103 Year-Old Man Passes Away, Burglary in Heathcote and Missing Underwear

Hien-Chee Fang died at his home on Butler Road on April 6. He was 103 years old. His daughter called police at 9:45 am when she found her father to be unresponsive. She last spoke to him the previous night at 10:30 pm before he went to bed. Fang did not have any major health issues but was having a hard time walking and sleeping.

Suspect arrested for trying to cash forged checks:
Police arrested Bertron Hardy, 22, of Mount Vernon, on charges of second-degree possession of a forged instrument April 8. Hardy is accused of previously attempting to cash a forged check at the Bank of America branch on Wilmot Road. His actions were captured on video surveillance. He was arraigned at Scarsdale Village Justice court, where Judge Joachim Alemany set bail at $500 cash or $1,000 bond. Unable to post bail, Hardy was sent to Westchester County Jail, pending a future court appearance.

Canterbury Road house burglarized:
On April 12, Canterbury Road residents returned home from a brief vacation to find their house had been burglarized. According to the police report, the residents first noticed their rear sliding glass door was broken. Then, they noticed several cabinets throughout the house appeared to be tampered with. The residents said they would provide police with a list of stolen items as soon as possible. The house was not protected by a home security system as the time of the burglary.

Stolen money:
On April 11, the owner of Learning Express on Spencer Place in Scarsdale Village reported that an employee has been stealing money from his business since February. According to the owner, the employee has created numerous fraudulent cash returns for store merchandise in order to steal cash. From February through April, the owner calculated $3,370.99 in fraudulent returns, but he said there might be more. The owner said he began investigating when he discovered odd transactions in the store's log. For example, he noticed 20 cash returns for an item; however, the store only carries six units of that specific item. The owner said he wanted to attempt to settle the matter with the employee on a civil basis before requesting direct police involvement.

Missing underwear:
A woman called police after a disagreement with an employee at Spruce and Bond (formerly Completely Bare) at 12 Chase Road resulted in an alleged false accusation on April 12. The woman said she went with a friend to the business to get her eyebrows waxed. However, the store manager told her that the store no longer offered eyebrow waxing. The woman said she had store credit, so she browsed through merchandise. But she did not find anything she wanted to buy. The woman said she received a call about a minute after leaving the store, advising her to return to the store because she or her friend allegedly stole a pair of underwear. The women denied stealing any underwear and called police. Patrol spoke with the store employee, who said the two women were being "snotty" and while one woman "distracted her," the other "put a pair of underwear in her purse." Patrol asked the store employee is she had actually seen the woman put the underwear in her purse. The employee said she did not see either woman steal the underwear, but "a pair of underwear was missing from the shelf inventory." A video camera monitors the store, but it could only be accessed by the store's Chief Executive Officer. Patrol called the CEO who said he wanted to review the video footage to determine if the underwear had actually been stolen before reporting it as a larceny. The woman accused of stealing the underwear told police that the employee revoked her store credit after the incident occurred. Patrol advised the woman that the revocation of store credit was a civil matter and she could follow up with the CEO or pursue the matter in Village Justice Court.

Identity theft:
On April 7, a Webster Road woman reported someone used her credit card to fraudulently purchase $400 worth of unknown materials in West Africa. She informed her credit card company the transaction was not authorized. The credit card company refunded her the money and opened an investigation. The incident might be related to a security breach reported by BlueCross BlueShield, the woman's health insurance provider.
On April 7, a woman reported her mother's identity had been used to open a fraudulent account with Verizon on Jan. 27. Additional charges to the account amounted to $177.44. The mother is a resident of Rural Drive. Verizon representatives told the woman they required a police report to close the account.

On April 7, a Donellan Road man reported his personal information was used to open a fraudulent business account in Las Vegas. Additionally, three other fraudulent credit card applications were made since February. The incident might be related to a security breach reported by BlueCross BlueShield, the man's health insurance provider.

Fraudulent tax returns:
On April 6, a Jefferson Road teenager reported someone filed a tax return in his name, using his Social Security number. He told police he believed a refund was issued, but he was unsure of the amount.

On April 8, residents of Highland Way and Brown Road each reported someone filed a fraudulent tax return in their names, using their Social Security numbers. The incidents were unrelated.

On April 11, residents of Black Birch Lane, Foxhall Place, Greenacres Avenue and Corell Road each reported someone filed a fraudulent tax return in their names, using their Social Security numbers. The incidents were unrelated.

On April 12, a Thornwood Place man reported someone filed a fraudulent tax return in his name, using his Social Security number.

Marijuana odor:
A Popham Road resident reported an odor of marijuana smoke in his apartment April 9. The resident said he often smells marijuana in the building and has complained to the building's management about it. Management allegedly said they would speak with the person who is smoking. Neither patrol nor the resident could determine the source of the smoke.

Man in yard:
A Stonehouse Road homeowner reported a suspicious man walking through her yard around 7 a.m., April 10. The man was described as light-skinned, approximately 30 years old, wearing a red hoodie and tan pants and carrying a green backpack. Police canvassed the area and checked the train station platform, but the man was not located.

Painter:
On April 10, a Brambach Road woman advised a person called her to request money. Approximately 15 minutes after hanging up the phone, the woman's painter knocked at her door, looking for work. The woman wondered if the incidents might be related. Police first interviewed the woman, and then they called the painter. The woman and the painter each said the painter had come to the woman's house "to say hello" and "ask about having jobs done." The woman said she advised the painter to refrain from coming back to her house. The painter told police he would comply. The painter denied making phone calls to the woman about money.

Welfare check:
A Normandy Road housekeeper could not make contact with her employer; so police performed a welfare check April 10. The homeowner was OK. There had been confusion about the date and time of the housekeeper's work schedule.

Fence:
A Meadow Road resident reported a neighbor put up a fence on the wrong side of the property line April 11. Police spoke with the homeowner whose contractor was responsible for the fence. The homeowner was on vacation at the time. He apologized and said he would ask his contractor to take down the fence because the contractor made a mistake regarding the survey. He promised to make sure the fence was installed properly.

Cars and roadways:
At 6:40 a.m., April 8, a Mercedes-Benz ran out of gas and stopped on Post Road. Police stood by while the driver waited for gasoline delivery from a roadside assistance agency.

A car became disabled on Weaver Street April 8. Police helped the driver move the car to a nearby commercial lot, pending the arrival of a tow.

Police directed traffic around a car with a flat tire on Griffen Avenue April 9.

Police called a tow for a driver on Mamaroneck Road who had previously sustained two flat tires on the Hutchinson River Parkway April 10.

On April 11, police notified Verizon about a low-hanging wire on Nelson Road.

Patrol issued a summons to the registered owner of a car parked too close to the intersection of Ewart and Brown roads April 12.

A one car accident was reported in this village this week.

Tree cutting:
A concerned citizen reported a tree was being cut down, possibly without a permit, on Ridgecrest West, April 9. Patrol spoke with the tree cutter, who said he had inquired about a permit at Village Hall but was told the tree did not require a permit. Police confirmed this with Village Hall.

Leaf blowers:
On April 11, police issued summonses to landscapers using gas-powered leaf blowers before 10 a.m. on Ridgecrest North and Brewster and Kingston roads.

Animals:
Police issued a Meadow Road homeowner a warning about her barking dog April 6. According to the report, neighbors have frequently complained about the noisy dog in the past.

A "wild animal" died in a Paddington Road backyard April 6. To assist the homeowner, patrol placed the carcass in a box for disposal.

Patrol notified White Plains police department about a dead raccoon on Secor Road April 9. WPPD said they would arrange for the carcass to be removed. Traffic travelling through the area was unhindered.

Lost and found:
On April 6, a Boulder Brook man reported losing his wallet somewhere in the village.

On April 7, a Crossway man told police he inadvertently left his license plates on his old car when he returned the car to his dealership. Police recorded the lost license plates in the appropriate database, so the man could properly cancel his registration.

Fire:
Firefighters stood by for Con Edison at the site of a gas odor at Kent and Fox Meadow roads April 6.

Firefighters stood by for Con Edison at the site of a gas odor coming from a Palmer Avenue curb box April 6.

Firefighters determined an unusual odor in a Cohawney Road house was most likely due to recent carpet installation April 7. While at the house, firefighters noticed a loose sewer cap and advised the resident to correct it.

Due to a natural gas odor in a Mamaroneck Road house, firefighters shut gas to a Mamaroneck Road stove and advised the resident to have the appliance serviced before using it again April 8.

Firefighters stood by for Con Edison at the site of an indoor gas odor in a Wayside Lane house April 9.

Refrigerant was leaking from a geothermal heating unit in a Kent Road house April 9. Firefighters shut power to the unit and set up a negative pressure fan for ventilation.
Firefighters spread absorbent on an oily spill on Overhill Road April 10.

Con Edison disconnected a stove that was releasing carbon monoxide inside a Johnson Road house April 10.

Firefighters stood by for Con Edison at the site of an indoor gas odor in a Forest Lane basement April 10.

On April 11, firefighters stood by for Con Edison at the site of a natural gas odor near sanitary sewer manholes on Fox Meadow Road.

This week, firefighters assisted at one car accident in the village and on parkways. They responded to three false carbon monoxide alarms and 20 false alarms caused by device malfunction, cooking smoke, dust, burnt toast, a battery problem, iron steam and shower steam.

This report covering police and fire department activity from April 6-12 was compiled from official information.

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.