Sneak Thief May be Stealing Money, Computers from Village Houses

It appears that someone may be entering houses to steal money and valuables.
Sometime between 7:15 p.m., Sept. 29 and 11:30 a.m., Sept. 30, someone took a wallet from a Rock Creek Lane woman's purse. At 7:15 p.m., the woman paid her daughter's math tutor by removing money from the wallet, placing the wallet back in inside her purse and putting the purse next to the front door. Sometime later, the woman's daughter heard a noise inside the house and assumed it was something falling to the floor. At 11:30 a.m., the woman discovered her wallet was missing. The woman is certain she placed the wallet back inside her purse and believed it was stolen.

On Oct. 2, a Hamilton Road woman reported someone entered her house and stole her MacBook Air laptop computer sometime after midnight, Oct. 1, when she used it to check the weather. She left the computer on a desk in the dining room before going to bed. At 7 a.m., Oct. 2, she left her house and returned at 11 p.m. to notice the laptop and plug were missing. From 7:30 – 9:30 a.m., the house was left unlocked because her husband was sleeping upstairs. When he left the house at 9:30, he armed the security system.

Another similar incident was reported by a Hamilton Road couple on Oct. 3. The couple said they believed someone unlawfully entered their house and stole things. At 7 a.m., Oct. 1, the husband noticed $40 cash had been removed from his kitchen counter. He said he placed he money in a rubber band with credit cards there the night before. In the morning, the money was missing, but the credit cards were still there. The doors near the kitchen may have been unlocked and their alarm system might have been disarmed around 6:30 a.m., Oct. 1, the couple said. Later that day, the wife noticed dirty footprints on a white family room rug. She thought her husband left the footprints, but later deduced they might have belonged to the suspect. They were traced from a door near the driveway, through the family room, to an entertainment console there. On Friday evening, Oct. 2, the husband noticed his Macbook Air laptop was missing. It was last seen on the entertainment console in the family room on the evening of Oct. 1.

In response to a letter from a reader, Scarsdale10583 asked the police for more information about the burglaries. Here is what we learned: "In at least one case a resident was home at the time of the incident. Chief Matturro spoke at a SNAP meeting and advised them of the burglaries that have occurred in their neighborhoods. He mentioned a few steps to take, and asked that they be passed on to the residents. These include, but are not limited to, making sure all doors and windows are locked, valuables such as computers, pocketbooks, wallets, etc. are not visible through any window, and he reminded everyone that if they have an alarm, to make sure it is armed. The department has also increased patrol in the areas of Drake/Edgewood and Berkeley neighborhoods."

D.O.A.
John A. Park III, of Montgomery Road, died at home Oct. 3. He was 63.

Identity theft
A Rugby Lane woman used her American Express card to pay a parking fee for Merchant Lot at the municipal meter there Oct. 2. The charge was $7. Several hours later, the woman was checking her credit card activity online and noticed three additional charges made to the Village of Scarsdale, ranging from $4 to $7. On Oct. 3., the woman noticed 11 additional unauthorized charges, totaling approximately $65, to the Village of Scarsdale. The woman contacted American Express and learned the last 11 charges were "manually keyed into the meter at or around 3 a.m., Oct. 3. Patrol advised the woman to closely monitor her finances.

Con Edison
A Tisdale Road woman called police when a person knocked on her door at 8:45 a.m., Sept. 29. Patrol investigated the scene and found Con Edison working nearby. One worker said he needed to check for a possible gas leak inside the woman's house. Police assisted with this. There was no gas found inside the house.

Trees
A Richbell Road woman called police because a neighbor's landscaper was cutting trees, and she claimed that one tree belonged to her. When the landscaper was advised, he stopped work until the matter could be clarified with Village Hall.

Facebook
An Edgewood woman reported an alarming message on her Facebook account Sept. 29. The woman said she has been receiving nonsensical messages from made-up accounts on her Facebook account for about two years. On Sept. 29, she received a message from an unknown person stating, "If you take a pic of your knee socks, I won't annoy you anymore, I promise." She ignored the message. However, later in the day, after the woman returned home, she received another message. It stated: "Can you take a pic of your knee socks now since you are home? Then I won't message you anymore." This message concerned the woman because it suggested the message writer knew the woman's whereabouts. The woman said that shortly after she received the strange messages, the user's account becomes inactive. Patrol offered to conduct extra ridebys of the woman's house as a precaution.

Missing person, dementia
An elderly woman with dementia was reported as missing from a School Lane house Sept. 30. Police broadcast an alert to neighboring jurisdictions and the woman was found in Greenburgh. She had apparently wandered away from the house on foot. Police picked up the woman and drove her home, where she was reunited with her daughter. Patrol advised the family of services offered by the Project Lifesaver program that may be helpful.

On Oct. 3, a caller asked police to help him convince his 88-year-old wife, who suffers from dementia, to get inside his car and go home from Boniface Circle. He did not request assistance from Scarsdale Volunteer Ambulance Corps because a nurse was scheduled to meet them at their house. Police spoke with the man's wife, and she agreed to go home.

An Elmdorf Drive woman with dementia advised police she wanted to go to a hotel for the night on Oct. 3. Scarsdale Volunteer Ambulance Corps responded, and the woman agreed to go to White Plains Hospital for evaluation instead.

Taxi drivers
Two employees of Central Taxi were arguing and one allegedly slightly shoved the other on Sept. 30. One driver called police and asked police to speak to the other driver. After conversing with the drivers, police notified the taxi company owner to deal with the employee dispute.

Pedestrian struck
At 3:40 p.m., a mail truck struck a Garth Road woman crossing Popham Road. The truck, driven by a 28-year-old Bronx man, was turning right from East Parkway onto Popham Road when the accident occurred. The driver said he did not see the pedestrian because his view was partially obstructed by his side view mirror.

Unnecessary calls
On Oct. 2, a patient in a New York City hospital called Scarsdale police to say he was at NYU and needed security. He asked police to conduct a welfare check of his home in Scarsdale. A sergeant spoke with hospital staff who said the patient had been admitted, and they would speak with him about refraining from calling Scarsdale police while in their care. The patient's mother was notified about her son calling the police desk with no legitimate purpose.

Car damage
While taking down a power line on Palmer Avenue, a tree branch fell and damaged a parked car Oct. 3. The patrol desk notified the Con Edison crew.

Damaged screen
A Kingston Road woman noticed a damaged screen at her house Oct. 4. Police examined the screen and did not think the damage was criminal in nature.

Cars and roadways
Police informed highway workers about a fallen tree branch on Griffen Avenue Sept. 30.
Police taped off an area around a fallen tree branch and phone wires on Thornwood Place Sept. 30. The highway department was notified for removal.
After a person complained about a pothole on Rural Drive, police and a highway department supervisor determined the hole was filled according to village guidelines and protocol Sept. 30.
Police readjusted the placement of a traffic sign at Fenimore and Brewster roads to aid drivers' visibility Sept. 30.
Police removed a broken muffler from Heathcote Road Sept. 30.
Patrol helped a driver pick up car keys from a mechanic's shop when the driver tried to pick up his keys after the shop was closed Sept. 30. Patrol contacted the shop owner who returned to the shop and gave the driver his keys.
Police notified Verizon about a fallen phone wire on Franklin Road Oct. 1.
A Reynal Crossing resident reported an erratic driver drove onto his lawn while passing another car Oct.1. The car was described as an older model dark gray Toyota SUV with a damaged headlight on the driver's side.
Patrol stood by while a flat tire was changed at Mamaroneck and Brookby roads Oct. 1.
Police notified the highway department about a fallen tree branch on Griffen Avenue Oct. 2.
A car driving approximately 10 mph hit the curb twice on Heathcote Road at 9 p.m., Oct. 2. Police stopped the car, and the driver said his windshield defogger had stopped working, and the driver could not see out the window. Patrol helped the driver get the defogger to start working again.
Patrol called a tow for a disabled car on Post Road Oct. 3.
Police helped an elderly Cooper Road resident remove a fallen tree branch from her driveway Oct. 3.
Eight car accidents were reported in the village this week.

Dogs
A black dog was loose on Sharon Lane Sept. 28. Residents recognized the dog and said it belonged to a Sharon Lane neighbor. Attempts to contact the owner were unsuccessful. Patrol, however, discovered a back door ajar and put the dog back in the owner's house.
A Nelson Road woman contacted police to follow-up on a Roosevelt Place dog complaint Sept. 30. The woman stated the dog was dangerous, had attacked other dogs and is sometimes on Edgewood School grounds. Police records indicate the dog had reportedly attacked other dogs in January and June this year, but the owners of the other dogs refused to file paperwork to document the incidents or have police intervene. Police will conduct extra ridebys of Edgewood School due to checks for dogs on school property.

Village code
Patrol found a landscaper's advertising sign nailed to a telephone pole at the intersection of Post Road and Boulevard Sept. 30. Patrol removed the sign and vouchered it at headquarters. A summons was issued to the company that posted the sign.
Police issued a summons for improper use of a gas-powered leaf blower to landscapers working on Gaylor Road and Palmer Avenue Sept. 30.
A Hickory Lane man was asked to lower the volume of outdoor music at 5:21 a.m., Oct. 3. Apparently the sound system malfunctioned and turned on by itself.

Fire
Firefighters investigated a possibly faulty stove and electrical issue in a Lyons Road house Sept. 28. A gas knob was found to be in a partially open position, and firefighters discovered a faulty circuit breaker in the house. The homeowner was advised to call an electrician.

Firefighters shut gas and the electrical connection to a faulty stove in a Wildwood Road house Sept. 29. Con Edison was on scene to check the gas connection.

A child's hand got stuck between an elevator door and its wall sensor at Hoff Barthelson School Sept. 29. Police and firefighters used a pry bar to release the child's hand. Scarsdale Volunteer Ambulance Corps was on scene, attending to the child. The elevator appeared to be functioning normally.

Firefighters determined a reported natural gas odor on Fairview Road was actually caused by an outdoor skunk Sept. 29.

An Eastwoods Lane resident reported a cat stuck in a tree at an elevation of approximately 35 feet Sept. 30. Firefighters observed the cat on a tree limb and advised the cat would come down on its own when ready. If the resident was unable to wait, firefighters suggested she call a tree service to attempt the cat's removal.

The elevator in Christie Place garage was not coming when called Oct. 1. Firefighters placed the elevator out of service and notified Village officials to contact a repairperson.

The driver of a tractor trailer accidentally locked his keys inside the cab while making a delivery to a Scarsdale Avenue business Oct. 1. The tractor trailer was blocking the flow of traffic; so firefighters used a lock out kit to open the door. The driver was then able to move the tractor trailer and continue on his way.

Spilled oil in an oven started a cooking fire in a Church Lane house Oct. 1. The fire was out before firefighters arrived. Firefighters checked the kitchen and confirmed everything was in good order.

A Murray Hill Road resident reported a gas odor in the house Oct. 1. Firefighters instead found a sewage odor with no obvious cause. Since Con Edison had also been called, they arrived to follow up.

A furnace burner overheated and released smoke in a Fayette Road house Oct. 2. Firefighters ventilated the house.

A Claremont Road resident was using a wood insert to burn a fire in a fireplace Oct. 2. The fire caused smoke which activated a smoke detector inside the house. Firefighters extinguished the wood insert and advised the resident to have the insert and flue checked.

After a puff back, firefighters shut off a boiler and ventilated a Brite Avenue house Oct. 2.

Firefighters stood by for Con Edison at the site of burning wires on Tompkins Road Oct. 3.

Firefighters evacuated a Paddington Road house because elevated levels of carbon monoxide were measured by detectors Oct. 3. Firefighters shut down the house's heating system, which had recently been turned on, and they ventilated the entire space. Con Edison was notified for follow up to check the safety of the appliances.

Firefighters stood by for Con Edison at the site of a gas odor in a Fox Meadow Road garage Oct. 4.

Firefighters assisted at five car accidents in the village and on parkways. They responded to one false carbon monoxide alarm and 19 false fire alarms caused by device malfunction, cooking smoke, shower steam, construction dust, a battery change and burnt waffles.

This report covering public safety department activity from Sept. 28 – Oct. 4 was complied from official information.

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