Day Camp Security Guard Arrested for Stealing Counselor’s iPhone, Residents Smoked by Sewer Testing

On Aug. 4, a Village mother reported her 18-year-old daughter’s $499 iPhone had been stolen from her daughter, while her daughter was working as a day camp counselor, at Scarsdale High School. That morning, the phone had been placed in a designated bin, which was supposed to be secured in an office during camp hours. However, at the end of the workday, the phone was gone when the daughter went to retrieve it. The iPhone case also contained the girl’s driver’s license and a debit card. The mother tracked the phone and provided its location to police. She also cancelled the debit card. Following a swift investigation of the matter, with the cooperation of Parks and Recreation Department officials, police arrested a man – Israel Rodriguez, 62, of West Haverstraw – who had been hired to work as a security guard at the camp. Rodriquez admitted to stealing the phone and surrendered himself for arrest at headquarters on Aug. 6. He was charged with petit larceny, a misdemeanor, and fourth-degree grand larceny for stealing a credit card, a felony. He was released on his own recognizance and ordered to appear again at Scarsdale Village Justice Court on Aug. 25.

Stolen
On Aug. 4, a Heathcote Road woman reported her carpenter’s equipment had been stolen from the garage of her house during the overnight period of July 28-29. Missing items included $150 drills bits, a $60 air hose, a $75 radio, 1 $120 nailer, a $290 air compressor, a $600 chop saw and a $200 stand.

Scam
A Carthage Lane man reported he was the victim of a scam and lost $1,900 Aug. 2.

Identity theft
On Aug. 2, a Kingston Road woman reported someone used her personal information to fraudulently open an account in her name.

Overcharged
A man was accidentally overcharged on his credit card while doing business at a Scarsdale Avenue establishment around midnight, Aug. 4. The cashier said he did not know how to issue a refund by card. The customer called police. The cashier said he could refund the difference in cash. Police stood by while the matter was settled.

Help
On Aug. 7, police came across a disoriented, elderly man walking alone on Cushman Road. The man did not know his address and told police he was out looking for his wife. Using the man’s NYS driver’s license, they determined his address, contacted his wife and returned him to his home.

Dirt
On Aug. 2, a Carman Road man reported his car had been “vandalized” the previous night while parked in his driveway. Police examined the car, and it appeared that dirt was on the driver’s side widow. There was no damage to the car. The man asked for police to document the incident.

Noises
On Aug. 3, police received two reports of possible gunshots in the area near headquarters. Officers investigated, but found no signs of people shooting guns.

After midnight, Aug. 3, a Brambach Road man reported there was an explosion – possibly fireworks – in his driveway. Police went to the scene. No damage or scorch marks were observed in the driveway.

Two Lee Road residents reported hearing loud noises outside around 12:40 a.m., Aug. 3. One resident also reported that he found a gouge in one of his front window frames that morning, and he thought it could have been related to the noise. Police, however, found no signs of projectiles or debris in the area.

A Sheldrake Road resident reported hearing three “loud booms” at 5 a.m., Aug. 5. Police checked the area and could not determine the source of the reported noise.

A Kent Road man reported hearing firework noises outside around 1:20 a.m., Aug. 6. He looked out the window and saw two individuals walking up the street. These individuals reportedly walked up a neighbor’s driveway. Police canvassed the area but did not find the reported individuals.

Unusual behavior
A “possibly intoxicated” man wearing jeans and a buzz cut hairstyle was reported to be walking n the area of Popham and Garth roads Aug. 3. He was gone when police arrived to investigate the call.

On Aug. 3, a caller reported a man wearing jeans and a button-down shirt, who “did not appear to be making much sense,” was walking in the area of Chase Park. He was gone when police arrived.

On Aug. 4, a caller reported seeing a white man with long hair, wearing jeans, yelling and running from the library parking lot into the woods, heading toward the high school. The caller though the man might need assistance. Police canvassed the area but did not locate the man.

A neighbor asked police to perform a welfare check of a Brambach Road man ‘due to the neighbor’s perception of “unusual activity” Aug. 4. Police checked on the man, and everything was in good order.

A resident of a Popham Road building reported an unknown man, wearing a white sweatshirt, blue pants and smoking, entered the rear garden gate Aug. 5. The resident was concerned because she thought the man did not live in the building. The man left the garden before police arrived.

A Whig Road woman reported she was sitting outside on her front steps when an unknown man approached her house around 8 p.m., Aug. 5. She said she made eye contact with the man, and this caused him to run away. Police canvassed the area but did not find the man.

Safety
Tape and barriers had been removed from a blocked-off walkway in the Freightway Garage Aug. 4. Police put the barriers back in place and affixed new caution tape.

Lock-out
A parent accidentally got locked out of her car, with her two children inside, on Fox Meadow Road Aug. 5. The car’s climate control system was on, and the kids remained in good spirits in their car seats. Police and firefighters used a lockout kit to open the car doors.

Cars and roadways
A car driving very slowly down Post Road into White Plains had malfunctioned and entered a safe mode, which prevented the car from accelerating Aug. 3. The driver declined a tow.

Police called a tow for a disabled car on Bypass Aug. 3. Since the car could not be shifted into neutral, the tow operator applied a soap solution to the wheels. This solution dripped onto the road. Police notified the highway department for cleanup.

Police reported a low-hanging wire over Colvin Road to Verizon Aug. 4.

Police called a tow for a disabled car on Mamaroneck Road Aug. 5.

On Aug. 5, police called the owner of a car parked on Cooper Road, in violation of posted no parking signs due to paving operations. The owner promptly moved the car.

A caller reported recent paving work on Dolma and Murray Hill roads caused “lips” in the roadway which caused a bicyclist to fall down Aug. 5. The bicyclist had left the scene, apparently uninjured. The paving work is ongoing, thus addressing any issues.

Patrol helped push a stalled car to the side of Greendale Road while the driver waited for a mechanic Aug. 6.

Police assisted a delivery truck driver make a delivery to a Cooper Road address while Cooper Road was closed Aug. 6.

Police reported low-hanging wires over Saxon Woods to Verizon Aug. 6.

A work truck was blocking traffic on River Road Aug. 7. The contractor agreed to move his truck.

A bale of hay fell off a truck on Palmer Avenue Aug. 7. Police moved it to the side of the road and notified the highway department.

According to a driver, his car was having problems on the Bronx River Parkway, and Westchester County police had the car towed to a parking lot of Weaver Street around 11 p.m., Aug. 8. The driver was waiting for his own tow, which was en route. The driver told police he was scared to wait alone in the parking lot. Police assured him the lot was safe, well lit and frequently patrolled by police.

Animals
A Carman Road man requested trappers’ information because there was an injured cardinal in his backyard Aug.2.

A loose husky was reported in the area of Crossway and Mamaroneck Road Aug. 3. It was not there when police arrived. However, approximately 20 minutes later, a Palmer Avenue caller reported he had picked up the dog, which he saw running loose on the street. The dog’s owner arrived on scene and picked up the dog.

A Colvin Road woman reported hearing possible animal noises inside her house after midnight Aug. 6. Police checked the house but did not find any animals.

A loose small brown dog was reported on Fox Meadow Road Aug. 7. Police helped reunite the dog with its owner.

A loose pit bull was reported on Drake Road Aug. 7. Police looked for the dog but could not find it.

Village code
Police advised a Dolma Road pool work crew that Village code prevented early morning construction work and noise, so the crew immediately stopped work at 7:30 a.m., Aug. 3. They said they’d wait until the designated time to resume.

Police received a report of early morning work with power tools on Catherine Road Aug. 7, and they informed the work crew of designated work hours, as per Village code. The crew agreed to comply.

Neighbors complained about loud music coming from a Cushman Road gathering Aug. 7. Police did not feel the noise level violated Village code but informed the homeowner of the complaint and advised on Village noise ordinances. After a second complaint was registered an hour later, the homeowner volunteered to lower the volume of the music.

A Morris Lane homeowner lowered the volume of music after neighbors complained of noise Aug. 7.
Police advised a White Birch Lane resident of a noise complaint Aug. 7. The resident said the gathering was already in the process of concluding.

A caller reported a loud argument on Mamaroneck Road at 2:45 a.m., Aug. 8. Police went to the area but did not find any arguing people.

Police called a tow for a disabled car on East Parkway Aug. 8.

Lost and found
On Aug. 4, a Shawnee Road man reported losing his license plate somewhere in the Village.

A caller called police and said he just left a laptop computer in a black case by the War Memorial at Boniface Circle Aug. 6. Police went to the War Memorial and found the laptop. The caller said he would pick it up from headquarters.

Firefighters
On Aug. 4, police stood by for Con Edison at the site of an activated gas alarm in a Brite Avenue house.

On Aug. 5, smoke from sewer line testing near the Hutchinson River Parkway and Mamaroneck Road was mistaken for smoke by a caller. Firefighters investigated and confirmed there was no fire in the area.

Smoke from sewer line testing also generated calls about “chemical smells” on Harvest Drive Aug. 5. Firefighters ventilated affected areas to alleviate any odors.

Sewer line test smoke set off a false fire alarm in a Mamaroneck Road basement Aug. 5. Firefighters advised the homeowner to keep windows open to ventilate.

Smoke from sewer line testing entered a Stratton Road house, possibly through a loose sewer cap, Aug. 5. Firefighters assisted the homeowner with identifying the entry point and ventilating the structure.

On Aug. 5, smoke from sewer line testing also entered two Lenox Place houses, possibly through loose sewer caps. Firefighters assisted the homeowners with identifying the entry points and ventilating the structures.

On Aug. 7, radiator piping for a steam system was leaking water in a Church Lane house. It was determined that the system had been improperly filled with water. Firefighters advised the homeowner to drain the system and call a plumber.

This report covering police and fire department activity from Aug. 2-8 has been compiled from official information.

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.