Computers stolen in Madison Road burglary

Three laptop computers were stolen from a Madison Road house during a burglary Jan. 30. The homeowners reported leaving the house, dark and unlocked, at 2:40 p.m. They returned at 7 p.m. and found the house ransacked. The house does not have a security alarm. The rear patio door was slightly ajar, and footprints were visible in the snow. A trail of dirt on the basement floor led from a window into the house. The basement window was determined to be the point of entry, but it showed no sign of force. One laptop was located inside a computer bag at the base of the stairs. Two other laptops were upstairs in an office. Police are investigating.

Stolen sink
On Jan. 25, a Post Road man reported someone removed a $500 vintage cast iron sink from his driveway. The sink was not attached to any plumbing, he said. Instead it was a stand-alone item that was used to clean items that he did not want to wash in his regular sink and possibly clog the drain. All waste water from the cast iron sink simply drained onto his driveway. According to the man's neighbor, a green van drove up the man's driveway between 3:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m., Jan. 15. Two men got out and put the sink in the van before they drove away. Construction work has been ongoing at the neighbor's house, and the man believes one of the contractors must have informed the scrap collectors of the sink's presence, since the sink was not visible from the road. The man asked his neighbor's contractors if they knew anything about the missing sink, and they denied it.

Stolen bicycle
On Jan. 29, a $600 Gary Fisher bicycle and $50 helmet were stolen from the bicycle rack across from Starbuck's on East Parkway. Their owner – a Montgomery Road man – said he locked both items to the rack at 8 a.m. When he returned around 5:45 p.m., the lock had been cut and the items were gone.

Car break-in and attempted car break-in
An Eton Road woman's 2013 Acura was broken into and her handbag was stolen while the car was parked on Huntington Avenue during an evening event at Greenacres School Jan. 25. The handbag had been in plain view in the car's backseat. A rock was found inside the car; however the woman did not know if it had been there prior to the incident or if it had been used to break her car's front passenger window and thus gain access to the handbag.

A possible attempted car break-in was reported by a Heathcote Road resident at 6:30 a.m., Jan. 29. The resident said she looked out her house window and saw a man standing in her driveway by one of her cars. The man apparently tried to get into the car and the car alarm began sounding. At that time, the men got into a silver colored, four-door sedan and fled. He was described as approximately six feet tall, with a darker skin tone – possibly Hispanic or black – and wearing dark sweats and a dark beanie cap. Police canvassed the area but were not able to locate him.

Driver arrested
After stopping a Mercedes Benz for non-functioning tail lights on Mamaroneck Road Jan. 26, patrol checked the driver's license and learned he had twenty suspensions and revocations within the last year. Most suspensions were issued for failing to answer summonses and failure to pay fines in Queens and Bronx counties. Patrol arrested the driver – James Daniel Kelly, 42, of Trumball, Connecticut – on the charge of second-degree unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle. He was booked at headquarters and later released on $100 cash bail, with a February 3 appearance ticket for Scarsdale Village Justice Court.

Scam
A Weaver Street resident reported someone posing as a computer technician installed Malware on his computer and fraudulently gained access to his financial information Jan. 30. It started with an email advising the man to call a number with regard to a threat of computer viruses. The man called the number and a supposed technician remotely accessed the man's computer and spent about 30 minutes looking through files and installing software. The technician then asked for the man's checking account number and bank routing information to charge him $500. Shortly thereafter, the man suspected the incident was a scam and cancelled the payment through his bank. He took his computer to an Apple store, where an employee confirmed that Malware had been installed on the computer and removed it.

Family matter
An elderly woman called police to report her adult daughter had taken her purse and would not let her leave their house Jan. 29. When patrol arrived at the house, the daughter had returned the purse, and the mother was getting ready to leave the house for a physical therapy appointment, accompanied by a health aide. Patrol advised the daughter she should not behave in the manner in which she was behaving. The daughter said she believes her mother has dementia and should not be going out for hours at a time. Then, the daughter asked for someone to measure her blood pressure. She denied being in need of emergency care and said she was not experiencing a medical emergency. She said she was only curious about her blood pressure level. Patrol advised her this request would be an improper use of emergency medical services and she should make a doctor's appointment if she wanted to know more about her blood pressure.

Bomb threat
Someone made a bomb threat at Scarsdale High School Jan. 29. Police investigated the school and determined there was no threat to life or property.

Unwanted visitors
An Old Lyme Road resident reported two men were outside his house, asking for money, Jan. 25. The resident said he knew one of the men, identified as "Dred," but he no longer wished to have contact with him. Patrol advised the resident to cease all communication with "Dred" and inform him the police would be called upon his next unwelcome visit.

On Jan. 29, the manager of HSBC Bank on Popham Road reported an elderly couple was causing commotion and refusing to leave the bank. The couple alleged bank employees had the wife's prescription glasses and would not return them. They also alleged the bank was withholding medical documents from them. Police and the bank manager explained that the wife's glasses were not found at the bank and the bank was not in the business of dealing with medical documents. The police department's older adult advocate is following up with the couple.

Patrol stood by while New Rochelle police advised a man to leave the area around Dunkin' Donuts on Weaver Street because he was shouting and causing a disturbance Jan. 29. The man said he lives locally and proceeded to walk home.

Bicycles
After a fire captain reported seeing "youths" riding bicycles on Post Road, without lights and against traffic, around 11 p.m., Jan. 26, patrol stopped the individuals out of concern for their safety. According to the report, the two individuals were not youths and appeared to be adults of sound mind. The man was pedaling a bike with a woman on the pegs of the bike. They were riding northbound, against traffic. Patrol suggested they ride on the northbound lane and travel with traffic. The woman told the officer she did not want to listen to him or take his advice. She stated there were no sidewalks cleared for them to ride their bikes. According to the report, "she appeared rather angry" about being stopped and given safety advice.

Ride home
A Circle Road woman said a man knocked at her door, seemed suspicious and refused her offer to help him if he needed any assistance at 3 p.m., Jan. 29. Police caught up with the man on Circle Road. He said he was lost in the area and wanted to go home. Police checked his background, which came back clean, and offered him a courtesy ride to White Plains.

Directions
A suspicious woman wearing a headscarf knocked on the door of an Old Lyme Road house, mentioned the resident's mother's name and asked the resident for directions around 7 p.m., Jan. 30. The resident's mother advised her to close and lock the door. The woman left the area. Police canvassed the neighborhood for the woman but she was nowhere to be found.

A Bradford Road resident made contact with two people sitting in an older 3-series BMW parked outside the resident's house at 7:30 p.m., Jan. 30. The people told the resident they were lost. They drove away when the caller asked why they were parked on his street.

An erratic driver on School Lane said he was lost and looking for the way back to Manhattan at 7:45 a.m., Jan. 31. As a courtesy, police escorted the driver to the Bronx River Parkway entrance.

Neighbors
A Roosevelt Place woman said her neighbor and his son have been walking across her property, without her permission and without heeding a note she sent to the neighbor, requesting him to stop. Specifically, the woman said she has seen her neighbor either send his son across her property toward Edgewood School, which he attends, or her neighbor accompanies his across her property. She told police she thinks it is dangerous because the boy darts across Roosevelt Place. After sending her neighbor a note, the woman said she received a "bizarre" note in return, but she did not elaborate on the contents. Caller said since sending the note, she now sees her neighbor looking into the rear of her house from his property, making her and her children uncomfortable. Additionally, there is now a fishing line strung up between the two properties and possibly a camera, she said. Patrol attempted contact the neighbor, but he was not home.

Rifle surrender
A Beechwood Lane resident brought a hunting rifle to headquarters, for the purpose of surrendering it Jan. 29. The resident said he owned the rifle for more than 30 years and wanted police to destroy it or accept it as a donation.

Welfare check
At the request of a concerned acquaintance, police checked the welfare of a Fox Meadow Road man Jan. 31. The man's son was notified when police could not make contact with the man. The son checked on his father and advised his father was fine. He further explained that his father's answering machine was not functioning properly.

Taxi fare
A taxi driver stopped patrol on Garth Road to report a passenger did not pay his fare at 4:30 a.m., Jan. 31. The driver showed patrol the house that the passenger entered after he exited the taxi. The house was in the jurisdiction of Yonkers; so patrol notified Yonkers police. Patrol advised the driver to wait for Yonkers PD and to not take any action in the meantime.

Cars and roadways
A car parked in front of a Ridgecrest North house for more than 15 minutes at 12:20 a.m., Jan. 25, was occupied by an au pair who resides at a neighbor's house and the au pair's boyfriend. They said they were talking before parting for the night. They apologized for causing any concern or inconvenience.

Police issued a parking summons to the owner of a Buick blocking the Chase Road post office driveway Jan. 25.

A caller complained of ice on the sidewalk of Fenimore Road Jan. 25. Patrol notified the department of public works for proper treatment and removal.

Police issued a parking summons to the owner of a gray Honda pilot, parked in violation of overnight parking rules, Jan. 26.

Police called a tow for a blue Hyundai that broke down at the corner of Post and Olmsted roads Jan. 29. The car was towed to the library parking lot to await roadside assistance.

Parked cars were hindering traffic flow on Madison Road Jan. 30. Police contacted the car owners and asked them to move their cars.

Police and firefighters closed an open manhole on Lincoln Road Jan. 31. Patrol notified the highway department for repair.

Seven car accidents were reported in the village this week.

Village code
After midnight on Jan. 30, a Wayside Lane resident complained of music being played over loudspeakers at Fox Meadow Tennis Club. At the club, police encountered a man who was having a party with some friends inside the clubhouse. The music did not seem excessive, according to the police report. Patrol reminded the man to keep the noise level reasonable so it would not disturb anyone.

Civil matter
On Jan. 30, an elderly Saxon Woods resident reported she was having issues with the staff of the assisted living facility where she lived. Police determined the issues were not criminal in nature and advised her to voice her concerns with management.

Lost and found
A Garden Road woman reported she left a brand new $500 Bottega Veneta wallet in a shopping bag on a Metro North train Jan. 30. She contacted Metro North's "Lost and Found" department, and a representative said the wallet had not been turned in. In order to receive insurance reimbursement from American Express, the woman needed a police report.

A passerby found a set of keys in the snow on a Depot Place path near the train station Jan. 30. Police vouchered the keys for safekeeping.

Fire
Con Edison was dispatched to Stratton Road because of a reported gas odor Jan. 25.
Similarly, Con Edison was dispatched to Meadow Road because of a reported gas odor Jan. 26.

Firefighters found a gas leak at an exterior gas meter at a Boulevard house Jan. 26. They stood by for Con Edison.

A broken water discharge pipe to a sump pump was leaking in a Palmer Avenue house Jan. 27. Firefighters shut power to the sump pump while the resident stood by for a plumber.

Firefighters helped a Greenacres Avenue resident rectify a problem with a clogged stove igniter Jan. 27.

A Tory Lane resident asked firefighters to check her furnace because it was making loud noises Jan. 27. Firefighters shut off the unit while the resident waited for a professional service technician.

Firefighters stood by for Con Edison at the site of a natural gas odor at an Autenreith Road house.

A Westview Lane resident extinguished a grease fire by covering the cooking pan with a lid Jan. 28. Firefighters checked for extension of the fire and found all nearby walls and cabinets to be safe. While firefighters were at the house, the homeowner asked firefighters to check an unusual smell in a basement closet, where the natural gas meter was located. Firefighters detected a musty smell in the closet, but there was no odor of gas. Nevertheless, Con Edison was summoned at the homeowner's request.

Firefighters stood by for Con Edison at the unrelated sites of a hissing pressure reducer valve on Boulevard and an outdoor natural gas odor on Garden Road Jan. 28.

Firefighters stood by for Con Edison at the site of a heavy gas odor coming from a Con Edison excavation site Jan. 28.

Firefighters assisted Con Edison check Seneca Road houses for possible gas infiltration after a leak was found at a curb box on the street Jan. 31.

This week, firefighters assisted at five car accidents. They responded to one false carbon monoxide alarm and 11 false fire alarms, caused by device malfunction, cooking smoke and a battery change.

This report covering police and fire department activity from Jan. 25-31 was compiled from official information.

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