EDGEMONT BURGLARIES
There have been eight residential burglaries in Edgemont since December 27th of last year. All were on the west side of Central Avenue. One of the burglaries was closed through an arrest. In every burglary, entry was made through the rear of the residence usually by breaking a rear sliding glass door. We believe all occurred after dark. Jewelry was taken in each of the incidents except the most recent, which occurred on March 20th and in which a set of silverware was taken.
Police Response – The Police Department has assigned additional resources to the area. These include marked and unmarked police units, some utilizing specialized technology such as License Plate Readers that automatically read and capture the license plate numbers of all vehicles in the area. Notwithstanding what people may have heard about the Town’s financial problems, the department is devoting the full amount of resources it believes are necessary to address this matter including the allocation of on-duty personnel and the use of overtime resources.
What the Public Can Do – The Police Department needs your assistance to help apprehend the person or persons responsible for these crimes. To this end we ask that you report “anything” that might appear to be in the least bit suspicious to us. All of these crimes were effected through the rear of the residence. Because police patrol is generally confined to public roads, residents are in a much better position to observe any suspicious activity occurring in a neighbor’s yard. Several of the homes that suffered burglaries had alarms that were triggered. There is a delay between the time a monitoring station gets an alarm signal, telephones the residence and then notifies the police. This necessarily prolongs our response. Since most alarms have outdoor enunciators that may be heard by neighbors, this delay can be reduced or eliminated if we are immediately called when someone hears what appears to be an alarm sounding.
Also, to help protect your property we recommend that you lock all your doors and windows and set your alarm when you are away from your home, even if you only plan to be away for a few minutes. Purchase a timer or timers and connect lights, and a radio or television to it to give the impression your home is occupied in the evening hours. A motion triggered flood or spot light for your backyard is also recommended. Also, have a neighbor pick up your mail and check your home when you are away. A number of these burglaries were of homes where residents were away and the crime was not discovered until they returned.
We understand the anxiety generated by these offenses and want to assure the public that the police are taking the steps necessary to bring the people responsible for these crimes to justice.
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37 comments:
Given the described similarities, why is the one arrested, not a suspect for the other seven break-ins?
That answer would compromise an on-going investigation.
Translation: We can only spend lots of money when a state of fear exists.
I am gladdened to see that "notwithstanding what the people may have heard about the town's financial problems, the department is...." spending money like it was water. In yet another installment of B'rer Rabbit went bankrupt, the Chief (who doesn't live in Greenburgh) is proud that he is "using overtime resources".
TRANSLATION: those in the highest positions, those in the higher pay scales, those closest to retirement, have found a made-to-measure situation so that the Department can justify doubling their yearly remuneration and qualify for even higher retirement benefits -- all burdening residents for years to come.
But still this isn't enough. Like the existing arrest and its amateurish felon, the public is still needed to find the crooks. Maybe if they aren't getting results, all the high tech capital expenses that the Department likes to accumulate should be returned to the store and with the refund, the police should just post signs offering a reward.
And in passing, does anyone feel concerned about the casually mentioned "license plate readers that automatically read and capture the license plate numbers of all vehicles in the area". Like that isn't disturbing knowledge to those conducting "affairs" or even to those concerned about civil rights through increasing surveillance and government intrusions on the privacy of everyone.
Hello, how would you recognize a police state in your community...?
Attention crooks, park your cars in the back where the police can't see the plates. All others, know that in the world to come, like after every year's capital budget tourney, the police state is getting closer and closer. And taxpayers are paying for it.
Don't worry, be happy; the thief is not the one who enters through the rear sliding glass door, it is the one that arrives in your mailbox and it bears the franking of the Town Receiver of Taxes.
Can this guy Samis be anymore ignorant. He writes about law enforcement issues like he is an expert. All this guy does is pontificate on subject matters he has no knowledge of. He makes hypothesises that have no basis in fact. Perhaps Hal should actually run fore office then you good cut taxes, fight crime, provide services and generally save the Town. Maybe your right the police should not use the latest technology to solve these burglaries and why ask citizens to remain vigilant and help the police protect their neighborhoods. Hal you have all the answers and when you dont you just make up facts. It must be difficult solving all the Towns problems from your computer
You should be as smart as Hal Samis.
I agree with Anon 1121. Samis never addresses a direct challenge especially when it concerns the police. Samis has been challenged concerning EMS, the police contract, manpower, response time ect and he never has his facts right. All that guys knows how to do is complain. He is impressed with himself and loves to do his theatrics at board meetings. Samis is all show.
Who wrote the original post? It doesn't seem like Feiner's writing.
Duh, maybe if I had read the title ... Sorry.
We desperately need a reduction of expenses. I hope our new Controller IMMEDIATELY comes us with procedures to insure that overtime is necessary and that we arent paying OT while other officers are sitting in the station house.
Dear 11:21,
But it isn't the latest technology that is solving these crimes, is it? And it looks like that the Police are stymied so ergo ask the Public for help. No objection to asking the Public, but if the Public is now "on the job", can we expect to see a corresponding decrease in police overtime?
But hey, here's the blog. You say I'm wrong, then prove it.
In one of Kapicas interviews, he indicated that serious crime is down, and stake-outs are making progress re less serious crime. I dont understand why we have so much overtime with less serious crime.
Kolesar your the new man on the block so listen.
There is too much overtime being paid out to boost ones pension at retirement.
If crime is down we do not need that many police persons sitting on their rears at headguarters.
You see Feiner really does not want to rock the boat but the residents are hurting now and will be hurting in years to come.
You seem like a tough sspirited person who will do right for the public.
Check and you shall find .
Many of the blods express poor management well now it's up to you to prove us right.
Cut 10 positions in the PD and save over 1 million dollars. Life is so easy.
To the anonymous blogger who suggests that we cut 10 police officers---
we just had a rash of burglaries in Edgemont. Are you suggesting that we don't provide the police with the resources they need to solve the crime? Life isn't so easy! People move to a community because they want to feel safe and secure.
Paul,
The police that sit around HQ arent helping. Only a very small portion of police help with preventing or catching burglaries. We need cuts.
We need handson managment that will see that the police and public works cut the fat without cutting the muscle. Please dont insult our intelligence by saying that the fat isnt there.
Dear Mr. Feiner,
re you blog comment
We incurred the rash of burglaries despite the existing staffing of the police department, with their expensive equipment and, according to what the introduction to this topic states, seven of the burglaries are still unsolved.
Now if the Chief wants to close the other seven cases and attribute them to the same "perp", fine. However, that would mean that he should have ceased the overtime expenditure for this operation.
Which is it, case closed and no more overtime or continue to tell us about the newest toy for the police to buy.
You do want to reduce taxes, don't you?
I'm not suggesting that the police are doing a bad job, preventing or investigating. Some cases just aren't solveable. However, these burglaries are certainly not the poster "child" that would justify the dollars spent for equipment, the manpower and the overtime when measured against results.
Now that there are more daylight hours, the likelihood of crime is likely to diminish vs the time of year when it is darker earlier. First, because a felon will have fewer hours of darkness to operate in and second, because homes with no one inside are less distinguishable from occupied homes because until it gets dark, inside lights may not be turned on until later, increasing the probabilities that the occupants will arrive home before a burglar.
So when a blogger suggests cutting 10 officers (not yet studying the police department staffing) I don't agree or disagree because I don't know, yet. But the assumption that the police department won't have the resources to prevent or solve crime if this was done is no sounder a hypothesis when the department operates with these 10 officers and crime still occurs.
What would be the result of this speculation as though a trend were discernable? If 10 less officers, then 20 more crimes? If 20 less officers, then 40 more crimes?
And if people move to communities that are perceived to be safe (even if having 8 burglaries is not already troublesome), they also move to communities they can afford to live in which loudly bodes that 21% tax increases are equally alarming to home buyers.
But enough of this hyperbole. If the Town wanted to play the "Greenburgh is a safe place to live" card, then that is dispelled when the police also need residents to maintain a dedicated SWAT team despite the existence of similar resources at the County and State.
It would seem counterproductive trying to promote that crime is down and at the same time support the need for a SWAT team, wouldn't you agree?
Perhaps, one of the first things that Mr. Kolesar should be given license to pursue is an analysis of the police department staffing.
Certainly the Chief, secure that his department administration is above reproach, would welcome, for once and for all, ratification of what he maintains is a lean operation.
Is the Town ready to step up to a local variation on the "Pepsi challenge"?
why not negotiate a town discount on home alarm systems
much cheaper than adding police staff etc
the library expansion was equally misconceived - millions could have been saved by just giving everyone a home computer
Hal,
Yonkers did a good study on OT. They ended up studying the problems, and instituting procedures and a review (quarterly?) of a committee comprised of the comptroller, the head of HR, legal and the relevant dept head. I think Mr. Kolesar should review the YOnkeers study, and see what we con do.
Paul,
It would not be a problem if you cut 10 positions in the police dept. You could have 200 police officers on the payroll and it would not stop the burglaries in Town because they are not in the right place at the right time.Some are inside (doing what? I don't know), some are at the hospital with patients(should be civilian emt's and medics. some training for SWAT or tech Rescue and so on.
There is only 1 sector car for each area (6 or 7 areas) but if they're at the hospital or training they can't be on patrol.
Life is easy! Make 10 cuts and save 1 million dollars!
Well it took a great amount of burglaries in Edgemont to see patrol cars in the area.
WHERE have you been all this time and I don't think you can say that the area was patroled by unmarked vehicles since all unmarked cars are along Central ave. waiting to give out tickets.
They make themselves so visable that we know just where they park .
What happened to the guys in blue who are there to protect us?
They are all at headquarters doing
what many of us do one time or another keeping seats warm.
The difference is the taxpayers pay for them doing so called clerical work that could be outsorced to agencies or they should hire partime workers that could also save us money because there are no benefits.
Dear 10:20? How would you know where the unmarked cars are assigned to? They're unmarked, duh?
Why am I picking on the Police Department?
In what other Department do three year lowest level employees earn $84,000 after three years? In what other Department can you retire so young?
In what other Department can you double your salary from overtime?
10:42 if you travel as much as I do you can see where the unmarked cars are monitoring the traffic.
Sorry if you're blind and stupid.
If there are more patrols going on in Edgemont. Where are the extra patrols comimg from ? Maybe the Chief is taking the guys out of the police station. I doubt it. They are probably coming from my end of town because I never see a patrol car in my neighborhood, day or night.Must have been at the hospital again. I parked on the street at night this winter and recevied only 1 ticket all winter. Good Job! $15 for parking all winter. Only in Greenburgh.
Goes to show you how well the streets are patroled.
Many people have parked on the streets this winter and never received a ticket.
THe police can't even follow the laws that are on the books as of today.
They are not even earning part of their salary where are they hiding.
I too was a police officer some time ago who was respected by all because I did my job.
What does it mean to someone wearing a police uniform today I'll tell you what a good pension at retirement.
That is their only goal and if they could get away with going out on disability,wow wee that's even better(tax free) and the public pays.
This department has gotten away with murder for too long,because no one wants to step on the chiefs toes.
Feiner had better listen to the residents who attend different meetings,where they state different avenues that should be taken to straighten things to save money and the many changes that have to be made.
Greenburgh is not a high crime area
like the city of New YOrk but our
personel receive a salary three times the amount offered to a city cop.
Do we pay them this money anticipating a high crime report.
Why should they receive all this money without rules stating that they should live here in Greenburgh.The amount of money that they get they cannot say that they cannot afford living in this town.Some make more money than many of us and we struggle to live here.
There should be a law stating that our police should live here in Greenburgh.
For a police officer to get hired they must be a greenburgh resident. Many police officers are residents. The ones who are not just want more for their money and move north.
The problem with the police dept. is they hired to many transfers from other dept's including NYC. They don't care about Greenburgh. It's just a job.
Anon 4:29 PM
Those NYPD transfers you speak about are all greenburgh residents, In fact many of them grew up in greenburgh and use the NYPD as a stepping stone!
Dear 5:32.
TEll me how many police persons live here in Greenburgh.
I think many of us would like to know.
Yes many years ago we did have many that did live here but now how many.
5:32
I don't beleive you. most of those transfers from NYC did not and do not live in Greenburgh.
What percentage of officers live in Greenburgh? maybe 9-10 % at most.
I dont care how many live here or not, we JUST DONT NEED THAT MANY.
Mr.Morgan use to work for the police dept. He knows we don't need that many cops. Payl you should listen to his idea's.
oops! Paul
As residents we should know how many officers live in Greenburgh.
As for the transfers how many of these cops are still on the payroll.A few were fired for wrong doings.
Is the Chief still spending overtime dollars on Edgemont or is he ready to close the remaining seven burglaries?
In Greenburgh, the Chief operates the Department as though it were Starbucks and the training manual instructed cream rises to the top.
Which means in taxpayer terms, the senior officers get the overtime so that it will bump up their retirement benefits.
But, "what if someone were to die?"
That's the way the police dept. has been run for a very long time.
It seems that those close to the retirement time work their rears off with overtime to get a bigger pension,which we pay with tax increases.
Not only are the chiefs demands for more money met we the tax payers have to pay more taxes for their retirement with benefits.
That's the way the police dept. has been run for a very long time.
It seems that those close to the retirement time work their rears off with overtime to get a bigger pension,which we pay with tax increases.
Not only are the chiefs demands for more money met we the tax payers have to pay more taxes for their retirement with benefits.
remove special units.take ambulance off patrol. put civilians in ems.why make police medics and pay more? too many sgt. inside.for example traffic,records,training,special ops,no need.you need to revamp patrol put more cops on the road. stop wasting money training swat and use the money to train patrol,the back bone of the dept,not these special units that are not used.this is a start.
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