Greenburgh Police Nab Young Burglars

At 9:50 am on Monday March 5, police responded to a 911 call about a break-in at 1101 Dobbs Ferry Road near Elmwood Country Club. The caller said that someone was breaking into the house. Uniformed patrol units responded to the area and found two young men walking along Dobbs Ferry Road, near Forest Boulevard. The men fit the description of the suspects. The suspects were detained at the scene by the officers and were positively identified as the persons who allegedly broke into the house. Both were placed under arrest and were charged with Burglary 2nd degree, a Class C Felony.

The defendants were identified as Jose M. Delacruz, age 18 of Yonkers and Phillip B. Villanueva, age 17 of Yonkers. A subsequent investigation by the Greenburgh Police Detectives has led to additional burglary charges against Phillip Villanueva. He was charged with two additional counts of Burglary 2nd degree for burglaries at 61 Manhattan Avenue, in the Fairview section of town, on December 16, 2011, and at 298 Chatterton Parkway, Hartsdale, on January 27, 2012. An additional charge of attempted Burglary 2nd degree was filed against Mr. Villanueva relating to a burglary of a second apartment at 298 Chatterton Parkway, Hartsdale, on the same date.

Philip Villanueva

Jose Delacruz

(pictured at top: Phillip Villanueva)

Additional reports:

Another stray pit bull was found, this one on Sprain Valley Road on the night of February 28. The dog was picked up and taken to an animal shelter.

At 4:50 am on Saturday March 3rd, police stopped the driver of a 2011 Camry for speeding and going through a red light without stopping. When police spoke to the driver they smelled alcohol, and the man who identified himself as Clarence Burnha,, age 25 of Hartsdale, admitted to drinking a “twenty two of Old English”. He was given sobriety tests and found to have a BAC of .20. Burnham’s car was towed and he was taken to police headquarters where he was charged with DWI and multiple traffic violations.

While exiting a parking space at the Christmas Tree Shop on Central Avenue in Hartsdale, on Saturday morning 3-3, Miriam Cuesta, age 69 of Yonkers hit the accelerator, struck another car and then ran into the front wall of the store. She was not injured and there was no structural damage to the store.