Burglars Strike Non-alarmed Houses on Claremont and Madison Roads

On Dec. 6, a Claremont Road house was burglarized while the homeowners were out between 3:15 p.m. and 7:15 p.m. Upon coming home, the homeowners noticed their back kitchen door had been opened, and a window pane within the door was broken. Additionally, a rear sliding glass door had been unlocked and was possibly used as an exit point. Police searched the house and found drawers and cabinets open in all four children's bedrooms. In the master bedroom, the closet doors were open and a safe was lying on the ground, emptied of its contents. Several drawers in the master bedroom were open, and various pieces of jewelry were lying on top of the dresser. The homeowners said a jewelry box from the master bedroom had been taken, as well as jewelry from inside the safe. They estimated the value of the missing jewelry at $30,000. Police noticed a footprint outside the back door and photographed it for evidence. According to the police report, the house did not have a functioning alarming system at the time of the burglary.

On Dec. 7, a Madison Road homeowner reported her house had been burglarized while she and her husband were on a trip to Florida from Dec. 4 to Dec. 7. Investigation showed a rear sliding glass door had been pried open, drawers in bedrooms had been opened, with contents dumped on the floor. Two closets in the master bedroom were also open, and pieces of jewelry were scattered on the bed. A pillowcase – possibly used as a bag to transport the stolen jewelry – was missing from the master bedroom. The homeowners said an entire jewelry box, cash and other personal property had been stolen. The house was not alarmed.

Window sensor thwarts burglar on Forest Lane:

On Dec. 7, someone attempted to break into a Forest Lane house by prying open a back living room window. A person checking the house noticed leaves and debris on the living room floor. Further investigation led to the discovery of the pried open window. A chime system on the window apparently sounded when the window was forced opened, stating "back window open." Police believe this alert possibly deterred the burglar from entering the house.

Stolen check:

On Dec. 5, a Greenacres Avenue woman reported someone stole a check her husband had issued, washed it, changed the payee information and the check amount and forged a signature. The woman said the check had been placed in the mailbox at the intersection of Colvin Road and Walworth Avenue on Nov. 23. The fraudulent check was discovered while the couple was checking their bank account online.

Stolen clothes:

On Dec. 7, A Ridgecrest East resident reported a cleaning service might have stolen a $500 purple cashmere sweater and a $150 red Polo rugby shirt from his house. He discovered the items were missing while putting other articles of clothing in his closet and dresser. He last saw the missing clothes earlier in the week.

Identity theft spree at Bloomingdale's:

On Dec. 2, a Church Lane woman reported someone made fraudulent transactions on her Bloomingdale's account on Nov. 21. The transactions, totaling thousands of dollars in designer handbags and jewelry, were made in the Bloomingdale's store on Lexington Avenue, in New York City, where the person first asked for the account's credit line to be increased. On Nov. 25, the person went back to the same store and asked for an additional credit line increase. However, since the person failed to answer two security questions, the increase was denied, and the person left the store. The fraud department at Bloomingdale's contacted the woman and closed her account. Police advised the woman to notify the credit reporting agencies.

On Dec. 6, a Mamaroneck Road woman reported her Bloomingdale's credit card was used several times without her permission in November. The fraud department of Bloomingdale's is following up. Police advised the woman to notify the credit reporting agencies.

On Dec. 7, a Carthage Road woman reported receiving letters from Bloomingdale's about fraudulent account activity in November. The fraud department of Bloomingdale's suspended the woman's account for investigation. Police advised the woman to notify the credit reporting agencies.

Criminal mischief:

Patrol discovered graffiti spray-painted on a telephone pole, street sign, two trees and a mailbox at Gatehouse and Swarthmore roads Dec. 4. The offending paint was black, silver and orange. It spelled out the following: "Lunar," "Yetek" and "Chase." It also depicted various pictures. Police notified the highway department for removal.

Suspicious car:

Scarsdale police and White Plains police received reports of a suspicious 7-series BMW with Ohio license plates, tinted windows and spinning wheels cruising on Coralyn Road and Hazleton Drive Dec. 5. The car was allegedly pulling in and out of driveways. Neither police department was able to find the car.

Suspicions allayed:

A man walking from one house to another on Greenacres Avenue was determined to be a water department employee Dec. 2.

Boy Scouts:

A Greenacres Avenue resident complained of boys making noise in a nearby church parking lot Dec. 1. On scene, the boys told police they had just finished making 250 wreaths for a Boy Scout project. They were in the process of loading the wreaths into a trailer.

Text message:

A Post Road girl received a threatening text message on her iPhone Dec. 4. While her mother was reporting the incident at police headquarters, the girl learned the message had been sent by a good friend "as a joke." The friend had not intended to cause any alarm.

Late:

A 16-year-old Quaker Ridge boy did not return from a track meet on time, and his mother got worried and called police at 1:15 a.m., Dec. 7. At 1:30 a.m., the boy came home. He explained he arrived at the high school at 12:45 a.m. Instead of coming home, he went to a diner to get something to eat.

Help:

A village resident called Westchester County Adult Protective Services to report she was afraid of her abusive son Dec. 3. An agent from Adult Protective Services asked police to check the woman's welfare.

Police offered to assist Westchester County Adult Protective Services with regard to making contact with a different village resident who might be in need of help Dec. 3.

On Dec. 6 and 7, police stood by while an Edgewood man retrieved personal belongings from his ex-wife's house.

Cars and roadways:

A backhoe at Ridgedale and Aspen roads was disrupting traffic Dec. 1. Police verified the contractor had a valid permit to open the road. However, they advised he needed an additional permit if the work required him to close the road.

Wires appeared missing from an electrical box on Duck Pond Road Dec 1. Police informed the highway department for follow-up.

Police asked drivers on School Lane to move cars blocking a driveway Dec. 1.

On Dec. 5, a car backed over a retaining wall on Greenacres Avenue and got stuck on a resident's front lawn. Police contacted a towing company to help the driver.

Police issued a summons to the driver of a car parked across a Walworth Avenue driveway Dec. 5.

A yield sign and its attached pole fell down near the intersection of East Parkway and Spencer Place Dec. 6. Police took the sign to the police garage and notified the highway department for reinstallation. Police were unable to determine how the pole became detached from its base.

A Wynmor Road resident reported the catch basin in front of her house was full of leaves Dec. 6.

On Dec. 7, police placed a traffic cone in a pothole on Mamaroneck Road.

On Dec. 7, patrol asked the driver of a red Subaru to move her car because it was partially obstructing access to a resident's driveway. The driver complied with patrol's request.

Sixteen car accidents were reported in the village this week.

Neighbors:

A Kingston Road woman reported a neighbor shouted obscenities at her while both women were passing each other in cars Dec. 1. The woman said the neighbor was driving too fast, and this was not the first time such an incident occurred.

Animals:

A Richbell Road woman reported two large dogs were running loose in her yard Dec. 2. The dogs left before police arrived.

A coyote was seen running from Archer Lane to Stratton Road at 11:30 a.m., Dec. 4.

Police helped a Greenacres Avenue man canvas the neighborhood for his lost dog Dec. 5. The dog was not found, and police suggested the man reach out to neighboring jurisdictions and New Rochelle Humane Society in case the dog was there.

Lost and found:

A dog walker found a driver's license on Birchall drive Dec. 1. Police determined it belonged to a seasonal worker for the village and returned the license to him.

A passerby found an iPhone near Sage Terrace and Brewster Road Dec. 3. Police contacted the phone's owner, who picked it up from headquarters.

A passerby found a driver's license from the United Kingdom on Constitution Circle Dec. 5. Police vouchered the license for safekeeping.

A Garth Road business owner found a wallet in his store Dec. 5. Police contacted the owner, who retrieved her wallet from headquarters.

Village code:

Police noticed advertising signs posted on Popham Road, in violation of village code, Dec. 6. They removed the signs and issued a summons to the fitness company that had placed the signs there.

Patrol issued a warning to a contractor operating a generator on Murray Hill Road at 9:45 a.m., Dec. 6. Patrol explained it was unlawful to operate heavy machinery between 5 a.m. and 10 a.m. on weekends. The contractor apologized and promised to abide by village code.

Fire:

A reported electrical burning smell in a Palmer Avenue house was traced to a sump pump shorting out in the basement Dec. 1. Firefighters removed the pump and ventilated the house.

While digging with a small hand shovel at a Leatherstocking Lane work site, a contractor discovered a minor gas leak Dec. 1. Firefighters informed Con Edison. The contractor denied striking the gas line with his shovel.

Firefighters could not find the source of a chemical-like odor in a Mamaroneck Road house Dec. 1. They opened windows for ventilation.

An overheated boiler in an Innes Road house caused insulation and plastic on manual controls to melt Dec. 2. Firefighters shut down the boiler and ventilated the house. They advised the homeowner to have the boiler inspected and serviced.

Firefighters stood by for Con Edison at the site of a natural gas odor on Kensington Road Dec. 3.

A Cooper Road resident accidentally got locked out of her house Dec. 3. Firefighters helped her get back inside the house.

Con Edison was called to investigate a leaking gas curb box on Carthage Lane Dec. 5.

Firefighters helped a Lakin Road resident open a chimney flue and ventilate the house because of accumulated fireplace smoke Dec. 6.

Firefighters shut power to a malfunctioning boiler in an Overlook Road house and advised the homeowner to contact a service company Dec. 6.

A faulty fan in an air handler was causing smoke in a Park Road house Dec. 7. Firefighters shut down the system and ventilated the house.

This week, firefighters assisted at five car accidents in the village and on parkways. They responded to 18 false fire alarms caused by device malfunction, cooking smoke, leaking water and construction dust.

Scarsdale Village Justice Court:

Jonathan P. Ackerman pleaded guilty to the reduced charge of a registration violation. He was fined $168.

Shawn V. Hanley pleaded guilty to aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle. He was fined $293.

Danielle S. Harper pleaded guilty to the reduced charges of driving without a license and speeding (40/30). She was fined $360.

Mario E. Lucas-Gonzalez pleaded guilty to the reduced charge of driving without a license. He was issued a conditional discharge and fined $93.

Fidel Matias-Hernandez pleaded guilty to the reduced charge of driving without a license. He was issued a conditional discharge and fined $93.

Fredy R. Pucha Pucho pleaded guilty to the reduced charge of driving without a license and was fined $168.

Pietro Russo forfeited bail of $125 for failing to appear in court on vehicle and traffic charges for the second time. A previously issued bench warrant remains in effect.

Jossette C. Smith pleaded guilty to the reduced charges of driving without a license and disobeying a traffic control device. She was fined $380.

Vehicle and traffic charges were withdrawn from one defendant because of an error by the NYS Department of Motor Vehicles.

Village code violation charges were withdrawn from two defendants after they each showed proof of compliance. The cases were not related.

One case involving a youth offender was sealed.

Adjourned cases included the following charges: third-degree assault, driving while intoxicated (first offense), third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, fifth-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance, third-degree possession of marijuana and various vehicle and traffic violations.

The court issued two bench warrants, one arrest warrant and two warrant letters to defendants who did not appear in court as directed. Additionally, six other defendants charged with village code violations did not show up for court, and their cases were rescheduled for Dec. 17.

This report, covering police and fire department activity from Dec. 1-7 and the Scarsdale Village Justice Court calendar from Dec. 3, was 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.