Police Report: Trespassers Arrested; Range Rover Stolen; Resident Scammed into Sending $300 Abroad, Social Distancing and Construction Violations

Arrested: On April 15, in follow-up to an investigation into two suspects trespassing on a Meadow Road property in April 9, police arrested Emiljan Drekaj, 26, of the Bronx, and Joland Gjeka, 22, of the Bronx. Drekaj was charged with trespassing and felonious second-degree possession of a forged instrument, due to the display of fraudulent Alabama temporary tags on the 2005 Maserati he was driving. The car was initially impounded at the time of Drekaj’s arrest, but it was later released after ownership documents were provided. Drekaj was released on his own recognizance with an appearance ticket to return to Scarsdale Village Justice Court on June 3. Gjeka was charged with trespassing, a violation, and released with an appearance ticket for Scarsdale Village Justice Court on June 3.

Stolen car
A Catherine Road man reported his $70,000 2019 Range Rover was stolen from his driveway in the overnight period of April 14 to 15. The car was most likely left unlocked with the keys inside, as there was no sign of force or broken glass in the area that the theft occurred. Detectives are currently tracking the car in an effort to resolve the case. Police strongly remind the public to lock car doors and refrain from storing valuables inside their cars, as this encourages crimes of opportunity.

Harassment scam
On April 15, a Fox Meadow woman reported receiving threatening text messages and was scammed out $300. The woman said she was contacted by an associate of a person she had done business with at the end of March. This person was demanding $300 per week for medical bills. When the woman initially refused, the associate began to threaten her, stating if she did not pay the money, he would destroy her marriage and kill her. The associate then went on to contact the woman’s husband and a friend of hers. At that point, due to the woman’s fears, she sent $300 cash, by a Western Union wire transfer, to a woman in Colombia, as directed by the associate. Police determined the incident was an example of a scam in which an individual contacts people fraudulently claiming a need to fund medical bills. No threat to public safety is currently suspected.

Shoplifter
On April 17, a DeCicco’s Marketplace employee observed a customer place a bottle of hard lemonade into his pocket. Police were called to confront the customer. Police asked the customer if he had anything in his pocket, and the customer said, “yes.” Police then asked the customer if he was going to pay for it, and he said, “yes.” The owner advised the customer that the store does not sell individual bottles of the hard lemonade – only six packs. The customer then placed the bottle back into the 6-pack carton from which it had been removed. Police escorted the customer out of the store, and he left with his mother.

Theft
On April 18, a Quaker Square resident reported that numerous personal items had been missing from his house for several weeks. These items included at least three passports, debit cards and a $400 cell phone – all of which were being stored in an envelope.

ID theft
On April 14, a Tory Lane woman reported two store credit cards had been opened in her name without her permission. Each card had been used for fraudulent purchases. She cancelled both cards and informed the creditors of the fraudulent activity.

On April 16, a Penn Road resident reported someone used his Social Security number to fraudulently open a credit card account. The account was closed before any charges were incurred.

On April 17, a Highland Way man reported that a collection agency contacted him regarding accumulated unpaid charges on a credit card account that the man neither applied for nor knew about. The fraudulent account was opened in December 2019, and the unpaid balance was sent to collections in March. The man has not experienced any financial loss. Detectives are investigating the possible point of compromise.

Unlawful entry
On April 19, a Palmer Avenue business owner reported that his business appeared to have been unlawfully entered sometime after he temporarily closed the business due to stay-at-home orders April 3. He said he entered the business to check it and noticed mail had been picked up from the floor beneath the mail slot and organized on a desk, a light had been turned on, and $175 cash was missing from a drawer.

Public urination
A Colonial Road resident reported the driver of a food delivery truck was urinating on her front lawn at 5:15 p.m., April 13. Police found the described truck parked on Continental Road, making a delivery, April 13. The driver denied urinating in public. He said he had only been exiting his truck to make deliveries. Nevertheless, police spoke with him about the importance of not urinating in public. Police told him to attempt to find a public restroom instead of relieving himself outdoors.

Flowers
A Boulevard caller reported that he suspected someone cut and took red and yellow tulips from his property April 16. He said he last noticed the tulips intact April 15. Police investigated the area of the suspected tulip theft and determined the tulips had most likely been eaten or damaged by an animal, due to the non-uniform damage of the stems and damage to other plants around the property. Police recommended the caller could install a security camera if he wanted to better monitor goings-on around his property.

Garage door
On April 16, a Palmer Avenue resident reported possible criminal mischief damage to her garage door. Police examined the door and determined the damage was most likely weather-related. Police advised the resident to contact her insurance company.

Dead on arrival
On April 19, a 72-year-old man died at a Saxon Woods Road assisted living residential facility. The nursing staff said they would make appropriate notifications.

Welfare check
At the request of a concerned neighbor, police checked on a Secor Road resident and confirmed she was OK April 16.

Police checked the welfare of a Mayflower Road resident and confirmed she was OK April 16.

Construction and landscaping work
As per NYS social distancing pandemic regulations, police confirmed that only one worker was present at construction sites on Vernon Road April 13.

On April 14, three men were standing at least two meters away from each other and discussing proposed work at a Wheelock Road construction site. While police were on scene, two men left the scene, and the one remaining man stated that only one laborer would be working on the job site at a time.

Police received a complaint about non-essential landscaping work being performed at a Sherbrooke Road house April 14. On scene, police saw a truck delivering items to be planted. The truck left when police arrived. The homeowner said he would contact the building department to ask for permission to perform any kind of similar work in the future.

Police confirmed that only one worker was working to repair an outside gate on Sherbrooke Road April 14.

A contractor proved he had approval from the engineering department to complete a utility hookup at a Morris Lane job site, in order to ensure essential integrity of the job site April 15.

Landscapers on Tompkins Road were reported to be gathering without masks on April 16. Police went to the scene and observed several landscapers maintaining personal distances of at least six feet and drinking coffee. Therefore, their masks had been lowered. While police were still on scene, the landscapers finished their coffee, raised their masks into position and resumed their work while maintaining social distancing.
On April 16, police told a contractor and his workers at a Cushman Road job site that the only work at the site that had been authorized by the building department was necessary boiler work scheduled for April 21. Therefore, the work needed to be ceased. The contractor told his workers to stop, and the crew dispersed.

Workers were cutting a tree on Greenacres Avenue April 16. The building department issued a stop work order and police informed the homeowner and contractor. At that time, the work had been completed, and workers were cleaning up debris. The workers stopped their activity and left the scene.

On April 17, the village engineer requested police assistance in getting a tree-cutting company to stop non-essential work and leave, as per Village instructions. Police arrived on scene, and workers complied with instructions and left.

Due to a previous flooding condition, a contractor had a permit to pour concrete at a Dolma Road construction site April 17.

Social distancing
Police dispersed two unrelated groups of kids from A-School grounds and the basketball courts at Greenacres School April 14. All parties were advised that all school fields, courts, grounds, parks and playgrounds were closed.

Police dispersed people playing basketball from hoops on Weaver Street April 14.

Police dispersed kids playing basketball from Edgewood School grounds April 15.

A caller reported people playing soccer and using the track at Scarsdale High School April 15. Patrol notified the people that school grounds were closed, and the people dispersed. An hour later, a similar report came into headquarters. Police again went to the track and dispersed people who had gathered there, informing them that school grounds were closed. About two hours later, more people were observed playing soccer on high school grounds. Police dispersed them and re-taped entrances to prevent people from entering in violation of pandemic restrictions.

On April 15, police observed numerous people on various Crossway fields and informed all of them that fields were closed. The people dispersed.

Responding to a report of youths failing to follow social distancing rules, police pulled up to the group on Gatehouse Road, and the youths got into their cars and drove away April 15.

On April 16, police dispersed people from the high school track and informed all parties that the track and school grounds were closed.

People were gathering to play golf in a Mamaroneck Road field April 17. Police informed them that Village fields were closed. The people dispersed.

Men smoking
Two men smoking cigarettes at the end of a Post Road driveway said they were waiting for a cab at 11 p.m., April 13. They refused to give police their names. A cab showed up, and the men left.

Storm damage
Police closed a section of Boulevard and told residents to stay in their homes due to a fallen tree limb and electrical wires on the street April 13. Con Edison and the highway department arrived to correct the matter, and the roadway was subsequently re-opened.

A large branch fell on Brite Avenue, partially in the roadway and partially across a driveway April 13. One cable wire also was pulled down by the branch, and Verizon was notified. Police removed the wire from the roadway, and highway department workers cleared the branch.

A tree fell on Carthage Lane, taking down power lines and damaging two parked cars in a driveway April 13. Police taped off the area and notified Con Edison.

A tree fell at Bell Road and Boulevard, taking down primary wires April 13. Police taped off the roadway. Con Edison and the highway department arrived to correct the matter, and the roadway was subsequently re-opened.

A fallen tree near Heathcote School pulled down power lines April 13. Con Edison arrived to repair the wires.

Police secured low-hanging cable wires to a nearby tree at the side of Butler Road following a storm April 13.

The highway department was notified about a dangling branch on Boulevard April 13.

Mask and gloves
A Sage Terrace resident reported seeing a full black ski mask and black gloves outside his house on the street April 17. Police picked up the mask and gloves and discarded them in the garbage.

Civil matter
On April 19, a Post Road landlord reported a civil matter with a tenant concerning verbal disagreements over cleaning products and household maintenance. The landlord said she was starting an eviction process. Police advised the landlord to avoid confrontation with the tenant.

Cars and roadways
Verizon was notified about a fiber optic wires lying on a Jefferson Road front yard April 13.

An electrical wire was reported to be smoking and sparking at Church Lane and Harcourt Road April 14. Con Edison was notified.

A plumber advised that there was a sewage backup in the street system on Oak Lane, causing sewage to back up into residents’ houses April 14.

Verizon was notified about low-hanging wires on Franklin Road and Penn Boulevard April 14.

Police secured a low-hanging wire with caution tape on Mamaroneck Road April 15. While doing this, police observed a loose wire hanging from a transformer. Con Edison and Verizon were notified.

On April 17, police assisted a pedestrian to her destination at Palmer Avenue and Heathcote Road.

A caller reported someone damaged her tire while her car was parked inside Freightway Garage April 18. Police investigated the tire and noticed a nail has created a puncture. It was determined to be most likely that the car drove over a nail in the roadway – not that the nail was intentionally placed there.

Police informed the highway department about an uprooted tree on Corell Road April 19.

Three car accidents were reported in the Village this week.

Animals
Police called the highway department for the removal of a dead deer on Ross Road April 14. It may have been the same deer that was reported to have been lying on a Richbell Road property with an injured leg earlier that day.

A Reimer Road resident reported two loose Welsh Corgis on her property April 15.
While attempting to contact New Rochelle Humane Society, both dogs ran into the resident’s house. Police, wearing PPEs, went into the resident’s house to assist with removing the dogs to the resident’s fenced-in backyard. Police contacted NRHS and a staff member said the pickup requested was being transferred to Greenburgh Humane Society.

A man walking his dog in the area of Lebanon and Carthage roads disposed of dog feces in a Village drain April 17. The man was gone before police arrived.

Noise
After neighbors complained of noise, police asked a Secor Road resident to lower the volume of music playing in the house April 17.

On April 19, police advised a Berkeley Road resident that a neighbor had complained about the volume of music coming from the resident’s house. The resident agreed to lower it, even though police did not feel the volume was excessive.

Firefighters
According to Fire Chief James Seymour, firefighters responded to 23 incidents this week. Seymour provided the following summary details.

On April 13, firefighters blocked the road and stood by for Con Edison at the site of fallen primary wires burning on Boulevard.

On April 13, firefighters assisted at a car accident on the Hutchinson River Parkway. Scarsdale Volunteer Ambulance Corps was attending to one injured patient.

Water was leaking from a house service meter on Carthage Road April 15.

Firefighters stood by for the water department.

On April 17, firefighters assisted at a car accident, with injuries, at Mamaroneck and Stratton roads.

Firefighters extinguished a fire burning on the drip tray of a natural gas grill on Corell Road April 19. A handheld extinguisher was used to put out the fire. Firefighters cautioned the homeowner about using the grill again before having it cleaned.

This report covering police and fire department activity from April 13-19 has been compiled from official information.

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