Suspect arrested for stolen check, while police investigate two village burglaries and rash of keyed cars on Brook Lane

Arrest: On Oct. 23, police arrested Joel Santiago, 39, of the Bronx, on charges of petit larceny, second-degree possession of a forged instrument and third-degree unlawful possession of personal ID information. Santiago is accused of possessing a stolen Wells Fargo check from a Saxon Woods Road resident. The stolen check was written for $500 and made payable to "Joel Santiago." Santiago admitted to cashing the check. He stated, however, that the check had been freely given to him by the person who reported it stolen, and he said it had been left blank. Santiago claimed the person gave him the check because Santiago was going through hard times. The two knew each other through Santiago's employment at the Ambassador residential community. Santiago was released on $100 cash bail. He was ordered to return to court on Nov. 4.

Burglaries
Police were dispatched to Scarsdale Hardware store at approximately 5:50 a.m., Oct. 20, on the report of a commercial burglary. There, officer found a smashed pane of glass next to the front door. The owner said one of the store's three cash register drawers was taken. It contained an undisclosed amount of cash. The store's alarm was set at the time of the burglary. According to the owner, the store contains multiple cameras. Video footage will be made available to police for review, and the matter is under investigation.

On Oct. 25, A Brite Avenue woman returned home from Connecticut to find her master bedroom tossed and jewelry missing. She had been gone for only approximately 24 hours. All doors and windows were locked during her absence, but the house's alarm system had not been activated. Police noted numerous open closet doors and drawers, with empty jewelry boxes strewn about on the floor. The homeowner said all doors and windows remained locked when she returned home, and police could not find an obvious point of entry. The total estimated cost of the stolen jewelry was $50,000. Detectives are following up.

Keyed cars
A Greenacres resident reported his 2014 Jeep Wrangler and a 2014 Fiat 500 had been vandalized – probably while parked on the street while the man's driveway was being repaved, sometime between Oct. 5 and Oct. 8. Specifically, a cross-like shape had been scratched into the passenger side door of the Jeep, and other scratches appeared on the Fiat. The damage was estimated at $2,500. The man said he did not discover the damages until Oct. 11, when he was getting gas. He reported the matter to police on Oct. 21.

On Oct. 23, police learned of numerous keyed cars on Brook Lane. First, a Brook Lane man reported his 2008 Toyota Rav 4 and his 1997 Acura CLZ scratched. The incident occurred while the cars were parked in front of his house on the street. Later that day, another Brook Lane resident reported scratches on both the driver's side panel of her 2013 BMW and the driver's side door of her boyfriend's 2015 Mercedes. Some scratches on the BMW were discovered Oct. 22, and other scratches were discovered Oct. 23. A River Road man and a White Plains man also reported their cars – a 2014 Subaru Legacy and a 2006 Mazda – were keyed while the cars were parked on Brook Lane Oct. 23. On Oct. 24, a Claremont Road man reported more incidents. His 2013 Subaru was scratched on two different dates while the car was parked on Brook Lane – specifically, on Oct. 19 and Oct. 23. According to Scarsdale Police Captain Thomas Altizio, "Since this vandalism is limited to Brook Lane, we feel these are isolated incidents, and our Investigations Section will be concentrating on security video and witnesses on that particular road. Although we cannot say it with absolute certainty, it does appear that all of the acts of vandalism are related and may be the work of one person." Police do not believe these incidents are related to the recent burglaries that occurred this week.

Stolen bicycle
On Oct. 25, a Fox Meadow Road man reported his $1,800 Scott CR130 black and yellow bicycle was stolen from his garage sometime between Oct. 4 and Oct. 24. A paving company had access to the man's garage Oct. 13 and Oct. 15. Police are following up.

Identity theft
On Oct. 24, an Ardmore Road resident reported someone filed a fraudulent tax return using her Social Security number.

Someone used a Crossway man's Verizon account to purchase six Apple devices from a kiosk in North Grandville, Michigan sometime between Sept. 29 and Oct. 12. The devices were valued at approximately $4,000. The man reported the incident to police Oct. 25.

Harassment
On Oct. 23, a Greenacres woman reported her ex-boyfriend has been contacting her at work and sending her flowers although she ended the relationship and told him she did not want any further contact from him. She also told police she believed her ex-boyfriend had access to her social media accounts and posted unwanted photos to her account. Patrol called the ex-boyfriend and told him not to call hos ex-girlfriend.

Train station
A woman was concerned about a man with a large suitcases staring at train tracks at the Hartsdale train station Oct. 21. She thought he might want to jump onto the tracks and called Scarsdale police. Scarsdale police notified Greenburgh police and MTA police. MTA police arrived on scene to address the situation.

Lock out
A woman accidentally got locked out of her car and a house on Leatherstocking Lane Oct. 22. Police called the owner of the house who helped the woman get back in the car by contacting BMW for remote assist.

Taxi, limo
A passenger asked police to stand by at Popham and Overhill roads because the taxi driver was allegedly making the passenger "feel uncomfortable" Oct. 22. Police stood by until the driver left the scene.

A man called 911 to request a limo to bring him to his mother in New York City Oct. 24. Patrol advised the man to refrain from calling 911 for non-emergency situations. Patrol advised the man's brother-in-law, who said he would go to the man to help him.

Who's there?
A babysitter was home alone with a child around 9 p.m., Oct. 22. The sitter reported someone was knocking on the door and turning the doorknob without identifying himself or herself. Police canvassed the area but did not find anyone suspicious.

Disputes
Two intoxicated people were having a verbal dispute on East Parkway Oct. 23. Police mediated the situation and separately escorted the people to Central Taxi, where they were provided with separate taxis to take them home.

Post Road neighbors were arguing over the removal of a tree near the property line Oct. 24. The neighbors were advised to follow up with the building department on the next business day.

Kids
Three kids were observed throwing objects – possibly rocks – off a Fenimore Road Bridge onto the Bronx River Parkway Oct. 24. When questioned, the kids said they were throwing candy into the Bronx River. Police told the kids their actions could have serious consequences if a motorist was injured from any falling object. Police contacted the kids' parents, and all three kids were returned home.

Police broke up an unsupervised youth party on School Lane Oct. 24. The party host's parents were not home, and police informed an adult guardian who was responsible during the parents' absence.

Pedestrian hit
A 34-year-old Boulevard man was struck by a 2013 Audi while he was crossing Boulevard at 10:19 p.m., Oct. 21. The Audi driver – a 48-year-old Madison Road woman – was making a left turn from Madison Road at the time. The man was taken to White Plains Hospital Center for injuries.

Dog hit
According to a caller, an Elmdorf Road dog was struck by a car at Popham and Elmdorf roads Oct. 20. Police went to the scene, but did not see an injured dog.

Cars and roadways
An Ardmore Road woman was having difficulty pulling into her driveway because of a parked car on the street Oct. 19. The car was legally parked, and police offered to help the woman pull into her driveway. She declined.

Two parking summonses were issued to the drivers of cars parked on the wrong side of Chesterfield Road Oct 19. The cars made it difficult for a bus to pass.

An elderly man was walking on the Bronx River Parkway Oct. 19. A Westchester County police officer picked up the man and drove him to his house on Wayside Lane.
A woman reported an incident of road rage at Post Road and Boulevard Oct. 20. She said another driver cut her off and applied the brake so abruptly that it almost caused a collision. The other driver left the area before police arrived.

Police asked contractors to move their cars to a different spot on Obry Road to make the parked cars more visible to passing motorists Oct. 21.

After patrol repeatedly asked a truck driver to move his vehicle to improve traffic flow on Christie Place Oct. 22, the driver did not comply. So, police issued the driver a summons.

Nine car accidents were reported in the village this week.

Animals
A Claremont Road woman found a loose greyhound on her street Oct. 20. She called police and offered to keep the dog with her until its owner was found. Her children soon found the dog's owner, a neighbor who lived down the street. The dog and its owner were reunited.

A Mamaroneck Road woman reported a hawk flew into her window and appeared to be either seriously injured or dead Oct. 24. Prior to patrol's arrival, the hawk recovered and flew away.

Lost and found
A set of keys on a clown keychain was found on East Parkway Oct. 21. Police vouchered the keys for safekeeping.

A woman reported losing her Mexican passport near the intersection of Post Road and Huntington Avenue Oct. 23.

A woman walked into headquarters and reported her wallet was lost Oct. 24. Later, an employee from Starbucks, at the Hartsdale train station, found the wallet and returned it to her. Nothing was missing from the wallet.

Fire

A home at 7 Salem Drive in Mamaroneck suffered heavy damage Monday moring October 19 after heat from electric wiring in the area of the fireplace lit up the fireplace's wood frame. No one was home at the time of the fire. There was extensive smoke and water damage as well as an electrical malfunction. Investigators suspect the fire may have been caused by the installation of electric service at a home under construction next door.

Firefighters alerted a Church Lane resident that he was not allowed to burn twigs in his backyard barbecue Oct. 19. Firefighters extinguished the fire with a garden hose.

Food burning in an oven self extinguished in a Stratton Road house Oct. 19. Firefighters ventilated the house.

Firefighters helped a Taunton Road woman get into her house after she was accidentally locked out Oct. 19.

Two firefighters reported injuries during bailout training Oct. 20. One was taken to a hospital for evaluation, and the other refused medical attention.

A reported gas odor was determined to have been caused by cleaning chemicals in the public safety building Oct. 20.

A Secor Road resident extinguished a grease fire before firefighters arrived on scene Oct. 20. Firefighters ventilated the house and confirmed there was no extension of the fire.

The water department was in control of an open hydrant on Fenimore Road Oct. 20.
Firefighters shut down a malfunctioning heating system in a Brite Avenue house under renovation Oct. 20. They ventilated the house and monitored air quality until carbon monoxide levels decreased to acceptable levels.

A light switch overheated in a Taunton Road East house Oct. 20. Firefighters disconnected the switch at the circuit breaker.

Firefighters and Con Edison workers checked a Popham Road house because of a gas leak on the street Oct. 21.

Burned food on a griddle caused a odor in a Sage Terrace house Oct. 22.

Filled garbage cans were the possible source of a gas-like odor in an Elm Road house Oct. 22.

Firefighters stood by to assist Con Edison workers address a gas leak on Wayside Lane Oct. 23.

On Oct. 24, firefighters forced open the Christie Place parking garage elevator, and they used an attic ladder to free a woman who was stuck inside. The elevator was placed out of service.

Firefighters shut water to a leaking pipe in a Mayflower Road house Oct. 24.

A sump pump backup battery was releasing carbon monoxide in a Montgomery Road basement Oct. 25. The battery and its charger were removed for replacement, and firefighters ventilated the house.

This week, firefighters assisted at two car accidents in the village and on the Hutchinson River Parkway. They responded to seven false alarms caused by device malfunction and cooking smoke.

This report covering police and fire department activity from Oct. 19-25 was complied from official information.

Police Warns Public About Telephone Fraud:

There has been a recent increase in incidents where the caller attempts to fraudulently obtain money from victims using several different phone scams. The Scarsdale Police Department wants to alert residents to these fraudulent scams, to prevent people from becoming victimized.

"Grandchild In Jail" ‐ In this scam, the caller will claim to be a friend or relative that got into trouble or was involved in an accident in another country (often Mexico, Canada or one of the Caribbean Islands) and needs money to get out of jail. In some cases the scammer will tell the victim they are a police officer and their grandchild has been arrested and needs to have money sent to them for bail. The scammer will require that a Western Union MoneyGram be sent or Green Dot Card Money Card be purchased and the card number provided to them.

"IRS Tax Warrant" – In this scam, the caller will claim to be an agent or police officer from the Internal Revenue Service calling about a past due tax balance that is owed. The caller will tell the victim that unless the debt is paid immediately, they will send a team to the victims home to immediately arrest them. They scammer will also request that the "tax debt" be paid with a Western Union MoneyGram or Green Dot Card Money Card. Scams can be reported to the IRS here:

"Jury Duty Warrant" In this scam, the caller will claim to be a police officer or a warrant officer from Westchester County or New York State claiming to have a warrant for the victim for failing to report for jury duty. The scammer will also claim that unless a fine is immediately paid, the police will be sent to the victims home to arrest them. The scammer will demand that the fine be paid using a Western Union MoneyGram or Green Dot Card Money Card.

The public should be aware that all of the above telephone scams have been occurring frequently, and that the scammers are very good at frightening their victims into compliance. No government agency will ever ask you to pay a fine using a Western Union Money Gram or Green Dot Money Card. Should you receive any of these types of calls, advise the caller you are notifying your local police department and hang up.
Never respond to any telephone or Internet request for money without first speaking to a trusted friend, relative or your local police department.

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.