Tens of Thousands in Fraudulent Funds Stolen Via Altered Checks

On Jan. 18, a Dobbs Terrace man reported someone stole a check he had previously written, altered the payee name and amount, and eventually cashed the check for $16,860 on Jan. 6. The man’s bank identified the fraud and restored funds to the man’s account.

On Jan. 20, a Mamaroneck Road woman reported someone stole a check she had previously written for $1,830, altered the payee name and amount, and eventually cashed the check for $9890.25. The bank was informed and is investigating.

On Jan. 17, a Gaylor Road man wrote three checks for $10 each and mailed them. His bank called him on Jan. 19, to report that three fraudulent checks had been identified – from the original $10 mailed checks. One fraudulent check had been altered and cashed for $7,600.

On Jan. 21, a Wynmor Road resident reported writing a check for $22.40 that was later stolen, altered and fraudulently cashed for $9,584.

On Jan. 21, a Wynmor Road man reported that he had been contacted by a North Carolina detective about a $600 check, written in July 2021, that got stolen, altered to be payable in the amount of $7,523.07 and presented to a credit union, for cashing, in NC on Oct. 12, 2021. The check was never successfully cashed, and the man experienced no loss of funds.

On Jan. 23, a Carman Road man reported that he wrote a check for $562.13 and mailed it from the post office in the Golden Horseshoe Shopping Center in December. When checking his account, the man realized the check had been intercepted, altered and cashed in an amount of $19,860. Police and the bank are following up.

Burglary
A Harcourt Road homeowner requested that police check his house after his burglar alarm sounded with multiple notifications Jan. 21. Police went to the house and found front and rear doors unlocked with no sign of forced entry. Inside, the house showed signs of being entered. The homeowner came home and reported two designer handbags were missing.

Scam, ID theft
On Jan. 20, a Herkimer Road woman reported that a scammer tricked her into sending a $2,000 alleged Con Edison payment to an account via Zelle.

On Jan. 22, a Myrtledale Road man reported that an unknown person changed login information on one of his accounts and also opened a fraudulent Wells Fargo bank account.
On Jan. 23, a Penn Road man reported that three unsuccessful attempts were made, possibly in Georgia, to open a fraudulent account in his name.

Stolen car
A car reported stolen out of New Cannan, CT, was traced through a GPS tracker to a location near Gatehouse Road. New Cannan police asked Scarsdale police to check it out. Scarsdale police found the car parked on the street. They stood by while the registered owner arrived in the Village to retrieve the car.

Car break-ins Scarsdale Recycling Center
On Jan. 19, a Whig Road resident reported someone attempted to steal items from his parked car. Video surveillance showed an orange Mercedes SUV pull up to the driveway, with a man exiting and walking to the resident’s car and tugging on the handles. The doors were locked, and the attempted larceny was unsuccessful. Investigation showed that the Mercedes SUV had been reported stolen. Later, on Jan. 19, an Oak Lane resident also reported that a man who got out of an orange or red Mercedes SUV attempted to open the doors of two cars parked in the resident’s driveway. All car doors were locked, and the attempted larceny was unsuccessful. A Highland Way woman also called police on Jan. 19m, saying she was concerned about a possible attempted car break-in, due to many such incidents in the neighborhood. Police reminded her about the importance of locking her car doors.

Death
A 99-year-old Sheldrake Road woman died at home, apparently in her sleep Jan. 20. Her son called police to report the incident from Chicago, after his mother’s housekeeper called him.

Help
At a Post Road resident’s request, police provided information on obtaining an order of protection Jan. 17.

On Jan. 20, police and firefighters checked a Copper Beech Lane house after an alarm was going off. Everything was in good order, and the alarm was silenced.

Caution
Police cautioned youths to not skate on ice on Duck Pond, due to potential danger, Jan. 21.

On Jan. 22, police came upon youths with exploded fireworks on Drake Road. Police cautioned them about the dangers of fireworks. The youths claimed a friend of theirs had lit the fireworks and left the scene after they exploded.

Police cautioned youths to not skate on ice on the pond near the Scarsdale library, due to potential danger, Jan. 23.

Cars and roadways
A tree fell on Paddington Road, pulling down electrical and phone wires Jan. 17. Police notified Con Edison and Verizon.

A tree fell on Mamaroneck Road and Mohican Trail, leaning on electrical wires Jan. 17. Police blocked off the area and stood by for Con Edison.

Police taped a fallen Verizon wire on Hanover Road and removed a branch from Brookby Lane Jan. 17.

A truck driver called to say he was “stuck on a road he couldn’t drive on” Jan. 17. He could not tell police where he was. While on the phone, the driver managed to flag down a passing police car for help.

Police moved low hanging wires out of the way of traffic on Rock Creek Lane Jan. 17.

On Jan. 17, a driver reported a car had been following him about an hour ago in the past. Police advised the driver to call again if a similar event occurred.

Police notified Verizon about a fallen wire on Paddington Road and a low hanging wire on Fenimore Road Jan. 18.

Police assisted a driver use a battery pack to start her disabled car on Gaylor Road Jan. 18.

Police issued a parking summons to the owner of an illegally parked, unoccupied car on the Hutchinson River Parkway overpass on Mamaroneck Road Jan. 18.

Police helped a driver safely move her car off Mamaroneck Road to a side street where she was able to wait for service to change a flat tire Jan. 18.

An area of Chase Park was taped off until highway department workers could remove dangling tree limbs Jan. 18 and 19.

Police encountered a car, with a reported license plate stolen out of Florida, on East Parkway Jan. 18. Investigation and follow up with Miami Springs police revealed the car’s front license plate had been stolen, and the car’s rear license plate – which was still on the car – had not been stolen.

A Park Road man reported that he had accidentally struck a neighbor’s light colored sedan while driving in the dark Jan. 18. Police passed the reported information on to the owner of the damaged car.

Police issued a parking summons to the owner of a car parked in front of a fire hydrant on Birchall Drive and Morris Lane Jan. 19.

Police notified Con Edison about a loose covering over wire connections on Madison Road Jan. 20.

A driver reported backing into a parked car in front of the Scarsdale Post Office Jan. 21.

Optimum was informed about a fallen wire on Heathcote Road Jan. 21.

Village code
On Jan. 17, police confirmed that a stop work order at a Hampton Road construction site was being properly observed after a caller reported a possible violation of the order. On scene, police saw workers installing only a construction fence, as directed by the building department. No job site work was being conducted.

Firefighters
In Jan. 17, firefighters ventilated a Chesterfield Road house after residents smelled smoke, possibly triggered by a downdraft from a previous fire.

On Jan. 17, firefighters assisted Greenville and Fairview fire districts.

On Jan. 17, firefighters helped a Harvest Drive resident remove water from the basement after the storm sewer backed up. Highway workers were dispatched to unclog the sewer.

On Jan. 17, firefighters helped a South Rectory Lane resident turn off water to a leaking hot water heater.

Firefighters investigated the odor of fuel oil at a Fenimore Road address following a morning oil delivery Jan. 17. A small spill of approximately two cups was on the floor. Firefighters helped clean it up.

Firefighters assisted at a Heathcote Road car accident Jan. 17 and a Fox Meadow Road car accident Jan. 21.

Firefighters observed one inch of water in a Madison Road basement. It was too little to pump. Firefighters advised to mop it up and use a dehumidifier.

A gutter leader became detached from an Innes Road house Jan. 17. The homeowner was advised to call a gutter repairperson.

Firefighters removed a bag of burnt popcorn from a Garden Road microwave, following a small, contained fire, Jan. 17.

On Jan. 19, firefighters removed a scorched light bulb from an overheated light ballast in public safety headquarters.
On Jan. 19, smoke came from a malfunctioning power sweeper in a Christie Place building.

Balducci’s, on Palmer Ave., was evacuated following a small kitchen fryer fire. No smoke was present, and the fire had successfully been extinguished when firefighters arrived. It occurred when contractors were working on the fryer hood, and a pilot light ignited grease drippings. Nothing suspicious was suspected.

Two workers fell about 18 feet at a Franklin Road job site. Firefighters assisted EMS workers package the injured works for hospital transport.

Firefighters stood by for Con Edison at the site of two different gas leaks on Dolma Road Jan. 22 and School Lane Jan. 23.

Following a burst pipe in a Stonehouse Road house, firefighters shut water and affected circuit breakers Jan. 22.

Kids accidentally got locked inside a room in a Dickel Road house Jan. 22. Firefighters helped open the door.

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.