Woman Charged with Grand Larceny, ID theft and criminal possession of stolen property

On Sept. 9, police arrested Tabatha M. Garofalo, 32, of Ansonia, Connecticut, on charges of fourth-degree grand larceny, second-degree identity theft and fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property. The charges were related to an incident dating back to March 7, 2014, and involve an employee of La Dentelliere on East Parkway. At the time, Garafalo stole a credit card from a store employee and used it to purchase approximately $1300 worth of merchandise. According to the arrest report, Garofalo was remanded to Westchester County Jail. She waived her next appearance in Scarsdale Village Justice Court because she is awaiting sentencing and disposition from Westchester County Court on Oct. 1, and the arrest charges from Scarsdale will be included with the disposition from WCC. The arrest report noted that all case notes, statements, videos, pictures and photo arrays were given to the district attorney's office in October 2014, due to a countywide investigation of the defendant. Garofolo was arrested in New Jersey in April 2014 for swiping the wallets of store employees and using their credit cards to purchase goods. 

Stolen
On Sept. 7, a Hillview Drive man reported someone stole a garden sprinkler from his front yard overnight. It was described as a small yellow tractor replica that attaches to a garden hose to water the lawn.

On Sept. 8, a Garth Road woman said she placed her change purse on a counter at Dunkin' Donuts while she walked to a nearby table to get some condiments. When she returned to retrieve the change purse, it was no longer there. It contained $22 in cash and an MTA monthly ticket valued at $259.

A Trek 720 silver bicycle was stolen out of a Cohawney Road garage between 10:45 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., Sept. 13. The garage door was left open during the time period of the theft.

Identity theft
On Sept. 9, an Old Lyme Road woman discovered five cell phones were purchased at a Harlem store and charged to her Verizon account on Aug. 31. The phones were valued at $1,185.58. The woman notified Verizon and cancelled the lines to the phones; however, the actual phones remained unaccounted for.

On Sept. 10, a Boulevard man reported someone previously attempted to file a fraudulent tax return using his Social Security number. He reported it to the IRS and was advised to contact police and one of the three credit reporting agencies.

Criminal mischief
On Sept. 11, an Edgewood Road resident reported her 2014 Audi's rear window had been damaged. Police investigated the scene, noted a point of impact on the window's lower right side and found a rock nearby.

Disputes
A resident of a group home on Post Road was "acting out" Sept. 9. The resident said she was irate because she believed another resident was talking about her behind her back. She also advised she did not take her scheduled medication and that might have been the reason for her behavior. While police were on scene, the resident calmed down and advised she would stay in her room the rest of the night.

Police stood by while the brother of a Rock Creek Lane woman picked up tools left at the Rock Creek Lane house Sept. 11. The brother alleged certain tools were missing from the job site. According to the homeowner, her brother had been doing work at her house but then got into an argument with her husband over construction details. The husband first called police about the matter Sept. 7. The husband and wife requested additional ridebys of their house because they expressed concern for their safety due to the brother's alleged irrational behavior.

A Lockwood Road man reported he heard two neighbors "talking bad" about him Sept. 12. Police informed the man's mother who said she would speak with her son.

Seatbelt
A mother called police for help after her 9-year-old son got stuck in the backseat of her car by a seatbelt that would not release Sept. 10. Police were unable to loosen the belt and cut it so the boy could get out of the car. Scarsdale Volunteer Ambulance Corps evaluated the child. No further medical attention was necessary.

Nightlight
A house sitter on Rural Drive reported seeing a "flashlight" inside a neighbor's house at approximately 11 p.m., Sept. 11. She called police because she thought the neighbor's house was unoccupied. Police investigated the report and found the neighbor safely at home. He provided ID to police and stated he had been there all night.

Taxi fare
Police helped a taxi drive and his passenger resolve a dispute over the fare at Bradley and Carman roads Sept. 12.

Tree trimming
A Brambach Road resident complained that a neighbor's landscaper was trimming branches from a tree that was on the Brambach Road resident's property Sept. 12. The branches being trimmed were "hanging over" the neighbor's yard, but the resident alleged the landscaper was trimming off more than necessary. The resident said he spoke with the landscaper about the matter, and the landscaper began swearing at him and making threatening gestures. When police arrived, the tree trimming had been completed.

Cars and roadways
On Sept. 9, police issued a summons to a White Plains driver for driving with a suspended registration due to the driver's insurance not being in effect.

Police asked workers to move their cars on Olmsted Road to comply with "no standing" restrictions Sept. 9.

A cement truck broke down on Popham Road Sept. 9. The driver said a mechanic was en route. In the meantime, police set up cones to divert traffic around the truck.

Patrol removed a branch from Boulevard Sept. 10.

A car was parked on Grand Park Avenue with its door open at 6:30 a.m., Sept. 10. Police contacted the registered owner who advised he unintentionally left the door open.

Police called a tow truck for a driver whose car broke down n Post Road Sept. 10.

Police notified Con Edison about a broken tension wire that became detached from a utility pole on Popham Road Sept, 10.

Police put caution tape on a low hanging wire over Fenimore Road Sept. 11.

A fallen tree branch pulled down wires on Innes Road Sept. 13. Patrol taped off the area for safety and notified the utility company.

A construction fence fell over on Wakefield Road and was partially blocking the roadway Sept. 12. Police were unable to move the fence; so they put caution tape around it to alert motorists. Upon notification, the builder said he would move the fence as soon as possible.

Eleven cars accidents were reported in the village this week.

Civil matter
A Mamaroneck Road woman complained that her Lenox Place neighbor might be doing stonework in her backyard without a permit Sept. 9. She reported it to the building department and claimed she was advised to contact police. She told police her neighbor threatened her after learning she reported the work to the building department. Patrol contacted the Lenox Place homeowner who said his sprinkler system had "exploded" and he was doing work to repair it. He said he was unaware he needed a permit for such work. He denied threatening the woman. He said he would contact the woman to discuss any misunderstanding between the two of them.

Village code
Police issued a summons to a solicitor on Lincoln Road because he did not have a permit Sept. 9.

A Penn Blvd resident complained about a solicitor Sept. 10. Police spoke with the man who was attempting to collect charitable donations. He said he was unaware of village requirements for a permit and promised to obtain a permit as soon as possible.

A pill got stuck in an Aspen Road man's throat at 12:30 a.m., Sept. 11. His wife called police, and Scarsdale Volunteer Ambulance Corps and patrol officers were dispatched. Before they arrived, the man managed to dislodge the pill himself. No further medical help was necessary.

Lost and found
A caller reported an abandoned backpack in the gazebo behind the library Sept. 7 The backpack had holes, contained damaged items and smelled bad. Police discarded it as trash.

On Sept. 10, a Woods Lane woman reported her son lost his iPhone. He last had it on Sept. 2 when he was on his way to school. He did not remember where he last placed the phone.

An employee of a village business found a wallet on Eat Parkway. Police returned it to its Garth Road owner Sept. 12. The owner confirmed nothing was missing from the wallet.

Fire
An outdoor fireplace was causing a smoke odor on Stratton Road Sept. 7. Firefighters evaluated the fire and determined it was safe and under control.

A reported natural gas odor was caused by a recently sealed driveway on Penn Blvd Sept. 7.

Con Edison was notified about a boiler leaking gas on Fox Meadow Road Sept. 7.

An instant hot water maker overheated and burned in a Cayuga Road house Sept. 8. Firefighters disconnected the appliance and advised replacing it.

Firefighters disconnected a malfunctioning stove in a Clarence Road house Sept. 9. They advised replacing the appliance.

A gasoline can was leaking in a Tompkins Road garage Sept. 9. Firefighters poured the remaining gasoline into the resident's car and advised the resident to discard the leaking canister.

A carbon monoxide monitor was chirping in a Birchall Drive house Sept. 9. The homeowner complained of a headache. Firefighters did not detect any carbon monoxide in the house. An odor of paint was present due to extensive painting work in the house. Firefighters advised the homeowner to ventilate the house.

A village employee locked her keys inside her office Sept. 10. Firefighters assisted her in getting into her office.

A Barker Lane resident accidentally got locked out of an interior room in her house Sept. 12. Firefighters used hand tools to get inside the room.

Firefighters stood by for Con Edison at the site of fallen electrical wires on River Road Sept. 12. Firefighters assisted in cutting up a tree limb that fell and brought the wires down.

This week, firefighters assisted at seven car accidents in the village and on parkways. They responded to 17 false fire alarms and/or carbon monoxide alarms caused by device malfunction, cooking smoke, cleaning chemicals and shower steam.

This report covering police and fire department activity from Sept. 7-13 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.