty to driving without a license and was fined $168.

John Peto pleaded guilty to the reduced charge of second-degree harassment. He was granted a one-year conditional discharge and fined $225. The court issued a two-year order of protection.

Barbara E. Picket pleaded guilty to the reduced charges of driving without a license and speeding. She was fined $386.

Vitaly A. Polikoff pleaded guilty to the reduced charge of driving while ability impaired and driving without a license. His license was suspended for 90 days, and he was fined $805. He was ordered to attend a MADD Victim Impact Panel and a drinking and driving program organized by the NYS Department of Motor Vehicles.

The court issued one bench warrant, three warrant letters and two appearance letters to defendants who did not appear in court as directed.

Adjournments included cases with the following charges: operation of a motor vehicle under the influence of drugs, possession of marijuana, fourth-degree grand larceny, third-degree possession of a forged instrument, third-degree assault, third- and fourth-degree grand larceny, third- and fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property, second-degree criminal contempt, DWI (first offense), aggravated DWI, possession of marijuana, second-degree use of drug paraphernalia, seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, second-degree identity theft and various vehicle and traffic violations.

This report covering police and fire department activity from Dec. 8-14 and the Scarsdale Village Justice Court calendar from Dec. 10 was compiled from official information.

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