Suspects Arrested for Trespassing in Quaker Ridge: Rash of Car Break-ins During Crisis, Hackers Crash ZOOM Passover Seder

Police Arrest Two for Trespassing and Possession of Forged Instruments:
Shortly before 10 p.m., April 9, a Meadow Road resident reported seeing two suspicious men on her property. The description of the men matched descriptions of men in a reported possible attempted burglary last week. Police responded to the scene and located a possible suspect sitting inside a parked car on Herkimer Road.

Police questioned the person, and as a result, the person – a 27-year-old Bronx man – was issued summonses for operating an unregistered motor vehicle, third-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, operation of a motor vehicle by an unlicensed driver and operation of a motor vehicle without an inspection certificate. Patrol was additionally unable to identify the owner of the car, and the car was impounded.

A short time later, New Rochelle police observed two men running along Weaver Street. An aviation unit followed the men and directed ground units to Gatehouse Road where New Rochelle police stopped the men for questioning. According to a press release issued by Captain Ed Murphy, “[Because of] the fact that Scarsdale police had officer assigned to the area because of last week’s reports and the fact that residents contacted the police so quickly, the parties were able to be stopped and identified.”

On April 15, police announced that further investigation had resulted in the arrests of Emiljan Drekaj, 26, of Bronx NY, charged with Trespass and Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument 2nd Degree, a Class D Felony and Joland Gjeka, 22, of Bronx, NY, also charged with Trespass.

Car break-ins
On April 6, a Ferncliff Road man reported his wallet, containing $250 cash, his driver’s license and credit cards, had stolen from his car parked in his driveway sometime between April 4 and 6. Additionally, two cases of beer were stolen from the backseat.

On April 6, a second Ferncliff Road man reported three rolls of quarters were stolen from his unlocked parked car overnight.

On April 8, a Windmill Lane resident reported a person wearing dark pants and a gray hooded sweatshirt unsuccessfully attempted to break into his locked, parked car in his driveway at 4:30 a.m., April 8. A security doorbell camera captured the incident.

On April 8, a Fairview Road resident reported someone gained entry to two unlocked parked cars in her driveway overnight. The center consoles and glove boxes were tossed. Approximately $20 in quarters was stolen from one of the cars.

On April 8, a Windmill Circle resident reported someone broke into her unlocked parked car in her driveway overnight. The console and glove compartment had been rummaged through and their contents were left on the front seats of the car. Additionally, a key fob for the car had been removed from inside a compartment in the driver’s side door and placed under a doormat located at the side door of the resident’s house. A neighbor’s motion sensor detected motion outside the house around 4 a.m. Police are investigating.

An Oak Way woman’s handbag and two key fobs were stolen from inside her parked car, located in her driveway, April 8. The handbag contained $900 cash, credit cards and personal documents.

In the early morning hours of April 9, A Madison Road resident reported her doorbell surveillance camera captured footage of a man in a gray hoodie entering two unlocked parked cars in her driveway. The interiors of the cars were tossed, but nothing was taken. When she attempted to make verbal contact with the suspect, he fled the driveway and entered one of two parked cars – a dark SUV and a 4-door sedan – on the street. At that time, both cars left the scene. While investigating this incident, police noticed cars at one other house on the street, at least, had their dome lights on. Further investigation revealed the contents of consoles and glove boxes had been tossed. The owner of the cars, however, reported nothing had been stolen.

A Brite Avenue woman reported credit cards were stolen from her parked car in her driveway April 10. Approximately one dozen fraudulent charges – totaling $684.77 – were processed through one of the cards.

On April 10, a Brite Avenue woman reported a men’s jacket and loose change were stolen from two unlocked, parked cars, in her driveway, on April 8.

Deaths
On April 9, an 85-year-old Murray Hill Road man reportedly died at home.

On April 11, around 10 p.m., patient at a Saxon Woods Road facility reportedly had no respiration and a low pulse. The patient – an 89-year-old man – was pronounced dead on arrival, by attending paramedics and police.

On April 11, at 11 p.m., a nurse at a Saxon Woods Road facility requested assistance with a 90-year-old female patient who needed medical attention. The patient was pronounced dead on arrival, by attending paramedics and police.

Stolen car
In April 8, a Park Road woman reported someone stole her 2018 Cadillac XT5 parked in her driveway overnight. Her groundskeeper had last driven the car, and the car keys had been left inside the car when it was parked.

Stolen items
On April 8, a Brite Avenue resident reported someone entered his open garage overnight and stole some items of minimal value.

On April 9, a Brite Avenue resident reported an Amazon package was delivered to her house and stolen approximately 12 minutes after it was dropped off. The resident is handling the loss through the Amazon retailer.

Identity theft
On April 9, a Paddington Road woman reported someone used her credit card to fraudulently purchase three pieces of furniture from an online retailer. Two additional orders were thwarted, due to the woman reporting the fraud, before delivery was made to an unknown address.

Hackers
An Ogden Road caller reported that while hosting an online Passover meeting via Zoom, approximately six to nine unknown individuals hacked into the virtual session and were posting unwanted offensive and hateful messages and videos April 9. The Zoom meeting was not password protected and had been open to the public to join. The Westchester County D.A.’s office that handles hate crimes was notified about the incident. An investigation is ongoing.

Video spam
A Church Lane South woman reported receiving a disturbing video message, concerning the coronavirus pandemic, on her phone April 7. Police viewed the video and determined it was an Internet prank that the woman had misinterpreted. It did not contain any specific threats, criminal activity or suspicious behavior.

Welfare check
Police conducted a welfare check of an 87-year-old Post Road resident April 9. The resident was OK.

On April 12, a Carthage Road woman asked police to check the welfare of an Instacart driver who had delivered groceries to her house an hour ago and then went back to his car and not left her driveway. Police checked on the man and found him sleeping. He indicated he was tired and fell asleep after making the delivery. Police checked his license and determined it was not valid. He was issued a summons and was told to park his car on street. He called an Uber to be driven home, and he called a licensed driver to come and pick up his car.

Neighbors asked police to check the welfare of Quaker Ridge residents, at a house where mail and packages were piling up outside, April 12. Police went to the house and found it to be apparently unoccupied. They moved the delivery boxes and newspapers away from the front of the house to a side door, so as not to attract attention and possible criminality.

Drone
A Brite Avenue resident reported a drone flew onto his property, near his doorstep, at 2 a.m., April 8.

Letter
A Dunham Road resident received a letter in the mail from an unknown person April 8. The letter was not addressed to anyone specifically. It had a return address from New Rochelle. It contained offensive language. Police advised the resident to report it to the U.S. Postal Service.

Suspicious activity
A Post Road woman reported seeing two men outside her house taking photos with a flash around 2:20 a.m., April 11. One was wearing dark colored sweatshirt, and one appeared to be white, wearing a black hat and black outfit. The men continued walking in the direction of White Plains after they apparently took photos, the woman said.

Social distancing
Police dispersed a gathering of kids from Wayside Lane and informed them that school fields and playgrounds were closed April 7.

A group of teens was sunbathing behind Heathcote School on Palmer Avenue April 7. Police admonished them and dispersed them.

Police advised four kids playing basketball at Greenacres School that the court and school grounds were closed April 7. The kids dispersed.

People gathering around a parked car on Tisdale Road were not practicing social distancing April 8. Police admonished and dispersed them.

On April 9, police dispersed three people from Butler Field.

Police dispersed kids from a basketball court at Edgewood School and told them it was closed April 11.

Police observed a group of kids riding bikes on Fox Meadow Road, but they appeared to be practicing social distancing April 11.

Police dispersed a group of skateboarders on Brewster Road April 11.

Police dispersed a large group of people, not following social distancing orders, on fields and a playground on Mamaroneck Road April 11. Police informed the people that the area was closed. Later that day, police dispersed more kids from Mamaroneck Road fields.

Police used the public address system of a patrol car to inform basketball players that all Village courts, parks, fields and playgrounds were closed April 11. The players left the area as per police instruction.

Police dispersed a gathering of people outside an Oak Lane house April 12. The homeowner said it was a drive-by birthday party. Police reminded her of social distancing precautions.

Governor’s orders
Police responded to a Wheelock Road construction site where they encountered one plumber working on site April 6. The plumber said he was aware of Governor Cuomo’s orders involving non-essential work. He said the plumbing repair was necessary and affirmed he was the only worker on site.

On April 6, police checked a Lenox Place construction site. Only one worker was there, performing essential repair work. The single worker said he understood that no one else was permitted to be on the job site.

Police confirmed that work being performed at Copper Beech Lane and Weaver Street was, in fact, essential April 7.

Landscaping work being performed on Pinecrest and Sherbrooke roads on April 7 was deemed to be essential.

On April 9, police reminded two workers at a White Road construction site that no more than one worker was permitted to be at a necessary construction site at a time, as per Governor Cuomo’s orders. Both workers suspended work and left the scene.

Cars and roadways
On April 8, police informed Verizon that a telecommunications wire had fallen on Griffen Avenue.

On April 8, police informed Verizon about a fallen wire on Walworth Avenue.

Police taped off an area of Garth Road around a fallen streetlight April 8. The highway department was notified for repair.

A sewage backup was reported on Tunstall Road April 9. The highway department was notified.

Verizon was notified about fallen wires on Heathcote Road April 9.

A concerned caller reported a dangling tree branch on Brambach Road April 10. The homeowner stated he had been trimming tree branches but stopped due to high winds. He said he would finish cutting down the branch after the wind subsided. Police determined the branch was secure and did not pose an immediate threat.
A caller reported a dead squirrel on the ramp of the Bronx River Parkway near Fenimore Road April 11. Police notified Westchester County Police.

A suspended plastic exit sign was discovered to have been knocked down from the ceiling of Christie Place garage April 11. The highway department was notified for repair.

Police informed Verizon about a low-hanging wire on Lee Road April 11.
A disabled car was parked on Fox Meadow Road April 11. Police contacted the owner via a phone number left on a dashboard note. The owner said he would return to pick up the car in approximately 30 minutes.

No car accidents were reported in the Village this week.

Animals
On April 7, police reunited a lost dog found on Franklin Road with its owner.

On April 7, a Brambach Road resident picked up a neighbor’s dog that had wandered loose onto his property. Police advised the resident to contact New Rochelle Humane Society.

Police received a complaint about a barking dog on Meadow Road April 11. Police contacted the owner, who said he would bring his dog inside.

A Saxon Woods Road resident reported having a verbal dispute with a man walking an unleashed dog in the woods near his house April 12. The man and dog left before police arrived.

A deer caught in a Richbell Road fence was making unusual noises reported by a homeowner at 1 a.m., April 13. Police managed to free the deer unharmed.

Lost and found
A passerby found a credit card on Greenacres Avenue April 11. Police contacted the owner for pickup at headquarters.

Firefighters
According to Fire Captain James Seymour, firefighters responded to 18 incidents last week.

On April 8, firefighters assisted with a rollover car accident on the Hutchinson River Parkway.

On April 9, firefighters assisted Hartsdale Fire Department with a smoke scare inside a multiple-story building.

On April 11, firefighters investigated a reported odor in a Rectory Lane house. The odor was determined to be a “slight basement or sewer odor.” Firefighters were unable to locate the source. They ran water in all sinks and showers, and they ventilated the area. Firefighters advised the homeowner to call if the odor returns or consult with a plumber, due to past sewage problems.

On April 12, firefighters used a fan to ventilate a Lee Road house due to a natural gas odor and carbon monoxide. Com Edison was already on scene addressing gas leaks at the boiler and at a curb valve.

This report covering police and fire department activity from April 6-12 is being compiled from official information.