Zebra Lost and Found and more from the Scarsdale Police

Zebra stolen: A $500 zebra statue was stolen from a traffic triangle at the intersection of Greenacres Avenue and Colvin Road overnight June 13. The statue is a feature of the neighborhood, and it was last seen around 8 p.m., June 13, when high school students were taking pictures with it. The statue was described as "a zebra lying down with one broken ear." According to the zebra's resident caretaker, the statue had been stolen from its location twice in the past, but both times it was mysteriously returned. On June 14, the zebra's caretaker called police to advise the zebra was back. Police drove by and confirmed the statue's return.

Stolen

Someone stole two packages from a Walworth Avenue front porch while the homeowner was away. The packages, which contained bed linens and food, had been delivered from Amazon on June 5 and 6. When the homeowner returned on June 7, the packages were no longer there.

A portable stop sign was stolen from its temporary base at the intersection of Nelson and Carman roads June11.

On June 12, a Birchall Drive resident reported his driver's license was stolen, along with his wallet, in Worcester, Massachusetts, on June 10. The resident reported the incident in Massachusetts, but he needed to report it locally in order to issue a replacement license.

Someone stole a rock painted with a number five from outside a Barry Road house sometime between 8 p.m., June 13 and 10:30 a.m., June 14. The rock was being used as an address marker.

Rampant identity theft

On June 8, a Taunton Road woman reported she was the victim of identity theft. A person opened a fraudulent Chase credit card in her name, using her Social Security number, on June 1. The card was used to purchase approximately $100 in merchandise from Bloomingdales. Chase closed the account on June 4 because the fraud department suspected the card might be fraudulent. On June 6, the woman received a call from Verizon in regard to an alleged upgrade to her telephone account. The woman said she did not request any upgrades or changes. Later that day, the woman received two credit cards in her name by mail. She told police she did not apply for the cards. Police advised the woman to report the incidents to the credit reporting bureaus and to closely monitor her financial accounts.

On June 10, a Brite Avenue woman reported someone opened a fraudulent Chase Freedom credit card in her name. The woman informed the bank and the credit reporting bureaus. She incurred no financial loss.

On June 9, a Nelson Road man was contacted by police in Paso Robles, California, in regard to a case of identity theft, in which the Nelson Road man might be a victim. Paso Robles police were investigating a suspect and needed to take a statement from the Nelson Road man over the phone. Scarsdale police assisted.

On June 10, someone attempted to withdraw $4,500 from a custodial account bearing a Brewster Road man's name. The person attempted the withdrawal at a New York City bank and presented a New Jersey driver's license with the man's name as identification. The bank teller denied the withdrawal because the suspect's behavior was "suspicious." After learning about the incident, the man checked his account and realized two fraudulent withdrawals were processed at Chase branches in the Bronx and Manhattan. The man filed a report with the credit reporting agencies and the Federal Trade Commission.

On June 12, a Birchall Drive man reported someone filed a fraudulent tax return in his name in April.

On June 14, a Fayette Road woman reported someone used her American Express account number to purchase approximately $300 worth of merchandise from a Modell's Sporting Goods store in New York City. The woman said she was never in that store, nor did she authorize the transaction.

Phone scam

On June 10, a Continental Road man reported receiving a call from an unknown person alleging to be an IRS agent. The caller said the Continental Road man owed $1,958.36 and "there was a case against him." The caller instructed the man to send the money, via Money Gram, to a person in Florida. The man suspected the call was a scam and did not send any money. Instead, he reported the call to police.

Criminal mischief

On June 12, a Swarthmore Road resident reported someone sprayed "string party spray" on her mailbox and by her door overnight. It caused a nuisance but did not damage the mailbox.

Harassment

On June 10, a 19-year-old girl and her mother reported someone was communicating with the girl through social media and by telephone, against her wishes. The girl said the communications did not contain any threats of physical harm, but she was concerned they might become more frequent in the future.

Wandering child

A motorist at the corner Fenimore Road and Brite Avenue saw a toddler walking alone on Brite Avenue, holding a soiled diaper at 11 a.m., June 14. The motorist stopped his car, went over to the girl and called police. Patrol arrived and began canvassing the neighborhood for the girl's parents. Several neighbors offered to help. One neighbor recognized the girl and identified her house on Cohawney Road. Patrol went to the door and spoke with the girl's parents. They identified their daughter and said they had last seen her at breakfast around 9:30 – 10:00 a.m. They deduced she must have walked out the back door, which was left open by contractors working in the house. Their three other children had been trying on new clothes at the time, the parents said. The parents told police their daughter regularly takes off her own diaper. Patrol stressed the importance of child safety to both parents, and they advised the parents to discuss safety rules with their children.

Dirty water

A Mamaroneck Road resident called police because water at her house was brown June 9. Police notified the water department.

Unattended bicycle

A Cushman Road resident was concerned about an unattended bicycle lying on the street in front of his house June 9. One patrol officer stood by watching the bicycle while other patrol officers checked the perimeter of the house for possible suspicious people. While investigating the situation, the owner of the bicycle came out of a neighbor's house and claimed his property. He said he was visiting a friend and apologized for leaving his bicycle in the street in a manner that caused alarm.

BB gun

Responding to a report of a man with a rifle driving a blue Honda on Harcourt Road, June 10, police encountered three young men in a Harcourt Road yard. A BB gun was lying nearby. The young men said they had been shooting cardboard boxes in the backyard, away from people and away from the street.

Property

On June 14, police stood by while individuals entered a Claremont Road house to remove belongings, according to a Stipulation of Settlement. While police were on scene, the son of the house's deceased owner gave three guns to police. The guns had belonged to his father, and the son wanted the guns destroyed.

Delivery?

A tan sedan pulled into a Drake Road driveway at 11 p.m., June 10. The driver got out and knocked on the front door of the house. He told the homeowner he was looking to deliver a package to a particular Drake Road address. The homeowner told the person he was at the wrong house, and the driver left. Due to the late hour, the homeowner thought the person's actions were suspicious. Police canvassed the neighborhood but did not find the person or the sedan.

Doorbell

Someone rang a Lincoln Road doorbell at 2:30 a.m., June 12. The homeowner did not answer the doorbell because he was not expecting anyone at that hour. Police canvassed the neighborhood but did not find anyone suspicious.

GPS

A man need to pickup his son from the son's job at Fenway Golf Club, but the man's GPS instead directed him to a Seneca Road house June 12. Because of a speech impediment, the man was unable to clearly communicate with the Seneca Road homeowners about why he was there. Police arrived and cleared up the confusion. Patrol directed the man to Fenway Golf Club where he was reunited with his son.

Unattended bag

Scarsdale police contacted MTA police about an unattended bag on a bench at Scarsdale train station June 13. MTA police brought a K-9 unit to investigate the bag. The bag was determined to be safe.

Cars and roadways

Police issued summonses to cars parked in front of fire hydrants on Sage Terrace June 9.

Police notified Con Edison about a low hanging wire at Olmsted and Brewster roads June 11.

Police removed a dead rabbit from Graham Road and notified the highway department for pickup June 12.

Police gave a driver directions from Weaver Street to an address in White Plains June 13. Because of the driver's initial confusion and reported erratic driving, police administered field sobriety tests, which the driver passed.

Police asked drivers to move illegally parked cars on Drake, Fayette, Hampton and Butler roads June 13. All drivers complied.

Police notified Cablevision about a low hanging wire on Chesterfield Road June 13.

Eight car accidents were reported in the village this week.

Civil matter

On June 10, a Garth Road woman reported she was dissatisfied with service she received for watch repair at a jewelry store. She claimed the owner demanded payment for the watch repair, even though the owner could not fix the watch and "needed another two weeks." She alleged the owner threatened to lock her in the store and grabbed her as she attempted to run out of the store with the watch. Police spoke to the owner who denied the allegations. He said the woman decided to cancel the repair order, grabbed the watch and ran out of the store. The owner said he went outside his shop and attempted to block the woman from leaving because he needed her to sign a pickup receipt for liability purposes. She signed the receipt, and both the owner and the woman stated they no longer wished to do business with each other. Police advised them the incident was a civil matter, should either person wish to follow up.

Animals

A raccoon had wedged itself between a Greenacres Avenue house and the homeowner's air conditioning unit June 8. The homeowner was concerned the raccoon might be sick. Patrol was unable to ascertain the health of the raccoon because of its position. Patrol provided the homeowner with local animal trappers' contact information.

On June 9, police were called to a Greenacres Avenue house on the report of a sick raccoon lying in a flower pot. According to the police report, the raccoon appeared to be on the verge of dying. The homeowner said he would monitor the situation and dispose of the animal once it died. Patrol advised the homeowner to contact the police department if the raccoon's condition changed.

A concerned citizen reported two injured raccoons in the vicinity of Mamaroneck and Catherine roads June 9. Due to the different sizes of the raccoons, the citizen surmised the raccoons might be "a mother and baby." The larger raccoon had apparently been hit by a car and was dead. Police notified the sanitation department for pickup. According to police, the smaller raccoon appeared capable of fending for itself and did not require human intervention.

A Sherbrooke Road resident heard noises on his property and thought they were caused by trespassers June 10. Police investigated the noises and thought they probably came from deer, which were seen on the property.

A passerby found a loose black dog with a leash attached to its collar on Popham Road June 13. Further investigation noticed a nearby house with a door ajar. A neighbor confirmed the dog belonged to the owners of that house. Patrol took the dog inside the house and closed the door so it could not get out again.

Lost and found

A Boulder Brook Road resident reported losing a driver's license somewhere in the village June 12.

A youth baseball coach found eyeglasses on Hyatt Field while coaching his team June 13. He brought the glasses to headquarters for safekeeping and said he would email team members' parents in the meantime.

Village code

Police dispersed kids from Greenacres field after midnight June 8.

Police issued a summons to a landscaper for using a gas-powered leaf blower on Hillview Drive, in violation of village code, June 9.

A Murray Hill Road resident complained about a door-to-door solicitor alleging to work for Verizon June 11. At the resident's request, police asked the solicitor to leave.

Police verified that solicitors on Vernon Road had proper permits to solicit at 8 p.m., June 11.

Police asked the manager of Saxon Woods Grill to lower the volume of DJ music at 8:30 p.m., June 11, after neighbors complained of noise.

After neighbors complained of noise from a Corell Road party at 10:15 p.m., June 13, police notified the party host. She apologized, said the party was ending and promised to reduce the noise level.

Fire

A teacher attempted to heat a muffin in a microwave at the high school June 11. For an unknown reason, the muffin began to smoke. This activated a fire alarm at the high school. After investigating the alarm, firefighters removed the microwave from the building.

Firefighters stood by for Con Edison at the site of a fallen electrical wire at Post and Olmsted roads June 11.

An elevator motor in an Overhill Road building overheated, caused a burning odor and smoke in the elevator shaft June 12.

The building superintendant shut down the elevators, and firefighters evacuated the building. Firefighters set up fans and opened windows for ventilation. The faulty elevator was put out of service until repairs could be made.

Firefighters stood by for Con Edison at the site of a natural gas leak at a Wynmor Road curb box June 13.

A burning odor was coming from an electrical outlet under a sink in a Haverford Road kitchen June 14.Firefighters shut power to the outlet and recommended calling an electrician for repairs.

Firefighters stood by to protect Con Edison workers from traffic in a blind curve while they repaired burning electrical wires on Murray Hill Road June 14.

While on a call to a Claremont Road house, police noticed the condition of the house was in a dangerous state and alerted the fire department June 14. According to the report: "Firefighters found multiple extension cords being used in a permanent state to power appliances, locked doors to second floor bedrooms and egress impeded by clutter and debris." The fire inspector was notified for follow-up.

According to witnesses, someone set off fireworks in Davis Park and fled around 10:30 p.m., June 14. Firefighters checked the area for safety and found no evidence of fire.

This week, firefighters assisted at one car accidents in the village. They responded to one false carbon monoxide alarm and 12 false fire alarms caused by device malfunction, shower steam, smoke from a charcoal grill, construction dust and candle smoke.

This report covering police and fire department activity from June 8 – 15 was compiled from official information.

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