Police Report: Stolen Packages Target iPhones and Holiday Gifts Plus Cold Bursts Water Pipes

Kudos to the Scarsdale Village Ambulance Corps who sent an ambulance crew to Buffalo on December 28, 2022 to assist with the snowstorm emergency at the request of Erie County. They anticipate a seven day deployment of one ambulance and two paramedics.

A Leatherstocking Lane resident reported three packages marked as “delivered” were stolen from her Dec. 22. The packages contained a $1,100 iPhone 14 Pro Max, a $96 digital camera and $137 worth of Birkenstock footwear. The resident further stated that she saw a UPS trick drive up in front of her house, scan packages inside the truck and fail to exit the truck to deliver the packages. Police advised her to report the matter to the UPS corporate office.

On Dec. 23, a Crossway resident reported that a FedEx driver delivered two packages, each supposedly containing an iPhone 14 Pro Max. A Ring doorbell camera showed the delivery of the packages – one was in a box, which appeared to be sealed, and the other was in an envelope which appeared to have been opened and folded shut. The resident’s wife signed for the packages upon delivery. However, when the resident opened the packages, one iPhone was missing. The resident contacted Walmart, which was the vendor, and FedEx, but neither offered to compensate the resident for the missing phone.

On Dec. 24, a Saxon Woods Road resident reported a package valued at $70, and delivered from Target, was stolen from the resident’s doorstep.

Arrests
On Dec. 21, police observed a red pick-up truck pass through a stop sign on Boulevard. Police conducted a traffic stop and realized the driver – George F Thompson, Jr., 31, of Yonkers – was wanted on an active bench warrant issued out of Yonkers. Police then arrested Thompson on the strength of the bench warrant and also on the charges of failure to stop at a stop sign, operating a motor vehicle without insurance and having an open container of alcohol in a motor vehicle on a highway. Following his arrest, Thompson was turned over to Yonkers police.

On Dec. 23, around 6:40 a.m., police responded to East Parkway on the report of man who might be in in need of assistance. There, they encountered and interviewed Nicholas Greco, 38, of Bronxville. Investigation revealed that Greco was wanted by Eastchester police on an active bench warrant for burglary charges. Police arrested Greco, and Greco was turned over to the Eastchester police department.

Burglary
On Dec. 23, a Stonewall Lane house was burglarized. Police learned of the event after an alarm sounded. Investigation of the house determined unlawful entry had been made, and the master bedroom had been ransacked. Property and at least $100 cash were stolen.

Stolen car
A Wayside Lane resident reported her car, containing her house key, was stolen from Long Island Dec. 25. She asked police to check her house to make sure it was in good order.

Criminal mischief
A driver said his 2022 Audi was tampered with while parked at an electric charging station at Freightway Garage Dec. 19. Police observed damage to the car.

Identity theft
On Dec. 22, a Lawrence Road woman reported that an American Express gift card was used to make a fraudulent purchase without her permission. The card was issued on Dec. 2, 2021 and allegedly used to purchase unknown goods on Nov. 25, 2022.

A Dunham Road man reported that someone hacked his food delivery app and ordered food without his permission. He spoke with the vendor who was going to provide him with a full refund.

Domestic matter
A Cooper Road caller asked for help with a “verbal altercation with her sister that turned physical” Dec. 22. The sister allegedly pushed a door into the caller. There were allegedly six adults home at the time of the altercation. Police responded to the scene and mediated issues between the siblings. It was determined that no physical contact was made. The sisters agreed to avoid each other until they can sit down and discuss their matters at a later time.

Death
An 83-year-old Saxon Woods Road woman died at home, in her assisted living facility, Dec. 19. The cause of her death was natural causes.

Air tag
An Elm Road girl received a notification on her phone that she was being tracked via an “air tag” Dec. 21. The girl said she did not own an Air Tag device and was therefore concerned. Additionally, the girl reported that several fake social media accounts had been created in her name without her consent. Police advised the family to contact Apple to disable and air tag tracking associated with the account.

Missing items
On Dec. 19, a Richbell Road woman reported that a cleaning woman, whom she hired about a month ago, was moving items within the house and possibly stealing things. The woman said she was not concerned with the value of the items because they were “sentimental items.” She would not provide police with the alleged cleaning woman’s name. She said she wanted to speak to a detective later, when her husband was present.

Suspicious
An East Parkway bank manager reported seeing a man lingering on the sidewalk outside her window and looking in her window Dec. 22. The man left the area when the manager left the bank and, to her knowledge, never entered the bank. She reported the incident due to recent incidents involving skimming devices and hidden surveillance cameras being placed inside the bank.

Help
A caller asked police to check the welfare of a Lebanon Road resident Dec. 19. Police made contact with an attorney via the resident’s doorbell camera. The attorney said the resident passed away in June of this year and the house was in good order. Police informed the caller of the situation.

At 11:20 p.m., Dec. 21, a Johnson Road woman was worried about her husband because he was expected to arrive home, via a train from Grand Central Station, and he was not answering his phone. Police located the man who said he was en route to his house.

Police collected newspapers and a package strewn about outside a Hanover Road house and placed them near the front door, in a location that was not visible from the road, Dec. 25.

Bank error
A caller reported having trouble with a bank ATM on Wilmot Road Dec. 22. She said the ATM “froze” and malfunctioned after she deposited cash and a check. Police helped the caller contact a bank representative to correct the error.

Civil matter
A Greenacres Avenue resident reported that a neighbor’s tree cutting crew came onto her lawn without her permission Dec. 21. Police suggested that the neighbor and the resident open lines of communication to discuss work being done on or near the property line to avoid potential incidents.

On Dec. 21, a man reported that his ex-wife violated a custodial agreement last night and would not let him see his son. Police determined the agreement was a verbal agreement and not court-ordered. Police advised the man to follow up in family court.

Pedestrian struck
A 2021 Jeep struck a pedestrian who was legally in the crosswalk of East Parkway and Popham Road Dec. 22. The pedestrian reported arm pain but was alert and conscious. He also reported that his umbrella and airpods were damaged as a result of the accident. He refused medical attention.

Cars and roadways
A car was dropped off at Edgewood School and left there overnight Dec 18 into Dec. 19. Police contacted the owner who said the car’s battery died and that her son would come to jump start the car and retrieve it. Police reminded her that no one was permitted on school grounds after dark.
Police asked a driver to move a truck that was blocking traffic on Crane Road and Woodland Place Dec. 19.
Police checked on debris outside a Boulevard house Dec. 19. The resident confirmed it was garbage and could be thrown out by the sanitation department.
Police notified the highway department about a fallen branch on Mamaroneck Road Dec. 19.
A tow truck removed a disabled car from Popham and Chase roads Dec. 19.
A car parked in Freightway Garage was observed with the passenger door fully open after midnight Dec. 20. Police could not determine if anything was missing, and they closed the door.
Patrol stood by while a mechanic changed a flat tire on Post Road Dec. 20. Patrol later stood by while another disabled car was towed from Post Road that same day.
A large SUV was not fully pulled into a parking space on Scarsdale Avenue, making it difficult for traffic to pass behind it Dec. 20. Police contacted the owner to move the SUV.
A water main broke on Garth Road Dec. 20. The water department was notified.
Police received many calls about a woman walking on the roadway on Weaver Street and Heathcote Road Dec. 20 and 21.
A caller complained about cars parked too close to a Freightway Road building in an alleyway Dec. 22. Police explained that the cars were parked on private property and not on public streets. The caller was not satisfied with the reply and said he would speak with Village Hall. Police advised him to speak with the building owner and not Village Hall.
On Dec. 22, police conducted a traffic stop after observing a 29-year-old Bronx driver pass through a red light at Popham and Chase roads. A computer check showed that the driver’s license was suspended. Multiple summonses were issued. The driver parked and secured his car on East Parkway and took a train to return home to the Bronx.
Con Edison was called to address a fallen wire on Boulder Brook Road Dec. 23.
A Village tree fell on Carstensen Road Dec. 23, knocking into a resident’s gate, pulling down wires and blocking the roadway. Con Edison and highway workers were called to address the matter.
On Dec. 24, a Lyons Road resident reported that sewage was backing up into her house. The highway department was notified.
Frozen pipes were reported at the highway department building on Ramsey Road Dec. 24.
On Dec. 24, police notified Verizon about a low-hanging wire on Corell Road.
The water department was notified about a water main break affecting Penn Blvd. and Franklin and Stratton roads.

Dogs
After a neighbor complained of loud barking, police asked a Cohawney Road dog owner to bring the dog in for the night Dec. 19.

Lost and found
On Dec. 20, a credit card was found outside at East Parkway and Christie Place. Police vouchered it for safekeeping.

On Dec. 23, a suitcase found on East Parkway was collected and vouchered for safekeeping by police.

Firefighters
On Dec. 19, firefighters assisted at a car accident at Post and Fenimore roads.

On Dec. 20, firefighters assisted at a car accident at Boulder Brook and Saxon Woods roads.

On Dec. 20, firefighters stood by for Con Edison at the site of a gas leak on Fairview Road.

On Dec. 21, a broken steam pipe released steam into a Madison Road basement. A caller mistook the steam for smoke and called firefighters to investigate.

A dumpster filled with construction debris caught fire on Richbell Road Dec. 21. Because the source of the fire was so deep in the dumpster, firefighters needed to use a deck gun at low pressure to fill the dumpster with water to extinguish most of the fire. Then, firefighters opened a rear door of the dumpster to remove some debris and continue attacking the deep source of the cooling fire with an attack line. Once the fire was fully extinguished, firefighters used a thermal imaging camera to confirm that the fire was completely out. Firefighters continued to empty debris from the dumpster to overhaul it.

On Dec. 21, firefighters stood by for Con Edison at the site of a gas leak on exterior piping at a Fairview Road house.

A chemical odor was reported on Ridgedale Road Dec. 21. It was traced to a fire pit. Firefighters advised the homeowner to safely extinguish the fire.

On Dec. 22, Con Edison red tagged a malfunctioning boiler in a Rochambeau Road house.

Firefighters reported to Con Edison a fallen tree limb resting on wires on Heathcote Road Dec. 22.

Firefighters stood by for Con Edison at the site of a gas leak in a Greenacres Avenue house Dec. 23.

On Dec. 23, firefighters were dispatched to a Spencer Place restaurant for a reported interior gas odor. The manager stated that the odor was concentrated around a gas-fired water heater, which he turned off after smelling gas. Firefighters and Con Edison checked the water heater and determined it to be malfunctioning. Con Edison red-tagged the water heater for repair. Further investigation of the building detected gas readings at the basement foundation wall, which were caused by four propane tanks stored in a basement closet. The building manager was advised to remove the tanks.

On Dec. 23, firefighters were called to a Fox Meadow Road house for reported smoke inside the house. It was caused by a flue remaining closed in the fireplace. Firefighters opened the flue, ventilated the house and advised the homeowner on proper fireplace usage.

On Dec. 24, boiler exhaust condensate froze outside a Ramsey Road building. Firefighters advised the Village on how to address the matter so it does not continue to occur.

On Dec. 24, firefighters assisted Greenville fire department with a partially extinguished chimney fire.

On Dec. 25, firefighters investigated smoke coming from a chimney at Fox Meadow School. There, they found malfunctioning boilers and shut them down, as the smoke odor indicated there was incomplete diesel combustion. While on scene, Con Edison detected a malfunctioning kitchen range, shut it down and red-tagged it.

On Dec. 25, a frozen sprinkler pipe broke in a Cayuga Road house. Firefighters shut off the water and contacted the homeowner.

Firefighters assisted with a broken water pipe in a Mamaroneck Road house Dec. 25.

A pipe leading to an outdoor sprinkler at a Griffen Avenue house froze and broke Dec. 25. The pipe was spraying water into the backyard and did not seem to be infiltrating the interior of the house. Firefighters and police attempted to contact the homeowner but were unsuccessful.

On Dec. 25, water was observed near a basement window of a Brewster Road house. Police contacted the homeowner who said arrangements were being made to address the situation. Police and firefighters asked the highway department to salt the roadway near the pooling water.

On Dec. 25, water was leaking from a Brewster Road garage. Firefighters entered the garage and turned off the water. They notified the homeowner about the situation.

On Dec. 25, firefighters shut off water in the Saxon Woods Golf Clubhouse, on Mamaroneck Road, after a leak was detected due to burst pipes and a lack of heat.

Water was leaking from an interior sprinkler system in a Griffen Avenue clubhouse Dec. 25. Firefighters isolated and shut down water pipes and performed salvage work in the clubhouse dining room.

Firefighters isolated a water leak and shut down pipes in a Mamaroneck Road house Dec. 25.

On Dec. 25, a Montrose Road house filled with smoke from a Duraflame log that was emitting an excessive amount of smoke. Firefighters extinguished the fire and moved the artificial logs outside. Firefighters examined the fireplace and found it to be very dirty with a buildup of creosote. Firefighters ventilated the house and advised the residents to inspect the chimney before using it again.

On Dec. 25, firefighters addressed a burst pipe in a Brewster Road garage.

This report covering police and fire department activity from Dec. 19 – 25 has been compiled from official information.

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