Lucian Cappello from Facebook page

update: The two men were released on $1000 bond this evening. They are due back in court June 9.
The crossing guard returned to work today.

Two New Rochelle men have been arrested in Thursday’s assault of a Larchmont Crossing Guard, according to Town of Mamaroneck Police.

They are Lucian Cappello, 32, of 16 Park Ave. in New Rochelle, charged with Obstruction of Government Administration and Assault in the 3rd Degree, and

Anthony Vaccaro, 37, of 64 Pelham Rd., in New Rochelle, charged with  Obstruction of Government Administration and Leaving the Scene of an Accident with Injuries.

Family members of suspects enter court Monday night

All of the charges are high level misdemeanors. The men were held pending arraignment, which occurred Monday night.

photo above: Jacqueline Silberbush

Crosswalk where Crossing Guard was assaulted

LARCHMONT — A Larchmont School crossing guard working at Murray Avenue Elementary School at the end of the school day was assaulted by two men who were angry about potentially being given a ticket.

Witnesses say the guard was standing at his usual post at Murray and Colonial Avenues in the moments after school dismissal, directing traffic for dozens of children and their caregivers who were walking home from school.

Witnesses say the men jumped out of a black Nissan Rogue SUV after the guard threatened to give the men, who failed to slow down through the crosswalk, a summons for ignoring his directions.  He had reportedly told them if they didn’t slow down he would write them a ticket.

The men got out of their car, and according one witness threw food at him and “beat him to the ground.” They also reportedly hit him with their car.

One eyewitness described the perps as “two white men with big, muscular tatooed arms,” adding, “They hit him with their car and also punched him, knocking him to the ground.”  One parent says she tried to calm the men down, but they fled, hitting the guard in the leg with the car as they did.

The crossing guard was taken to the hospital. theLoop contacted the Town of Mamaroneck Police but calls were not returned Thursday evening.

This crossing guard position was almost cut from the Town budget last year, and more recently, due to heavy traffic, the District was directed to limit crossing areas at this intersection.

News 12 shot of Kujtim Nicaj

WHITE PLAINS– Every dog has his day.

The “bestiality Super” was arraigned Tuesday on burglary and sexual misconduct charges after prosecutors said he illegally entered a tenant’s apartment Feb 8. and engaged in multiple sex acts with a 15-month-old Labroador Retriever. He was allegedly caught by the tenant’s “Nanny Cam” at the Rye Colony apartments.

Kujtim Nicaj, 43, of Rye pleaded not guilty to six counts of sexual misconduct and two counts of burglary, the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office said in a statement.

Under the Cherry Blossoms (June Marie Sobrito posted to the Looppool on flickr)

‘Supermoon,’ Obscured by Clouds, Left Plenty to See
Those in New York  looking to take photographs of the so-called supermoon had to make do with other amusements under a cloudy sky on Saturday night.

More than 1,000 attend Sullivan family funeral in Carmel
More than 1,000 friends, neighbors, relatives and uniformed officers gathered at St. James the Apostle Church Saturday morning to pay their last respects to the Sullivan family, among them the sole survivor of the blaze that took the lives of his father, mother and two sisters.

Animal shelter faces theft, cruelty claims
Volunteers at the purportedly no-kill Westchester Shore Humane Society are accusing the animal shelter’s directors of cruelty, stealing from the charity, mismanagement and euthanizing hundreds of animals.

(more…)

Captain Thomas Sullivan

Tommy Sullivan died a hero.

LoHud reports a relative says the Larchmont Police Captain saved his son from the inferno that claimed the rest of the family yesterday , then ran back in to get his wife and two daughters.

All four perished in the Carmel, NY blaze in their home.

Investigators are still probing the cause of the fire that killed Thomas Sullivan, 48,  his wife, 47, and daughters Meaghan, 17, and Mairead, 12.

Sullivan was with the Larchmont Police force  for 19 years, after serving six years with New York City police as a community patrol officer in the 47th Precinct in the Bronx.

Residents of the Village say son Thomas, Jr. and daughter Meaghan worked at Flint Park Day Camp. Tom also works at the Larchmont Dept. of Public Works.

Sullivan also coached youth baseball in Carmel.

Captain Thomas Sullivan

Larchmont police Capt. Thomas Sullivan, 48,  his wife, 47, and daughters Meaghan, 17, and Mairead, 12, died this morning in a house fire in Carmel.  A 20 year old son remains hospitalized.

The Larchmont Police Chief and a Lieutenant remain at the scene at 19 Wyndham Lane in Carmel, where the family lived. Carmel Fire Chief Bob Lipton said the fire was so hot when firefighters arrived that it was impossible for them control it.

At a news conference, Putnam County Executive Mary Ellen Odell said of the son, whom she knows, “This community will wrap their arms around him.”

News12 report

In published reports, former Larchmont Mayor Josh Mandell said “He was a wonderful, big-hearted, larger-than- life figure. He was one of those guys who defined small –town policing. He interacted cordially with everyone in town”

Sullivan was with the Larchmont Police force  for 19 years, after serving six years with New York City police as a community patrol officer in the 47th Precinct in the Bronx.

Sullivan also coached youth baseball in Carmel.

Harrison Train Station

PELHAM, LARCHMONT, MAMARONECK, HARRISON–Pelham police says a 19 year old New Rochelle man confessed Friday to the series of  gunpoint robberies of commuters near train stations in several Sound Shore towns since January.

Robberies occurred in Larchmont, Mamaroneck, three in Pelham and two in Harrison.

Police arrested Olivier Famby Friday when he was caught with a handgun that had been reported stolen in Pennsylvania.

LoHud reports Police say that Famby told them that he had been scouting out the area of the Larchmont train station for a potential victim prior to coming to Pelham on Friday. When Famby couldn’t find a suitable victim, he came to Pelham to see if he could spot one  arriving into the Pelham station.

photo: June Marie Sobrito

A selective local news roundup:

Westchester County Airport reopens after cops clear suspicious item
Westchester County Airport reopened to travel Sunday evening after a closure of nearly an hour and a half that was blamed on a security threat. [lohud]

The Battle for a Comic Empire That Archie Built in Mamaroneck
What was long a beloved company run amiably by two families has become the stage for a bitter legal war. [NY Times]

Kenneth Chamberlain Sr. autopsy released; shows blood alcohol level of .11 percent
An autopsy report from the Westchester Medical Examiner’s Office shows that Kenneth Chamberlain Sr. [lohud]

Mamaroneck school board candidates endorsed by selection committee  The School Board Selection Committee serving  the Larchmont/Mamaroneck community has nominated three candidates for the three open positions on next year’s Mamaroneck School Board of Education. [Sound Shore]

After More Than 30 Years, Almarc Drugs Will Close in Downtown New Rochelle; CVS Buys Out Community Pharmacist

Purchase College students, preachers clash over comments on homosexuality
Three street preachers on their way to Philadelphia took a detour to Purchase College, SUNY, on Friday, spending nearly five hours on the Great Lawn, bringing students their interpretation of the Bible’s views of homosexuality. Students called it something else: hate speech. [lohud]

Prosecutors: Sleepy Hollow man used cell phone to take pictures, video underneath women’s skirts
A Sleepy Hollow man was arraigned Wednesday on an indictment charging him with 14 counts of unlawful surveillance after prosecutors said he was seen in White Plains using a cell phone to take pictures and video underneath numerous women’s skirts. [lohud]

Harrison Train Station

This is getting old.

Mamaroneck Mayor Norm Rosenblum is warning residents of his Village about the  11:55 pm, April 9  robbery in Harrison, another in a series of robberies this year of commuters walking home from a train station in the shore towns.

This is the second robbery near the Harrison Train Station in the last two months.

These two robberies are similar to the robberies that occurred in the Village of Mamaroneck, Town of Mamaroneck, Pelham and New Rochelle. It appears the suspect is targeting commuters along the New Haven train line.

In all of the robberies the suspect is a black male wearing a mask and dark clothing. He approaches the victims from behind, displays a handgun and demands the victim’s personal possessions, including cell phones, wallets and electronic devices.

Rosenblum says, “It is always advisable that you are aware of your surroundings while walking home from the train station.Use electronic devices while walking home only if absolutely necessary. Always walk in well lit areas and preferably with another person.

If you see any suspicious person(s) or incidents call the Village of Mamaroneck Police directly at: (914) 777-7783.

Chamberlain, Sr. as a young Marine

update: DA Spokesman Lucian Chaflin takes issue with the stories posted by Gothamist and the New York Daily News, which we linked to, below, saying:

“The DA had nothing to do with naming the Police Officer – He works for the White Plains PD and he is their employee and their decision (and policy).”

Chaflin also says he gave the New York Daily News six examples on Friday of prosecutions of police by the DA’s office over the last 3-4 years.

“There is no case that the FBI looked into before the DA’s office acted -  I have no idea what that alludes to or who claims that, (and) I didnt confirm anything about the Police Officer’s name on Thursday after the News ran a story – the White Plains PD did – through the Commissioner.

The Westchester District Attorney’s Office has announced they will present the case of an unarmed chronically ill elderly black man who was shot to death by White Plains police, to a grand jury.

A reported 172,134 people have signed a petition urging the district attorney’s office to release audio and video of police’s Nov. 19 response to Chamberlain’s accidental trigger of his medical alert. The Chamberlain family says  officers used a racial slur and expletives before forcing open the Winbrook Public Housing apartment door and shooting the 68-year-old former marine and corrections officer.

(more…)

In Scarsdale Undercover, we share some of the more…unnecessary police activity that seems to occur in Scarsdale, New York.

03/25/2012 Female resident reports having a dispute with husband regarding articles of clothing.
Patrol helped to mediate how much each of their clothes could be stored in the coat closet.

03/12/2012 Caller reports finding debris on her property and suspects her neighbor is retaliating against her.  Upon arrival, patrol spoke with the homeowner, who showed patrol a small pile of rocks and bricks on what appeared to be the side of her property. Mrs. *** believes that her neighbor at *** may have left the rocks and bricks their in retaliation for an incident that occurred last fall. Patrol explained to that since she did not have proof that her neighbor put the rocks on her property that there was nothing further that the police department could do.

(more…)

Pelham police say another man was robbed at gunpoint while walking home from the Pelham train station Wednesday night.

This is the third person robbed while walking home from the Pelham train station this year, the other two occurred in January. And it’s one of several in a string of robberies of commuters walking home from train stations from Pelham to Harrison.

A possible suspect nabbed in February turned out not to be related to these crimes, say cops.

Pelham Patch reports the robbery took place at about 10:55 p.m. when the victim heard footsteps behind him in the area of Elderwood Avenue and East Second Street. The victim turned and saw a man holding a gun.

The robber forced the victim to lay on the ground and took a portfolio bag containing a wallet, cell phones and an iPad before fleeing the scene. The robber is described as a black male about 5-foot, 10 inches tall and about 180 pounds.

The robber wore a dark jacket with a dark hood covering his face. The victim was not injured.

New York Crime Stoppers is offering a reward for information that will lead police to the individuals responsible.  Anyone with information regarding any of these robberies is asked to contact NYS Crime Stoppers at its hotline number 1-866-313-TIPS

That’s some combo: A box of Prilosec ($27.79) and a Crest white strip ($52.99) were stolen from CVS on March. 27. Town of Mamaroneck, Larceny.

What are they gonna do with that?… At Pizza Gourmet on East Boston Post Road an iron outdoor patio railing, valued at 42,000, was taken from the rear of the location between March.10 and March. 22. Village of Mamaroneck, Larceny.

photo courtesy: larchmonthistory

It’s the second time in two days a car has driven through the plate glass window of a Larchmont store. At about 1 pm today, a man thinking that he was accelerating forward out of a parking space at the deli next door, accidentally hit reverse, went diagonally across the sidewalk on Chatsworth Avenue, and into the window of Pink on Palmer.

Employees of the make-up and accessories store were all in the back; no one was injured.

This is the second time in two days a car has smashed through the window of a Larchmont store on Palmer Avenue.

(more…)

Two Larchmont teens were arrested after the beating of a third young man on St. Patrick’s Day in a New York City Theatre District bar, according to the New York Post.

Gerard McMullin, 17, and Bertram Spielvogel, 18, were charged with assault.

“The teens, who hail from Larchmont in Westchester County, got into a staredown with Ben Gold, 23, … Spielvogel grabbed a glass bottle and smashed Gold over the head,” according to the report.

McMullin joined the fray, pummeling Gold, according to the court records. Gold, of Haverstraw, was rushed to NYU Hospital, where he received stitches to close a head gash.

A Midtown North cop hauled the two teens into the station house,where, it turned out, the Commanding Officer is McMullin’s cousin.

McMullin was charged with misdemeanor assault, and Spielvogel felony assault.

A Cortlandt woman was arraigned yesterday on two counts of Grand Larceny in the theft of investment money from clients in her securities brokerage.

A search by theLoop shows Tamalyn Critchfeld Stewart is also the primary contact for the local chapter of the Candlelight Foundation, a non-profit foundation which helps people mourning the loss of a family member.

The Westchester DA says  Stewart, 55, received approximately $100,000 from one client and $30,000 from another client between February and September 2010. (Her LinkedIn profile is here.)

The defendant is accused of failing to invest the funds as promised and instead using the money personally.   She is due back in court April 2.

Stewart is due back in court on April 2, 2012. Bail was set at $100,000. She faces up to 15 years in prison.

Larchmont Village police say a woman driving to take a class at the LTrain spinning studio at 5:50 this morning crashed through the window of a vacant bridal store in the same shopping center at 2005 Palmer Avenue.

We are told that this may be part of a trend of faulty accelerators in some Lexus cars. She was unhurt.

photos: Diana Marszalek

Bronxville is having its share of underage drinking and related incidents.

Since January, various published reports indicate, at least five teens have required hospitalization for weekend drinking; over the weekend of February 24-26, Bronxville police officers responded to two separate incidents of Bronxville teenagers in need of hospitalization for alcohol poisoning.  They were taken to Lawrence Hospital.

Also that weekend, police reported two assaults on local teens on Park Place after an estimated 75 teens arrived in town on the Metro North train and congregated in the parking lot.  Officers were unable to police the assaults because they were busy with the teens taken to the hospital.

The latest incident involves Facebook boasts apparently posted by boys from two private boys schools. In one message, a teen bragged that he would “bring a Glock” to the village during the weekend of March 2. Police investigated and no charges were filed.

photo: Wikimedia commons

A 23 year old Bronx man is charged with attempted murder after reportedly firing gunshots at two people in a car off I-95 Exit 15 in New Rochelle.

LoHud reports Christopher W. Velez, 23,  was taken to the Westchester County jail, where he was held without bail.

The shooting  occurred about 4:30 a.m. Saturday when the victims, a man and woman who been traveling south on I-95, exited at Exit 15 and stopped at a traffic light, investigators said.  One victim was grazed by the bullet and the other unharmed.

Two news items out of the New Rochelle Police Dept. that may seem contradictory.

Serious crimes, such as  aggravated assault, murder, robbery and burglary increased 21 percent from 2010 to 2011.  (If you like numbers, the department reported 1,589 of these serious crimes in 2011, up from 1,311 in 2010. The 2011 tally is below the 2008 level of 1,758 and, according to police, 18 percent below the total in 2002.)

LoHud quotes City Manager Charles Strome as saying said the rise in crimes could, in part, be attributed to changes in the way certain crimes, like aggravated assault, for example, are recorded.  But, he said, “There’s no question the numbers in our Police Department have been reduced and we still have a bad economy. And these things sometimes add up to these situations.”

On the other hand…

The same report shows New Rochelle ranks as one of the five safest cities among cities its size nationally in 2010.

The city was the fifth-safest city nationwide out of 60 cities with comparable populations, making this the 11th consecutive year of it being one of the five safest.

How do you account for an apparent contradiction? Or is it?

The police chase in Rye yesterday that caused three schools to be temporarily locked down, ended with the arrest of a suspect near Playland last night.

It started at 12:27 pm, say State Police, when a State Trooper driving north on I-95 near exit 19 spotted a  man speeding in a 2011 Dodge.

The driver, with a female passenger, was reportedly going too fast and changing lanes without signalling. When the trooper turned on his sirens, the driver revved it up and escaped off Exit 20 in Rye. The Trooper then lost sight of him, according to State Police Sgt. John Antinelli.

Rye City police set up a perimeter, and began chasing the suspect on local streets.

Antinelli says the trooper later spotted the car in a driveway on Oakland Beach Ave. The passenger, “an unwilling participant,” was still in the car. It was then that school officials decided on the temporary lock down, because Rye police believed he was running in the direction of the schools.

At 6:00 pm, Rye police received a call about an individual in a wooded area on Forest Avenue near Playland Market. Rye Police arrested 31 year old Julian Brown who had five outstanding New York City warrants on assault and drug charges.

Brown was charged with unlawful fleeing and traffic offenses and handed over to the New York City Police.

photo: Wikimedia commons

Rye Police Department

Rye police report the search for a suspect that caused a lockdown at three area schools is over; the suspect is believed to be out of the area. Stepped up patrols will continue.

If you observe suspicious activity, please call the police. For full details, view this message on the web.

Police now say some Rye Schools are in lockdown, and a manhunt is underway.

“The Rye Police have notified Rye High School, Rye Middle School, and Midland School that they are chasing an individual on foot in the Playland Road area,” the Rye School District wrote to parents. “The three schools are in lockdown until the police provide further information.”

LoHud reports a police scanner said the search followed a car chase from Interstate 95 and that one of two suspects has been taken into custody.

earlier:

Alert: Police are searching for a black male, 6′ tall, wearing a blue coat in the area of Milton Rd/Intervale.

He is wanted by State Police on an unspecified charge. If you see any suspicious activity, call 911. View this message on the web.

Alert: Police are searching for a black male, 6′ tall, wearing a blue coat in the area of Milton Rd/Intervale.

He is wanted by State Police on an unspecified charge. If you see any suspicious activity, call 911. View this message on the web.

Scarsdale Police Department

In Scarsdale Undercover, we share some of the more…unnecessary police activity that seems to occur in Scarsdale, New York.

A woman reported that someone broke into her car while it was parked on Garth Road and stole her cell phone. Police called the phone and found it under the passenger side seat. Feb. 29.

911 dispatchers received a hang-up call that, when called back, sounded like it came from a fax machine. Police advised the owner of the malfunctioning machine to disconnect it until fixed. Feb. 27.

A caller reported three individuals loitering on Greenacres School property. They were kids walking through it on their way home. Feb. 29.

A Meadow Road resident reported a man “possibly urinating” on private property. Police could not find him. March 1.

An Axtell Drive resident reported a neighbor walking a dog without a leash.  Police did not see a person or a dog. March. 1.

Hard to believe nine months have passed since Edgemont’s Lauren Spierer disappeared after a night out with friends in Bloomington, Indiana. Police have made little progress.   Rob and Charlene Spierer continue working to find answers about what happened to their daughter, who has been missing since June 3, now upping the reward for information leading to her whereabouts.

“We continue to seek information, which will lead us to finding Lauren and the circumstances surrounding her disappearance,” the Spierers write on the website, findlauren.com, in announcing the reward’s increase to $250,000.

The Indiana University student’s 21^st birthday was Jan. 17.

We reported just days after Lauren went missing that Bloomington Police suspected foul play. Yet a subsequent search of an Indiana landfill and the ongoing investigation have revealed little new information.

“We remain dedicated to finding our daughter,” the Spierers write. “We offer sincere thanks for any information you can provide.”

Lauren’s parents say that anyone “with information, that leads us to our daughter, will be eligible to receive the reward.”

You may contact Beau Dietl Associates at 1.800.777.9366, www.investigations.com or the Bloomington Police Department at (812) 339-4477.

Poster from findlauren.com

In Scarsdale Undercover, we share some of the more…unnecessary police activity that seems to occur in Scarsdale, New York.

A Gorham Road resident reported a woman pacing in the street looking distressed. The woman told police she was waiting for a ride, which came for her while officers were on the scene. Feb. 20.

A Hamilton Road resident reported that an unknown person rang her doorbell and left a paper bag on her front step.  Police disposed of the bag, which “contained possible animal waste.” Feb. 21.

A 4-year-old girl reported that she and her 1-year-old brother were left home alone by their babysitter. The babysitter had been in the bathroom. Feb. 22.

A Wayside Lane resident reported that a man in a dark SUV was parked in front of her house all day. The man was a private investigator who would be there around-the-clock for several days. Feb. 22.

A Sheldrake Road resident reported someone with a flashlight walking outside a neighbor’s property. That individual turned out to be the homeowner taking out the dog. Feb. 22.

A Stratton Road resident reported hearing animal noises coming from the kitchen cabinets. She also said she has had rats in the past. Police gave her phone numbers of multiple trappers. Feb. 23.

A caller reported a man in the northbound, right side lane of Post Road trying to flag down vehicles. The man told police that he was unfamiliar with the area and needed directions to a diner in White Plains. Police gave them to him. Feb. 25.

A Palmer Avenue resident reported seeing “a pack of coyotes” in her fenced yard. Police did not find them.  Feb. 25.

Village of Mamaroneck Police Department

Suspicious Incident: On East Boston Post Road, a property dispute broke out between former business associates. The caller states that a person spit on her business mailbox and left numerous “post cards” of a non-threatening nature.  Feb. 20.

Larceny: On Walton Avenue between Feb. 20^th and Feb. 21^st an unknown person entered a parked unlocked car and took prescription medication.

Larceny: At New York Sports Club a jacket was stolen containing keys and a cell phone from the gym at 10:30pm. Feb. 22

Larceny: On Florence Street a GPS was stolen from a car while parked, unlocked and unoccupied on the street.  Feb. 24

Larceny: At New York Sports Club a wallet containing $200, credit cards, and drivers license were taken from a locked locker at 5:19pm.  Feb. 25

Larceny: A bicycle valued at $400 was stolen on Palmer Avenue that was left secured and locked outside of a residence at 9:30am. Feb. 27

Things reported but unfounded:

A man lying down on the sidewalk of Rushmore Avenue at 12am

Two males driving a white van left a suspicious package on a sewer

A person switching license plates on a vehicle

A man dressed in black was looking in a woman’s second floor window from about 400 yards away in the courtyard area

Larchmont Citibank

Larchmont police now say six individuals reported unauthorized withdrawals from their bank accounts – one of whom lost a total of $130,000.

The other victims reported losses of $9,500, $5,800,  $3,200, $2,400 and $1,000.

This is what a bank skimmer looks like.

A similar scam was discovered recently at a Rye Citibank.

Citibank sent us this response to the ATM skimming that occurred at its Larchmont branch:

The safety and security of our customer account and personal information is a top priority. Citibank identified illegal skimming devices placed on our ATM location at 1920 Palmer Ave and took corrective action to prevent this type of skimming fraud.  Any affected customers will not be responsible for unauthorized charges.  Customers with questions or concerns are welcome to contact customer service or stop by the branch.  We will continue to cooperate with the Larchmont Police Department as they conduct their investigation.

Downtown White Plains

Did you catch this story in White Plains? A civil rights lawsuit this week accuses Assistant Police Chief Anne FitzSimmons of throwing a chair at a police officer.

The officer, who is black, says FitzSimmons, who is white, was racially motivated. Officer Michael Hannon, an 11-year veteran of the Department is also suing the City of White Plains.

More from LoHud and the Daily White Plains.

photo: pasa47 on flickr

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photo: June Marie Sobrito

News 12 coverage of Kujtim Nicaj story

Gothamist, WNBC and many others have pounced on the Rye Building Super story– the man who was busted at Rye Colony apartments for allegedly having sex with a tenant’s dog. Apparently he was caught on tape with the owner’s nanny cam.

An attorney for Kujtim Nicaj, who is married with two kids, maintains his innocence, says LoHud. Nicaj was charged with burglary and bestiality.

The victim, a Labrador Retriever, could not be reached for comment.

Rye Police Department

Last week, Rye Police told us of a burglary at at 47C Peck Avenue at the Rye Colony Coop apartment complex, where the apartment was burglarized with no forced entry, and the superintendent was charged.

Now the District Attorney’s office tells us there are sexual misconduct charges referencing bestiality. It is unknown what kind of animal was involved.  A Judge in Rye has issued a gag order and no documents are to be made public.

The super, Kujitim Nicaj, who resides at 58C Peck Avenue, was reportedly given notice to vacate the property. He is due to appear in Rye City Court March 6.

Additional reporting by Jacqueline Silberbush

Town of Mamaroneck Police Department

Two big hauls this week by thieves in the Town of Mamaroneck:

At the CVS on the Boston Post Road, police report a Grand Larceny on February 7. At 4:20 pm, three men stole 12 types of Kerastase hair products, with a value of over $2000.00.

On Birch Road, another reminder why it’s so important to lock your doors. Between 1:00 am and 7:00 am on Feb. 9,  someone stole a Mac desktop, Mac lap top, Panasonic 100A dux camera, a Nikon 5000 camera and $1,000 in cash. The perp entered through an unlocked rear door to the house.

Yonkers Main Public Library

The Westchester County DA today announced a guilty plea by a woman in one of the stranger, and frankly, sadder, non-violent crimes in a long time around here.

Margo Reed, a former employee of the Yonkers Public Library at 1 Larkin Center, is accused of pocketing overdue book fines from library patrons to the tune of $163,582 from 2004-2007.

That’s a lot of change.

Margo Reed

Said District Attorney Janet DiFiore, “With the limited resources and tight budgets that exist today throughout government, this kind of crime directly impacts children, students, the elderly and anyone who looks to the public library system as a place of knowledge and enjoyment.”

Sentencing will be May 3rd, 2012.

Top photo: Wikimedia commons; bottom photo: Westchester District Attorney’s Office

The following complaints were recorded by Larchmont police during the last week:

Larceny: On Iselin Terrice someone entered a vehicle that was left parked and unlocked in the victim’s driveway, removing property valued at $500. Feb.4.

Penal Law Arrest: A man from New Rochelle was arrested after a altercation with a cab driver and hitting the cab causing damage. The 23 year old man was released on bail. Feb.5

Penal Law Arrest: In Los Angeles, a woman was arrested based on a Warrant of Arrest filed by Larchmont Police Detectives after an investigation of a Grand Larceny at Citibank on Palmer Avenue on Feb. 3.  Jacqucolyn Sanders was arraigned and remanded to the Westchester County Jail on $7500 bail.

Cold turkey commute. Don’t even think about lighting up while waiting for your Metro-North train. Doing so could get you kicked off the platform, up to $50 in fines or a trip to jail.

The MTA‘s new ban on outdoor smoking starts today, following a months-long grace period the agency gave smokers to get used to the idea. The ban, which had a soft launch in November, prohibits smoking on Metro-North and Long Island Railroad outdoor platforms, as well as ticketing and boarding areas.

The ban does not apply to Metro-North stations in Connecticut.

Violators have gotten away with just warnings since November. But after several months of  leafleting, signs, announcements and electronic alerts, the MTA now expects passengers to play by the rules.

Mamaroneck Train Station

The armed robberies that targeted Metro-North commuters in Mamaroneck Village and Harrison last Thursday — as well as similar crimes in Mamaroneck Town, Pelham and possibly New Rochelle — are likely related, police say.

The robber behind the Thursday incidents, which occurred one hour apart, could have taken the train between crime scenes, police say.

Each incident involved individuals walking home from train stations being robbed at gunpoint by someone described as a male, 5’10 to 6″0″ with a medium build wearing a mask over his face and dark clothing.He was carrying a black or silver handgun, police say.

Police from around the area, as well as the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, are joining forces to nab the robber or robbers.

New York Crime Stoppers is offering up to $2,5oo for information that will lead police to the individuals responsible for the two most recent robberies as well as the earlier ones. Anyone with information regarding any of these robberies is asked to contact NYS Crime Stoppers at its hotline number 1-866-313-TIPS.

Meanwhile, Larchmont residents report that the rash of home burglaries in the Village also continued late last week when a Birch Lane family became the latest victims of a home invasions that started in December. Police have not confirmed that report.

Photo by June Marie Sobrito

Harrison Train Station

Mamaroneck Village And Harrison police report two more armed robberies involving local residents walking home from a train station at night.

According to Mamaroneck Village Det. Sandra DiRuzza,  at about 8 pm, a 59 year old man reported he was approached from behind on Stanley Avenue and robbed at gunpoint. The suspect demanded his (undisclosed) property and fled on foot with it. The victim called 911. He was unharmed.

In Harrison an armed robbery was reported on the South Road Bridge about 9:00 pm Thursday near the train station. Police say the same man is assumed to be involved in the two robberies last night, and possibly all of them. Harrison police say he wore a light colored bandana mask and had a silver handgun.

“Ours does appear to be similar to the crimes in Mamaroneck, Pelham, New Rochelle and Harrison,” said DiRuzza.

The suspect, like that in recent similar crimes in the Town of Mamaroneck, Pelham and New Rochelle (see summary below) is described as approximately 6 ft tall and approximately 185 lbs; in those crimes he was wearing all black including a black mask covering his face.

• On January 12th a Pelham commuter was approached from behind while walking home from the train on Cliff Avenue at 12:10 a.m.
• On January 17th a Mamaroneck commuter was approached from behind on Glenn Road near Chatsworth Avenue at 10:20 p.m.
• On January 29th, two females, one a student at Iona College, was followed into a building on Eastchester Road and White Oak Street at 4:45 a.m.
• On January 31st a commuter was approached while walking home from the train on Monterey Avenue in Pelham at 8:20 p.m

The Town of Mamaroneck held a crime prevention workshop this week.

Crimestoppers has offered a reward for any information. Anyone with information is also asked to call the Village of Mamaroneck Detective Division at 914-825-8541.

Det.Sgt. Matthew Mehlrose talks to residents about recent crime in TOM

A lot of crime prevention comes down to common sense.

It’s safer to walk in groups then alone. A home alarm that rings inside and out is a better deterrent then the quieter kinds that don’t offend the neighbors. And don’t bother hiding keys under those fake rocks and other gadgets you see in ads.

“The bad guys watch TV too,” said Mamaroneck Town Police Det. Sgt. Matthew Mehlrose.

That was the Town of Mamaroneck Police Department’s message to the 30 or so neighbors who congregated Wednesday night at the VFW on Boston Post Road for a crime prevention workshop.

Rattled by the recent rash of crimes in the area, neighbors wanted to know the best ways to stay safe.

Town leaders reassured said that the Town of Mamaroneck is indeed a safe community; it has not been affected by the recent surge in home burglaries the way neighboring Larchmont has.

In fact, the number of burglaries and robberies in Town has dropped since 2010.

But the brazen armed robbery in January of a man walking home from the Larchmont train station – possibly linked to similar crimes in Pelham and Eastchester – and multiple car break-ins on Friday, show that no one is immune.

All it takes is two to three minutes for burglars to get what they want out of a home, police said. Leaving house and car doors unlocked makes it all the easier.

As Det. Donn Emonds said, “We understand that you should be able to leave your stuff in your car and it should stay untouched.  But realistically, it doesn’t work.”

In Scarsdale Undercover, we share some of the more…unnecessary police activity that seems to occur in Scarsdale, New York.

Police were called because…

A Popham Road resident reported someone damaged her windshield. Police discovered the damage was actually dirt and cleaned it off. Jan. 30.

A driver flagged down police claiming that his car was stolen. It was parked a block away. Jan. 30.

A local woman reported losing her cell phone while in the Village. She found it in her boots. Feb. 1.

A caller reported that his neighbor put his garbage out on the street, possibly causing a hazard. Police, however, didn’t believe the cardboard boxes posed any danger and let the sanitation department know they were there. Later, police received another call, saying the neighbors were having a disagreement over the curbside trash. While police were back at the scene, the neighbors came to an agreement on what to do with the recyclables. Feb. 4.

A Post Road resident complained that someone was at their front door at 8 p.m. and would not leave. When police arrived, they spoke with a neighbor who said he and his wife had been trying to drop off a cake at the resident’s house but nobody came to the door. Jan.21.

Larchmont has been taking it from thieves and vandals over the last ten days or so, most notably with break-ins to vehicles.  (See Town of Mamaroneck car break-ins from the weekend) Most of them were unlocked. Lock your car!

Some of the complaints at Larchmont PD:

Larceny: A Mamaroneck Town resident reported someone broke into his vehicle, which he had parked in Lot 3, by shattering the front passenger and property valued at $300 missing. Jan. 30

Larceny: The owner of a Palmer Ave establishment reported on that someone entered his work truck and removed tools valued in excess of $3400. Jan. 30

Larceny: Someone broke into a parked, unoccupied and unlocked vehicle in a residents driveway overnight on Brook Place, no property was removed. Feb.3

Larceny: Someone broke into a parked, unoccupied and unlocked vehicle in a residents driveway overnight on Winslow Place, and removed a pair of sunglasses of undetermined value. Feb.3

Larceny: Someone stole a bicycle on Magnolia Ave, valued at $450, from the garage of her residence. Feb.2

Larceny: A Elm Ave resident reported on that someone fraudulently obtained his debit card information made unauthorized purchases in excess of $400. Feb.2