Rash of Car Thefts Continues

Another luxury car was stolen from a Scarsdale driveway this week. We asked the Scarsdale Police what they know about this rash of car thefts, and here is what they shared:

“At this time, the perpetrators appear to be groups out of Connecticut and New Jersey as vehicles have been recovered in both locations. These thefts are a crime trend that is occurring in the Tri-State area.

The vehicles that are being stolen are unlocked motor vehicles with the keys left inside. Investigation has revealed that these groups come into an area, usually late at night or in the very early morning hours and try door handles on vehicles. If the vehicle is unlocked and the keys are inside, they take the vehicle.

Cars have been recovered by police departments finding the vehicles parked in their jurisdictions or if the vehicle has GPS, the owners have advised us of the locations where the vehicle is parked and we notify the local police jurisdiction to recover the vehicle.

For the vehicles that are not recovered, the case remains open and the alert that the vehicle is stolen is retained in the NYS Computer System.

To prevent this crime, owners should always lock their cars and never leave the keys in the vehicle. If anyone witnesses suspicious activity, they should call the police.”

Police Report

Stolen car: On Dec. 8, a Shawnee Road man reported someone stole his $61,000 2021 white Audi A5 with a black top from his driveway overnight. The car might have been unlocked, and both sets of keys might have been inside, the owner said.

On Dec. 9, a Penn Boulevard resident reported her $80,000 2021 Mercedes G35 was stolen from her driveway during the overnight period. The tracking device in the car indicated it had been taken to Brooklyn. NYPD tracked down the car and recovered it, with both of its plates still attached.

Identity theft
On Dec. 7, a Secor Road woman reported someone used her Social Security number to attempt to open a Citibank cash card account.

On Dec. 6, Hutchinson Avenue resident reported that someone stole three checks from his mailbox on Dec. 2, altered them and attempted to cash them for $19,790 each.

A Griffen Avenue resident learned that someone attempted to cash a fraudulent $20,000 check against her account Dec. 9. It was flagged as suspicious by the bank and did not go through.

Suspicious
Police investigated a call about a man holding a rifle “while coming out of the river” near the Bronx River Parkway and Fox Meadow Road Dec. 11. On scene, police encountered three people filming each other emerging from the river and holding replica weaponry. Police made sure they were not dangerous, and the people left the area.

A Meadow Road resident reported an unknown person in a dark SUV stopped in front of his house to photograph it Dec. 12. The same thing allegedly happened last week.

Domestic matter
Two Greenacres sisters got into a verbal argument over the use of a shared kitchen Dec. 9. Police mediated the dispute.

Scam
On Dec. 6, an Eastwoods Lane resident reported receiving an unwanted text in which an unknown person asked him to wire $5,000 to an account. The transfer attempt was blocked by the resident’s bank, thus alerting the resident to the fact that the text was a scam.

Homeless
Police helped a homeless man get a Covid-19 test at White Plains Hospital Center so he could obtain access to a White Plains shelter Dec. 7.

A homeless man lying on the ground at Crossway and Rural Drive declined assistance and was uncooperative Dec. 7. Police advised him of the closest location where he could get food. Later the same man was reported on Crest Lane. He again declined assistance.

Help
Police checked on a man who was reported to be sitting at a Post Road bus stop for over an hour Dec. 7. He said he was waiting for a person he allegedly met on a dating app. The person provided a Scarsdale address near the bus stop. Some of the personal communication on the dating app revealed that the person had asked the man to purchase gift cards and provide the numbers electronically. Police advised the man he had been scammed. The man also told police he was a resident of a group home and was out past his curfew. Police provided him with a courtesy ride home.

A Butler Road woman reported than an individual might have entered her son’s room at 5:30 a.m., Dec. 8. Police found no signs of an individual in the house and no signs of forced entry or criminal activity.

Someone placed three large garbage bags filled with leaves at the end of a Black Birch Lane driveway Dec. 11. Police placed them by the curb for pickup.

Road rage
A driver reported another car cut him off while driving on Popham Road Dec. 10. As the first driver then attempted to turn onto Depot Place, the other driver threw a bottle at him. The other driver then attempted to open his car door by pulling on the handle. At that point the first driver called police and the other driver sped off.

Cars and roadways
On Dec. 6, police asked drivers to relocated cars from Dolma Road so traffic could pass unhindered.

The highway department was notified about a fallen tree blocking Saxon Woods Road Dec. 7.

On Dec. 7, Verizon was notified about a low hanging wire on Huntington Avenue.
A car reportedly swerved into the opposite lane and caused a motorcyclist to fall from his bike Dec. 9. A license plate was found nearby, but it turned out that it did not fall from the car that allegedly swerved.

A parked car was struck on Depot Place Dec. 10.

The highway department was notified about a fallen tree blocking Griffen Avenue Dec. 12.

A car was parked on an Oxford Road lawn Dec. 12. Police asked the driver to move it into a driveway.

Civil matter
Contractors cutting stone on Franklin Road accidentally kicked up a piece of material and broke a resident’s window Dec. 6. The contractor agreed to repair the damage.

A landscaper who blew leaves into Popham Road Dec. 10 said he would clean them up and be more careful next time.

A Beechwood Lane contractor reported that a colleague borrowed some tools to complete another job, and the contractor now needed them back Dec. 10. While police were on scene, the colleague provided the address of a garage where the contractor could retrieve his tools. However, the garage was locked. Police advised the men to contact them so police could stand by when the tools would be exchanged.

Dogs, coyotes
Police reunited a lost Husky dog, found on Forest Lane, and its owner Dec. 11.
A loose dog was spotted on Rock Creek Lane Dec. 11. It was gone before police arrived.

A Greenacres Avenue man reported seeing a coyote with an injured leg in the rear of his property Dec. 12.

Village code
After a neighbor complained of noise, police asked people at the tennis club on Stonehouse Road to keep the volume down Dec. 11.

Lost and found
On Dec. 6, a Heathcote Road resident reporting losing a passport somewhere in the Village.

On Dec. 7, a Wheelock Road woman reported losing her Tory Burch handbag and wallet at the high school. She later found it.

Firefighters
On Dec. 6, firefighters assisted at a two-car accident at Post and Murray Hill roads.

On Dec. 7, firefighters assisted at a two-car accident at Post Road and Evon Court.

On Dec. 8, firefighters responded to a carbon monoxide investigation in a Stratton Road house. The resident advised a technician recently worked on the heating unit. The unit was shut down after the alarm activated, Firefighters turned on the heating unit, and CO readings began to appear. Firefighters then shut down the unit and advised the resident to have the system serviced.

On Dec. 9, firefighters assisted at a two-car, rear-end accident on Griffen Avenue.

On Dec. 9, smoke appeared in the basement of a Webster Road house. There was a slight haze and elevated CP readings. Firefighters traced the problem to a steam boiler that ran out of water and did not shut off, with a low water cut-off safety feature. The boiler had therefore overheated and caused a light CO condition.

Firefighters shut the boiler’s gas supply and power. Ventilation was started. Con-Ed Gas was notified and responded to red tag appliance. The resident was informed of the situation and was advised to call for repairs since heat was shut off to the house.

On Dec. 11, firefighters were dispatched to a Cushman Road house for an inside odor of burning. Upon arrival, firefighters found a slight odor in a three-season room. They checked the room and found a burning acorn in a wall mounted light fixture. They removed the scorched acorn.

This report covering police and fire department activity from Dec. 6-12 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.