Police Report: Jewelry Stolen During Sylvan Road Burglary

Burglary: On Sept. 14, a Sylvan Road resident reported her house had been burglarized sometime between 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. The perpetrator had entered the house through a piece of ripped plastic that had been momentarily set up as a dining room wall while renovations were taking place. The master bedroom had been entered, and a Sentry safe had been pried open and its contents were removed. Other jewelry was also stolen from the house.

DWI arrests
On Sept. 15, police arrested Arthur Harris Funchess, 41, of the Bronx, on charges of driving while intoxicated (first offense), resisting arrest, second-degree obstruction of government administration, driving to the left of pavement markings and following too close. The arrest occurred after police observed Funchess’s 2013 Honda Pilot accelerate rapidly and almost rear-end a truck after a red light turned green on Post Road. The car then went around the truck and made an “excessively wide” right turn. Police conducted a traffic stop and noted visible signs of intoxication. Field sobriety tests were conducted, which Funchess either failed or resisted completing. An alco-sensor test measured Funchess’s blood alcohol content at .18. According to the arrest report, Funchess was being belligerent with police. He was allegedly using obscenities and refusing to exit the patrol car after he was taken to headquarters. It took four officers to pull him from the car after he refused to exit the car on his own, according to the arrest report. Funchess was so uncooperative, that he refused to be fingerprinted, photographed or submit to a Datamaster test. He verbally threatened to kill officers, purposely urinated on the cellblock floor and aggressively kicked the cell wall and door. He was placed under constant supervision and monitored by video. He was arraigned at Scarsdale Village Justice Court and remanded to Westchester County Jail, pending his follow-up court date.

On Sept. 16, police arrested Nikola Ruprechtova, 23, of Scarsdale, on charges of driving while intoxicated (first offense), operation of a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol level of at least .08 of one percent, speeding in zone and moving from a lane unsafely. Police conducted a traffic stop after observing Ruprechtova’s car speed on Post Road and cross over the double yellow line a few times after making a right turn. Her breath smelled of alcohol, and she said she had one cider drink two hours ago in White Plains. Ruprechtova failed field sobriety tests. An alco-sensor test, which was later followed up by a Datamaster test at headquarters, indicated a blood alcohol content of .14. Following arrest processing, Ruprechtova was released on her own recognizance, with an appearance ticket for Scarsdale Village Justice Court, returnable Sept. 19.

Vehicle and traffic arrest
On Sept. 15, police arrested Stefany Sanchez, 26, of White Plains, on charges of second-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle with three or more open suspensions within three months, operation of a motor vehicle using a portable electronic device and an uninspected motor vehicle. Police conducted a traffic stop after observing Sanchez drive past patrol while holding her cell phone in her hand near her face. She told police she had been checking her texts, in an attempt to reach her boss. Police noted Sanchez’s car displayed an expired inspection sticker. A database search indicated Sanchez’s license had been suspended five times with four scoffs on three different dates. Following her arrest, Sanchez was released on her own recognizance with a return court date scheduled for Sept. 19. Her car was parked at a parking meter space, and her boyfriend picked her up.

Stolen
On Sept. 10, a woman alleged that $700 had been stolen out of her handbag while she was at an Overhill Road doctor’s office Sept. 8.

On Sept. 15, an event coordinator said he had left some event equipment, including eight LED screen panels, at Fenway Golf Club’s ballroom, on Secor Road, overnight and found they were stolen when he returned to pick them up the next morning.

Identity theft
On Sept. 10, a Spruce Lane resident reported someone used her personal information to charge approximately $6,000 worth of merchandise at a Lord and Taylor store in Rockaway, NJ, Sept. 3. The store is investigating a video of the transaction.

On Sept. 11, an Overhill Road caller reported someone is Dallas, TX, attempted to use her Nordstrom credit card information to make fraudulent transactions Sept. 11.
A fraudulent check, for $1,750, was cashed at Webster Bank on Popham Road Sept. 14. The bank refunded the money to the account holder and is absorbing the loss.
On Sept. 15, a Paddington Road man reported that $1,900 had been illegally transferred out of his bank account to an unknown account without his permission Sept. 14. The bank’s fraud department closed the man’s account and is following up.

Missing person
A father reported his son ran away from his house in West Hartford, and he asked police to check the mother’s Edgewood house around 6 a.m., Sept. 11. Police checked the house and the boy was not there. Eventually, the boy notified his father that he took a bus to White Plains, where the father had an apartment. The boy’s mother went to White Plains to meet her son.

Harassment
A Greenacres resident reported a man she met at Westchester Community College was sending her inappropriate messages via cell phone texts Sept. 13. The woman broke off all communication with the man independently.

Lights
A passerby was concerned about rapidly flicking lights near the front entrance of a Sprague Road house Sept. 10. The homeowner said she would ask her husband to fix the lights in the near future. Nothing was suspicious.

Woods
A passerby reported a suspicious person in the “woods” near Heathcote Road Sept. 13. According to police who went to the scene, the person was picking up bottles and cans in the woods.

Hoarder
An elderly village resident asked for police help in getting into her house Sept. 13. The front door was warped, and a police officer needed to push the door open with his shoulder. Once inside, the officer observed numerous boxes, items, and garbage that were so piled up that the officer could not move without moving items. A damaged ceiling was also observed. He asked to see the rest of the house, but the resident refused. She stated, “It’s only a little mess.” Patrol contacted the resident’s adult daughter, who said she did not know what to do about her mother’s “hoarding” condition. The police officer referred the matter to the SPD older adult advocate for follow-up.

Showing
A Wakefield Road man reported a real estate agent had entered his house without proper permission Sept. 15. The man said the house was listed for sale, but the agreement with the real estate agent stated that showings could only occur with prior approval. Patrol spoke with the real estate listing agent, and she thought clearance had been given for the showing. She and the agent who made the showing were apologetic about the miscommunication. Police determined there was no criminal intent regarding the matter.

Cars and roadways
The highway department was notified about a fallen tree on Herkimer Road Sept. 11.

Metal road plates were out of position on Weaver Street Sept. 11. Police notified Con Edison and the construction company responsible for the work. Police directed traffic around the scene in the meantime.

On Sept. 12, police collected unnecessary cones from a work site on Edgewood Road.

An unattended recycle bag was discovered on Weaver Street and discarded Sept. 13.
Police notified the department of transportation about a malfunctioning traffic light at Post and Heathcote roads Sept. 13.

An SOS button was accidentally activated in a Lexus on Chase Road Sept. 14. Police helped the driver reset the button.

The alarm of a parked car was going off intermittently Sept. 14. A key holder notified the owner, who said he was in New York City and would address the matter as soon as he could get home.

Police replaced a loose manhole cover on Wynmor Road and asked the highway department to assist in securing it Sept. 14.

Due to insufficient flaggers for a paving work zone on Post Road, patrol advised the job foreman to shrink the job until more flaggers could be arranged Sept. 15.

Patrol tracked down the owner of a Mercedes parked with its engine running on Eastwoods Lane and got the owner to turn off the car’s ignition Sept. 15.

Seven car accidents were reported in the village this week.

Animals
A Palmer Avenue woman reported six raccoons in her yard Sept. 11. She said she was afraid to go outside because she thought the raccoons might attack her. Police arrived, and the raccoons ran away. Patrol advised the woman to refrain from leaving her garbage cans out overnight.

Fox sightings were confirmed on Brewster Road Sept. 12 and Post Road Sept. 16.

On Sept. 14, a caller reported students were trying to take photos of – and with – and a fox on Turf Field at Scarsdale High School Sept. 14. High School security was on scene and remained until a pest control company arrived to trap and pick up the fox.

Village code
Police issued summonses to landscapers using gas-powered blowers in violation of village code on Fox Meadow Road Sept. 12, Popham Road Sept. 13 and Garden Road April 14.

Police issued a summons to a contractor using power equipment outside designated working hours on Park Road Sept. 16.

Lost and found
A passerby found a blue lunch bag containing a cell phone and a Metro North employee ID on the Popham Road Bridge Sept. 11. Police gave the bag to another Metro North employee who said he would deliver the bag to its owner.

An elderly man asked police to help him look for his lost glasses and umbrella, which he lost somewhere in the wooded area near Garth Road Sept. 13. Police could not locate the items, but they helped the man arrange for a taxi to take him home.

An elderly man asked police to help him find his eye glasses, which he reported dropping near the intersection of the Bronx River, Popham Road and Garth Road. Police canvassed the area, found the glasses and returned them to the man.

A Carstensen Road man reported losing his wallet, with his driver’s license, Green card and a bank debit card, somewhere in the village Sept. 16.

Firefighters
This week firefighters responded to 28 incidents according to Fire Chief James Seymour. Several of these incidents are detailed below.
A faulty dehumidifier was smoking in an Old Colony Road building in Greenburgh Sept. 10. Firefighters removed the dehumidifier from the basement and confirmed the building was safe.

Firefighters assisted Scarsdale Volunteer Ambulance Corps gain entry to a Meadow Road house to assist in removing an injured person to an ambulance Sept. 10.

Firefighters assisted with two car accidents Sept. 12. One was on the Hutchinson River Parkway, and the other was on Mamaroneck Road, in which a driver hit a hydrant.

A stovetop burner was accidentally left in the “on” position without the burner being lit Sept. 14. Firefighters called Con Edison to check the stove.

Firefighters shut gas to a malfunctioning gas firebox in a Brookby Road house Sept. 16. They disconnected the box’s remote received and advised the homeowner to replace the unit.

This report covering police and fire department activity from Sept. 10-16 has been 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.