License Plate Scanners to be Installed In Edgemont

After a spate of robberies in Edgemont this fall, a group of residents called for a meeting with Greenburgh Police Chief Joseph DeCarlo to urge the department to do more to protect their homes. Some say they are now in the third year of a spree of Edgemont robberies and are asking for some permanent solutions. Here is what they learned at the December 15th meeting:

The robberies have occurred primarily in homes with easy access to the Sprain Brook Parkway, Jackson Avenue and Ardsley Road. The targeted homes belong primarily to people of Asian and Indian descent. However, the residents of the site of the latest robbery in Thomas Court were not of this background.

Typically, the burglars break through the back door and are in and out of the homes in 10 minutes. It is likely that the robbers have stalked the homes for a few days and know when the homeowner comes and goes. The police department says that the robbers are Columbian gangs from Queens as well as from other neighboring areas. This is not just a problem here as the gangs are operating all along the East Coast.

Edgemont residents asked the police to install license plate scanners that were requested earlier this year. In the interim the DA’s office loaned Edgemont three scanners, which have been in use for the past two weeks. Following the meeting, on December 20, the Greenburgh Town Board approved $69,000 for the purchase of license plate readers which will be used in addition to the license plate readers given to the town by the DA's office.

The Town urged residents to write letters or email elected state officials Tom Abinanti and Andrea Steward-Cousins to request permission for the Town of Greenburgh to install security cameras at key roadways. They can be reached at Abinantit@assembly.state.ny.us and at scousins@nysenate.gov. The Southern Greenville Civic Association will send out a letter to both officials before the end of the year on this topic.

Residents also questioned whether they were getting their fare share of police resources. Edgemont contributed $4.1 million to the 2011-12 Greenburgh Police Department budget, roughly a quarter of the total budget, but contend that they are not receiving a commensurate amount of coverage. DeCarlo acknowledged that the robberies are an issue and promised to review resource allocation with the Town Board and Supervisor Feiner.

The Greenburgh Police Department provided the following tips on keeping homes secure:

• If you don’t have an alarm system, get one and use it.
• Put motion sensor lights covering dark areas around the back of the house.
• If you can, invest in a surveillance camera system.
• Lock all access to your homes
• Leave lights, radios and televisions on timers when your are away.
• Do not a store a lot of jewelry at home. Instead, use a bank safety deposit box. If you do keep jewelry at home, do not store it in an obvious place. Burglars know where to look.
• When you’re away, turn off mail and newspaper delivery. Ensure that someone clears your driveway of snow.
• Let your neighbors know you are out of town. Look out for your neighbors.
• Set up a neighborhood watch or join an existing one.
• Be aware of your surroundings even when driving around.
• If you see a suspicious car, note the make, model and license plate.
• Call GPD at 914-682-5300 if you suspect any strange activity. Always call, even if you are unsure.