Police Issue Warning About Mailbox Thieves, Graffiti at SHS and a Stolen Audi

Breaking News from the Scarsdale Police:
On Tuesday, March 15th 2022 at approximately 3:29 AM, a Scarsdale Police Officer noticed an occupied vehicle on School Lane stopped at a stop sign for a long period of time. When the officer approached, the vehicle fled at a high rate of speed, struck a tree and continued to drive away recklessly. Officers located the vehicle abandoned and empty a short distance away. A check of the area for the occupants yielded negative results.

Further investigation revealed stolen mail from several jurisdictions inside the abandoned vehicle, along with materials, a belt and sticky rat traps, used to “fish out” mail from mailboxes. The vehicle was impounded and processed. The US Postal Inspector was notified. This incident is currently being investigated by Scarsdale Detectives.
If anyone has any further information on this incident, please contact the Scarsdale Police Investigation’s Section at 914-722-1200.

Since late fall, 2021, there has been a spike in mail thefts throughout the county and in Connecticut immediately north of Westchester County. Thieves are stealing mail, accessing the contents and when checks are discovered, they are forged.

As a reminder to the community, avoid leaving mail in your mailbox if that mail contains checks or bank information. Do not put the “flag” on your home’s mailbox to the raised position – this alerts thieves to the fact that mail is inside. Do not leave bank or sensitive information in your recycling bin that thieves could exploit – securely shred this information. Check your online banking activity daily to be alert for any suspicious or fraudulent activity. If you do need to mail a check, mail it inside your local post office.

Graffiti
Graffiti was found in a fourth-floor boys’ bathroom at Scarsdale high school March 10. The graffiti consisted of hate speech and is being treated as a bias incident.
After learning of the incident, Patrol officers responded to the scene, spoke with the staff and observed the graffiti. The SPD Investigations Section launched an investigation into the source of the graffiti, and the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office Bias & Hate Crimes Division was contacted. Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call the Scarsdale Police Department’s Investigations Section at 914-722-1200.

Car theft
On March 13, a woman reported her $30,000 2020 Audi was stolen from East Parkway sometime between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. The woman advised that she left the keys inside the car.

Car break-in attempt
A person dressed in black was observed, via a doorbell camera, walking up a Secor Road driveway and attempting to open the door of the resident’s parked car. The door was locked, and the person walked away.

Disputes
Two residents of a Post Road home got into an argument over food distribution March 7. Police mediated the dispute, and the residents agreed to stay away from each other.

A Post Road resident of a group home reported a housemate moved some of her groceries and later returned them to their original location March 10.

On March 12, two Colvin Road sisters were arguing over documents, and police advised them to follow up civilly.

Identity theft
On March 9, a Barry Road resident reported that someone stole a check she had written for $26.32, altered it and fraudulently cashed it for $11,180.
On March 10, a Post Road resident reported that someone stole a check she had written for $600, altered it and fraudulently cashed it for $17,200.

Suspicious
A person with a hammer in his hand was reported top be lying down on Post Road March 7. Police asked the man if he needed any assistance, and he reported he was walking to meet friends in Eastchester. The hammer appeared to be non-functional and was discarded.

A Catherine Road man reported that he discovered a basement door was ajar on the same day that his burglar alarm was activated March 8. Police investigated the house and did not observe any signs of criminal activity.

At 2 a.m. March 10, a Broadmoor Road woman reported there were two men outside her door. She said that her dogs started barking and the men walked away. She did not recall is the men knocked on the door or rang the bell. Police logged the incident for extra ridebys.

A car reportedly entered a circular driveway on Grand Park Avenue and left when the homeowner observed the van.

Police removed a hubcap from Crane Road and Church Lane and discarded it March 11.

Help
On March 10, police performed a welfare check of a Nelson Road man. The man was OK.

Police transported a truck driver and his passenger from Palmer Avenue back to the scene of an accident involving his truck impacting an overpass bridge March 10.

Cars and roadways
Police asked drivers to move construction vehicles on Overlook Road March 7.

Police picked up shattered glass from a gutter on Sherbrooke Road March 7.

Workers removing leaves were parked in a no parking zone on Crane Road March 7. Police issued a parking summons for the parking.

Policed closed the entranced to the Hutchinson River Parkway because of a fallen tree March 7.

Police removed fallen branches from Bypass and Palmer Ave March 7.

A tree branch fell on Brewster Road and took down wires March 7. Con Edison was notified.

A fallen branch pulled down wires on Heathcote Road March 8. Con Edison was notified.

Con Edison was informed about a branch leaning on wires on Wayside Lane March 8.

The highway department was notified about broken glass at Post and Olmsted roads March 8.

Police asked workers to move their cars from a no parking zone on Sycamore Road March 11.

On March 11, police issued parking summonses to a parked car, registered to a NJ resident, left on Axtell Road for several days. Police contacted the registered owner and advised her to move the car. It was apparently left there by the owner’s brother’s girlfriend while the girlfriend was away.

Police received a false report about a gray Kia chasing a pedestrian on a Post Road sidewalk March 11.

Three car accidents were reported in the Village this week.

Animals
A loose Labradoodle with a collar was observed eating from garbage on Myrtledale Road March 12. Police caught the dog and returned it to its owner. The owner was issued a summons.

Two loose dogs were reported in the Village March 13; however, police did not see the dogs when they responded to the areas.

Village code
Police issued a Cooper Road homeowner a summons for leaving a loudly barking dog outside for approximately 20 minutes, causing a noise disturbance March 10.

Lost and found
On March 8, a Chesterfield Road caller reported her car’s lower grille cover had been stolen. The last time she saw it was March 6. Police advised her that the cover might have been lost while she was out driving March 6 or 7.

Car keys were found on Walworth Avenue March 10. Police returned them to their proper owner.

Firefighters
On March 8, firefighters assisted at a car accident at Grand Park and Griffen avenues. A fire hydrant was damaged, and one occupant was taken to the hospital by Scarsdale Volunteer Ambulance Corps.

On March 8, firefighters found a gas leak at a meter in a Chesterfield Road basement. Firefighters informed and stood by for Con Edison.

On March 8, a seized air handler motor was causing hazing, smoke and odors in an Oxford Road basement. Firefighters turned off power at the unit and advised the homeowner to call for service.

On March 10, an accidental sprinkler activation in a stairwell at The Ambassador on Saxon Woods Road was caused by a malfunction. Firefighters were able to trace the possible problem to an air compressor. Firefighters shut down water to the alarm, which allowed the system to reset and stay completely functional. Firefighters advised employees to have the system serviced.

On March 12, firefighters checked a circuit breaker at a Harvest Drive house after a power line fell on Harvest Drive. Firefighters taped off the affected area around the fallen line and stood by for Con Edison.

On March 13, firefighters stood by for Con Edison at the site of a Horseguard Lane gas leak.

This report covering policed and fire department activity from March 7-13 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.