Police Report: Woman Scammed Out of $2K by Dating Site Contact Posing as Scarsdale Bank Branch Manager

On July 14, a 32-year-old New Jersey Avenue woman reported she was “scammed” out of $2,000 by a man and woman who claimed to work for Chase Bank. She met the man, who called himself “Danny,” on a website called “Plenty of Fish.” “Danny” claimed to be the manager of a local Chase Bank branch in Scarsdale. On July 14, the woman was scheduled to meet “Danny” at the branch and open a checking account. He contacted the woman and told her to wait outside with the money she brought to open the account. He told her he would send his intern out to greet her and collect her money. She waited in her car, and a dark-skinned woman with long red braids came out to the car with a deposit ticket and $1,000 cash that allegedly belonged to “Danny.” Danny had reportedly told the woman she would earn more incentives and he would earn a greater commission if she opened the checking account with a greater amount of cash. While in the car, the woman wrote her name and the alleged deposit amount needed to open the checking account. The alleged intern then left the car with the woman’s money, the deposit slip and headed towards Chase Bank. When the woman attempted top catch up with the alleged intern, she lost sight of her. The woman attempted to call “Danny,” but the calls went to voicemail. Police are following up.

Dead on arrival
On July 14, a real estate agent checking on a Gaylor Road house discovered a dead 53-year-old man in the house. No further information was provided.

An 88-year-old Webster Road man died in his sleep at home July 15.

Stolen
A woman reported someone entered her BMW parked in Merchant’s lot and stole her $350 Lenovo laptop computer sometime between 1:08 and 1: 35 p.m., July 10. She was interviewing for a job at a local business at the time. There was no damage or signs of forced entry to the car.

A black “State” bicycle, valued at $450, was reported stolen from a Chateaux Circle basement storage cage July 11. The padlock to the cage had been pried open. The bicycle was last seen in the cage on July 8. Police are following up.

Identity theft
On July 11, a Broadmoor Road resident reported an unknown person attempted to fraudulently open two lines of credit and a debit and checking account, in his name, with Key Bank. The attempts were unsuccessful.

Harassment
On July 11, a Harwood Court psychologist reported receiving threatening phone calls and emails on July 10. They were from a former female patient whom the psychologist first saw in her Newburgh, NY, office in June. The threats included language in which the former patient stated she would “choke you until you can’t breathe.” The former 55-year-old patient is a resident of Marlboro, NY.

Bias incident in Greenburgh
Greenburgh police notified Scarsdale police of a swastika symbol found on a pedestrian bridge crossing over the Bronx River Parkway in Greenburgh. Scarsdale police checked temples and churches along the BRP corridor and found no evidence of bias incidents in the village.

“Joe Blow”
On July 10, a caller requested to speak with a police officer or the chief. When asked who was calling, the caller identified himself as “Joe Blow.” He then reported the demolition of a Fairview Road property and alleged “workers were not controlling the blowing dust.” Patrol investigated the site and did not see any demolition in progress. Adequate hoses were on site and being used to wet down materials to mitigate dust.

Welfare check
Police helped a home health aide gain access to an Aspen Road house and checked the welfare of the Aspen Road woman who lived there July 10. Everything was in good order.

A Fox Meadow woman was worried about her husband who allegedly left the house in an agitated state July 14. Police contacted the husband and determined he was in good condition.

Cash
A Hillview Drive resident reported an unknown woman left an envelope containing $100 cash, addressed to an unknown person, on her doorstep July 15. The unknown woman was described as an Asian woman driving a white Kia with a white male passenger in the car. The resident said she would hold onto the envelope, addressed to “Dale” from the “Humans” for a few days in case someone attempted to claim it. If not one claimed the money, the resident said she would turn it over to police.

Suspicious
An employee of Hoff Barthelson Music School reported a Hispanic man, approximately 5’1” tall with black hair and of medium build, looking into the windows of parked cars in the parking lot around 5:45 p.m., July 10. When approached, the man allegedly “went on his phone and started walking fast towards School Lane.” At that time, a gray car, described as a possible Cadillac sedan with fancy rims, came quickly down the street. The man got inside, and the car sped away. Police searched the area, but the suspect was gone. Police are following up.

Civil matters
On July 10, a woman reported she was charged for 13 gallons of gas to “fill up” her tank at Scarsdale Avenue station, but she believed she received less gasoline because the next day her gas gauge was “low,” and she filled up her car with $10 of gas at another gas station. She then went to the Scarsdale Avenue station and demanded her money back. The attendant showed her the receipt that stated she received 13 gallons of gas and told her that was the correct and documented amount of gas received. The attendant told her she could address the issue with the gas station manager when he returned from vacation.

On July 13, a man alleged that a jewelry dealer who lives in the village switched the diamond in a ring during an appraisal at the dealer’s home. The man said he bought the alleged 3.1 carat diamond ring for $10,000 wholesale from the dealer 30 years in the past, during a time when the man was doing plumbing work in the dealer’s house. The man said he brought the ring back to the dealer for a formal appraisal in May. The appraisal intake slip described the ring as a 3.5 carat ring based on an initial eye test with a magnifying glass. When the man picked up the ring approximately two weeks later, both he and his wife felt the stone looked different. The stone was officially weighed at 2.79 carats. The dealer said the initial description of the ring’s size and weight was only an estimate based on a visual evaluation. Furthermore, since the stone was flat on top, the dealer said it could therefore look larger than it actually was. The dealer said he did not wish to do future business with the man and to pursue the matter in civil court should the man wish to do so.

Cars and roadways
A truck driver accidentally backed onto a Secor Road lawn, and the truck stalled there July 9. A mechanic was en route to repair the truck when police came upon the scene.

On July 10, patrol spoke with an official of a Wayside Lane church to advise the official that congregants should refrain from parking in the Wayside Tennis Court lot on Sundays. The official said he would make an announcement.

On July 11, police impounded an abandoned 2012 Honda Civic parked on Rock Creek Lane. The car was registered to a NYC man.

Pending the arrival of a technician, police erected portable stop signs at an malfunctioning traffic light at Heathcote Road and Morris Lane July 13.

Highway workers were notified about a large fallen branch on Ogden Road July 14.

A Meadow Road fire hydrant was reported to be off its base July 15. The water department was notified.

One car was legally repossessed in the village this week.

Twelve car accidents were reported in the village this week.

Animals
A raccoon was reported to be walking slowly and hissing during daylight on Boulevard and Sprague Road July 9. Patrol went to the area and found the raccoon on Sprague Road. Patrol observed the animal attempt to climb a tree, but the raccoon could not maintain its balance and fell out of the tree. Patrol shot and killed the sick raccoon, and sanitation workers disposed of the carcass.

A horse got loose from Boulder Brook Stables and was running on Mamaroneck Road July 9. Staff was underway and caught up with the horse. They brought the horse back without causing a disturbance.

A skunk was observed beneath a Jefferson Road grill July 10. Police gave the homeowner trappers’ phone numbers.

As per New Rochelle police, sanitation workers were called to address a road condition involving a dead animal on Weaver Street July 11.

A Carman Road woman reported a dead rabbit on her driveway July 12. She alleged someone intentionally killed and placed the rabbit there. The claims were unsubstantiated. Police investigated the rabbit and determined it suffered major trauma to the rear of its body, such as from being hit by a car. Furthermore, police hypothesized the rabbit crawled to its final resting place in the woman’s driveway after being hit by a car. Requests for video surveillance of the house and driveway, which would have substantiated the woman’s claims of a stalker placing the rabbit on her driveway, were denied.

Police caught a loose Tisdale Road dog and notified its owner July 12. The owner was issued a summons for having a dog at large.

Sanitation workers were notified about a dead raccoon on Weaver Street July 13.

Raccoons exhibiting odd behavior, suspect of possibly having rabies, were reported on Lyons and Bell roads July 14.

A coyote was observed in a Sheldrake Road yard July 15.

Lost and found
On July 9, a Nelson Road man reported the diamond from his wife’s engagement ring fell out of her ring and got lost while they were attending the Davis Park 4th of July parade on July 4.

A police officer found an iPad on Wayside Lane in the area of Paddington Road July 9. It was vouchered at headquarters for safekeeping.

On July 9, a man reported losing his driver’s license somewhere on Christie Place July 6.
On July 10, a Huntington Avenue woman reported losing the front license plate from her car.

A Heathcote Road woman reported losing a license plate July 12.

On July 12, a man reported losing his driver’s license somewhere in the village July 10.

An unattended rental Lime Bike was retrieved from Meadow Road July 12. Lime Bike was contacted for pickup.

A 3-5-inch address book found in Chase Road Park was given to police July 12.

Patrol attempted to find the owner’s contact information and called her. A voicemail was left regarding the found address book.

A passerby found a blue floral-print purse and gave it to police in village center July 13. It contained personal papers and 12 cents. Patrol left a message for the owner, as identified through papers in the purse. The purse was vouchered at headquarters for safekeeping.

On July 13, a Webster Road man reported his medication was missing for several days. He declined to specify the brand and type of the medication. In the presence of his parents, he then told police he did not want to file a formal report.

Village code
A man soliciting for a pest removal company on Meadow Road was advised he needed a permit to solicit in the village July 11.

On July 13, police issued landscapers summonses for using gas-powered equipment in violation of village code on Ferncliff Road.

Police dispersed noisy kids from Boulevard after dark July 13.

Neighbors complained about barking dogs on Meadow Road July 14. Patrol advised the dogs’ owner, and the dogs were brought inside. The owner apologized for the noise.

Firefighters
According to Scarsdale Fire Chief James Seymour, firefighters responded to 28 incidents in the last week. He shared the following details.

On July 9, firefighters responded to a reported oven fire in a Dunham Road house. They determined the resident was using the oven’s self-cleaning feature and the oven was functioning normally as it generated high heat and a slight amount of smoke.
A dumpster on Central Avenue in the Midway Shopping Center caught fire July 10. Firefighters assisted Greenville firefighters extinguish the fire and check nearby buildings for extension. No extension of the fire was found in either the building’s first floor or basement. Firefighters assisted with overhaul of the trash compactor and dumpster.

Firefighters assisted with a car accident on Claremont Road July 14.

A hanging light fixture in Penn Road house caught fire and self-extinguished July 14.

Firefighters confirmed there was no extension of the fire and that surrounding structural and cosmetic areas of the house were safe. They disconnected the fixture, removed it and capped the wires. They used fans to ventilate the house.

A natural gas odor was reported inside a Saxon Woods Road building July 16. Firefighters stood by for Con Edison.

This report covering police and fire department activity from July 9-15 has been compiled from official information.

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