Coyotes and Drug Busts from the Greenburgh Police

Greenburgh police report that there have been several coyote sightings in Edgemont, two on the campus of the high school. Though none of exhibited aggressive behavior, the police have provided the following information about coyotes. See below and read more at: http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/6971.html

Coyotes are protected by law in New York State. The Eastern coyote is firmly established in New York where they live as an integral part of our ecosystem. People and coyotes can usually coexist if coyotes maintain their natural fear of people. If you observe a coyote lingering in an area and it does not move when you make noise you should report it to the police. However, in most cases there is little a police officer or animal control officer will be able to do other than chase it away from a populated area. Of course if any animal is acting aggressively or has attacked a human being or other animal, immediately contact the police department.

Below are some steps you can take to reduce/prevent coyote problems from occurring.

• Do not feed coyotes
• If you see a coyote, be aggressive in your behavior - make loud noises, wave your arms, throw sticks and stones.
• Do not allow pets to run free.
• Do not feed pets outside.
• Ensure that your pets are vaccinated against rabies
• Make any garbage inaccessible to coyotes and other animals.
• Eliminate availability of bird seed. Coyotes are attracted to the concentration of birds and rodents that come to feeders. If you do feed birds, clean up waste seed and spillage.
• Fencing your yard may deter coyotes. The fence should be tight to the ground, preferably extending six inches below ground level.
• Remove brush and tall grass from around your property to reduce protective cover for coyotes
• Teach children to appreciate coyotes from a distance.
• Regulated hunting and trapping increases the "fear" coyotes have towards people.
• Ask your neighbors to follow these same steps.

Here is the weekly report from the Greenburgh Police:

Damage: Micha Marom who is building a house on Elizabeth Street complained that $400 worth of tubing used for radiant heat had been cut and was no longer usable. He found the damaged tubing when he came to his work site on the morning of July 11. He has been involved in an ongoing dispute with a neighbor.

Shoplifters: Walgreens employees called Greenburgh police on the afternoon of 7/11 when two men were acting suspiciously at the store. When police arrived, the suspects had left Walgreens on Central Avenue and were driving north in a blue van. Police spotted the van, in front of Rite Aid on Central Avenue. Police went to the van to investigate and found merchandise from Rite Aid in one of the men’s pockets, more merchandise from Rite Aid in the car and unpaid goods from CVS and Toys ‘R Us. The Rite Aid merchandise was valued at $269.07, from CVS $269.49 and the value of the Toys “R Us merchandise was unknown. The suspects were identified as Luis R. Silva age 56, Vidal Gomez, age 31 and Jose Lopez, age 39, all residents of Yonkers.

No Pay: The driver of a tan Toyota Avalon, filled his car with $50 worth of gas from the Gulf Station at 880 Central Avenue on the night of 7/11, and left without paying. Police were unable to find the car.

Missing Bag: The owner of a salon at 19 East Hartsdale Avenue reported that someone entered through the back of the shop and stole her handbag on July 12th. Credit cards, cash, a camera and other items valued at $500 were taken.

Missing diamond: On July 14, a Caterson Terrace woman reported losing a $6,000 diamond ring. She last saw the ring in her house on May 31.

Busted: Remy Ketzler, age 20 of Warnke Lane Scarsdale, was charged with unlawful possession of marijuana at 11 pm on July 14th. Police stopped her outside of 711 on Central Avenue and detected the odor of marijuana. Ketzler pulled a bag out of her purse and handed it to the officer.

In a similar incident, members of the Greenburgh Drug and Alcohol Task Force stopped Kwang An, age 20 of Central Avenue, Scarsdale on the evening of 7/14 when he appeared to be purchasing tobacco products. They smelled marijuana in his car, and An turned over a bag to police. He was also charged with unlawful possession.

At 11:30 pm on 7/15 members of the Greenburgh Drug and Alcohol Task Force saw three people who appeared to be underage carrying alcoholic beverages. When police attempted to stop them, they ran into an apartment at 55 West Hartsdale Avenue. The police were right behind them and when they entered the apartment they found three joints, and two bags containing marijuana and a pipe. The resident at the apartment claimed that all the marijuana belonged to him and turned over 12 more bags containing marijuana. He was charged with possession of marijuana and the other three suspects were charged with possession of alcohol by persons under the age of 21. The suspects were identified as Eurip Kim at 20 or Hartsdale, (possession of marijuana), Justice Reyes age 19 of Hartsdale, Brittany Blake, age 20 of Pleasantville and Paige Maruggi, age 19 of North White Plains (possession of alcohol.)