Police report: Identity theft and fraudulent tax returns top crime this week

Identity theft: On April 2, a Lawrence Road woman reported someone made an unauthorized wire transfer from her Citibank savings account. She discovered it while checking her online account records April 1. Citibank's fraud department was notified. The person who made the unauthorized transfer executed the transaction at a New York City bank branch by presenting a fraudulent passport and providing personal account information.

Fraudulent tax returns

On March 31, a Hamilton Road woman and a Carthage Road man each reported someone filed a fraudulent tax return in their names. No monetary losses were incurred. The fraudulent returns were not related.

On April 4, a Franklin Road resident reported a fraudulent tax return was filed his name. In addition, Experian reported a fraudulent account was opened in the resident's name. The resident informed the IRS and Experian of the fraud. The resident signed up for a credit monitoring service.

On April 4, a Brewster Road resident reported someone filed fraudulent tax returns in his name and his wife's name in 2013 and 2014. A fraudulent refund check was allegedly issued to the suspect, but the IRS would not release any details regarding the check.

Domestic incident

On March 30, a man asked police for advice about obtaining an order of protection for his brother and his family due to an ongoing domestic relations problem.

Missing person

On April 4, a Quaker Ridge resident reported a 79-year-old person from Massachusetts was missing in the village. According to the police report, the person was subsequently located. No other information was made available.

Criminal mischief

On April 5, two village traffic signs were knocked down on Palmer Avenue. Remnants of a vehicle's undercarriage and tire were left behind at the scene. Police picked up the signs, and a note was made for the highway department to reposition the signs as soon as possible. The incident was classified as criminal mischief.

Social Security number

A Graham Road woman reported her secretary accidentally emailed the woman's Social Security number to an incorrect email address April 3. The email address was similar to the woman's correct email address, with the exception of two characters. The woman said she has taken precautionary measures to safeguard her personal information. She was advised to inform police if she discovers any criminal activity or identity theft as a result of the improperly emailed Social Security number.

Welfare check

At the request of a concerned daughter, police and Scarsdale Volunteer Ambulance Corps checked the welfare of an 86-year-old Heathcote woman March 31. The woman refused medical assistance, and SVAC noticed the woman might not have taken her medication the previous night. Patrol informed the daughter and advised her to go to her mother's house to make sure she was living in her usual conditions. The daughter said she would check on her mother that evening.

Lost iPhone

A Crossway woman lost her iPhone at a CVS store in Eastchester and remotely locked it April 1. Later she used a tracking feature to trace the phone's location to a house on Secor Road. The woman retrieved her phone from the homeowner of the Secor Road house who had found the phone and brought it home. Police advised the person who found the phone to always notify local authorities about the discovery of lost property.

Parking dispute:

On April 1, a woman reported a man yelled at her in the high school parking lot because he did not approve of where she parked her car. The woman noted the man's license plate number and reported the incident to police. Police called the man and spoke with his wife. The man refused to speak with patrol but said he would accept communication by email. Patrol advised the man to contact police about any future parking problems, as opposed to taking matters into his own hands.

Aggressive driving:

Two men walked into headquarters for help resolving an issue regarding alleged aggressive driving April 1. The men each gave different stories to police regarding the incident. They eventually left headquarters after the matter was diffused.

Unwanted visitor:

At 9 p.m., April 1, a Drake Road resident reported someone knocked on his door, requesting permission to enter the house. The resident did not open the door because he was not expecting any visitors, and he felt it was too late to open the door to a stranger. The person was described as a white man in his 20s, with black hair, wearing a jumpsuit.

Dog waste

On April 1, a Brite Avenue homeowner reported a neighbor's dog has been defecating on her yard for approximately one year, and the owner has not been cleaning up after the dog. The homeowner thought these actions might be intentional and related to a previous dispute over the property line between the two houses. Police spoke with the dog owner about village code regarding proper disposal of dog waste. The owner said she understood patrol's instructions.

Wildlife

On April 2, an injured hawk was blocking traffic at the intersection of Olmsted and Brewster roads. The hawk eventually flew into a Hickory Lane yard, where it was picked up by a wildlife rehabilitator.

A Chesterfield Road homeowner reported a bat was loose inside her house with her children at 9 p.m., April 2. From outside the house, patrol could see the bat flying around in an interior upstairs room. Patrol shut the door to the room, trapping the bat inside. Patrol provided the homeowner with a trapper's phone number. The trapper said he could come to the house in 45 minutes to catch the bat.

Cars and roadways

On March 31, police noticed a large pothole at Brite Avenue and Donellan Road. The highway department said Con Edison would have to make the repair because the pothole was due to a sunken gas cut. Police placed a traffic cone over the hole and informed Con Edison.

Patrol notified the highway department about several large potholes on Huntington Avenue and Franklin Road March 31.

A car parked on Freightway Road was missing its front right tire and taking up two spaces March 31. Patrol issued a summons for improper parking to the registered owner.

Patrol helped a driver change a flat tire at the intersection of Fenimore Road and Walworth Avenue March 31.

On April 4, police called a towing company to help a driver who had accidentally locked his keys in his car with the engine running on Webster Road.

Patrol notified the water department about a broken water main on Birchall Drive April 4.

A driver was reportedly slumped over her steering wheel at Burgess and Richbell roads at 9 p.m., April 4. Police arrived to investigate the call and discovered the driver in good condition. She was lost and had stopped to consult a map.

Patrol helped a driver move her disabled car from Heathcote and Post roads April 5. The car was parked at Village Hall, and the driver said her husband would pick up the car for repair the next morning.

Six car accidents were reported in the village this week.

Village code

On April 4, police advised a Canterbury Road landscaper he was not permitted to use gas-powered blowers before 10 a.m. that day. The landscaper apologized and promised to comply with village code.
Police issued a summons to another landscaper for using a gas-powered blower on Innes Road before 10 a.m., April 4.

After receiving a report of reckless driving by a silver SUV and a black sedan in the parking lot of Edgewood School at 7:30 p.m., April 5, police found the cars parked at the school. Patrol spoke with both drivers and advised them of the complaint. Patrol advised the drivers to leave school grounds immediately since it was after dark.

Fire

On March 31, a woman called firefighters because she kept receiving calls stating her house was on fire. She thought the calls were pranks because she checked her entire house and found no cause for alarm. Firefighters checked her house and confirmed there was no fire. They checked with the dispatcher and learned there was a house fire at a similar street address but in a different jurisdiction.

On March 31, firefighters helped Con Edison check over 20 houses for possible gas infiltration after a gas leak was discovered in the sewer system on Harvest Road.

Firefighters called Con Edison about an outdoor gas odor on Fox Meadow Road and positive gas readings in nearby storm drains March 31.

A self-cleaning oven would not open in a Windward Lane kitchen April 1. The resident was concerned that the adjacent cabinets might be too hot. Firefighters used a thermal imaging camera and determined the kitchen cabinets were not at risk of burning. The oven was determined to be functioning properly.

Firefighters advised a Garden Road resident to call for boiler service after a smoke odor was detected in the house without cause for alarm.

Firefighters called Con Edison about a Hamilton Road gas leak caused by a contractor puncturing a gas line April 1. Firefighters helped check nearby homes for safety.

A pipe in an Oakstwain Road pool house was leaking water into two Donellan Road basements April 1, Firefighters shut water and advised the homeowner to call a plumber. Water damage occurred in both Donellan Road houses.

A hot water boiler was under pressure and leaking water in a Mamaroneck Road house April 2.

Firefighters shut off the boiler's automatic water fill valve and turned off gas and electricity connections.

Firefighters extinguished a small pile of debris smoldering in a Valley Road yard April 2. The cause of the fire was undetermined, but the report noted there was "no evidence of intentional ignition."

A car was left running in a Brite Avenue garage for approximately 16 hours, after an elderly resident asked her housekeeper to start the car for her. At 4:15 a.m., April 3, a carbon monoxide alarm went off in the house, and the elderly homeowner self evacuated. Firefighters detected extremely high levels of carbon monoxide in the house and dropping levels of oxygen. They put on protective equipment, turned off the running car and used a fan to ventilate the house. Scarsdale Volunteer Ambulance Corps treated the homeowner for carbon monoxide poisoning and took her to White Plains Hospital Center for further care.

Smoke on Autenreith Road was caused by a resident burning something as part of a religious observation April 3.

Firefighters stood by for Con Edison at the site of a reported gas odor on Dolma Road April 3.
Smoke near the Bronx River Parkway was coming from a car with a broken radiator hose April 4.

Food residue ignited in a self-cleaning oven in a Hillview Drive house April 4. The fire self extinguished before firefighters arrived. Firefighters confirmed the fire did not extend beyond the oven. They advised the homeowner to wait until the oven cooled off before opening it and removing large pieces of food residue.

Firefighters helped Hartsdale firefighters with a brush fire near the Metro North train tracks in Hartsdale April 5.

This week, firefighters assisted at one car accident on the Hutchinson River Parkway. They responded to 15 false fire alarms caused by device malfunction, cooking smoke, burnt microwave food and heat from a hair dryer.

This report covering police and fire department activity from March 30 – April 5 was compiled from official information. Scarsdale Village Justice Court was not in session April 1.

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