License Plate Scanners to be Installed In Edgemont
After a spate of robberies in Edgemont this fall, a group of residents called for a meeting with Greenburgh Police Chief Joseph DeCarlo to urge the department to do more to protect their homes. Some say they are now in the third year of a spree of Edgemont robberies and are asking for some permanent solutions. Here is what they learned at the December 15th meeting:
The robberies have occurred primarily in homes with easy access to the Sprain Brook Parkway, Jackson Avenue and Ardsley Road. The targeted homes belong primarily to people of Asian and Indian descent. However, the residents of the site of the latest robbery in Thomas Court were not of this background.
Typically, the burglars break through the back door and are in and out of the homes in 10 minutes. It is likely that the robbers have stalked the homes for a few days and know when the homeowner comes and goes. The police department says that the robbers are Columbian gangs from Queens as well as from other neighboring areas. This is not just a problem here as the gangs are operating all along the East Coast.
Edgemont residents asked the police to install license plate scanners that were requested earlier this year. In the interim the DA’s office loaned Edgemont three scanners, which have been in use for the past two weeks. Following the meeting, on December 20, the Greenburgh Town Board approved $69,000 for the purchase of license plate readers which will be used in addition to the license plate readers given to the town by the DA's office.
The Town urged residents to write letters or email elected state officials Tom Abinanti and Andrea Steward-Cousins to request permission for the Town of Greenburgh to install security cameras at key roadways. They can be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . The Southern Greenville Civic Association will send out a letter to both officials before the end of the year on this topic.
Residents also questioned whether they were getting their fare share of police resources. Edgemont contributed $4.1 million to the 2011-12 Greenburgh Police Department budget, roughly a quarter of the total budget, but contend that they are not receiving a commensurate amount of coverage. DeCarlo acknowledged that the robberies are an issue and promised to review resource allocation with the Town Board and Supervisor Feiner.
The Greenburgh Police Department provided the following tips on keeping homes secure:
- If you don’t have an alarm system, get one and use it.
- Put motion sensor lights covering dark areas around the back of the house.
- If you can, invest in a surveillance camera system.
- Lock all access to your homes
- Leave lights, radios and televisions on timers when your are away.
- Do not a store a lot of jewelry at home. Instead, use a bank safety deposit box. If you do keep jewelry at home, do not store it in an obvious place. Burglars know where to look.
- When you’re away, turn off mail and newspaper delivery. Ensure that someone clears your driveway of snow.
- Let your neighbors know you are out of town. Look out for your neighbors.
- Set up a neighborhood watch or join an existing one.
- Be aware of your surroundings even when driving around.
- If you see a suspicious car, note the make, model and license plate.
- Call GPD at 914-682-5300 if you suspect any strange activity. Always call, even if you are unsure.
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written by State laws not impeding burglary efforts, December 22, 2011
POLICE CHIEF SAYS STATE LAWS NOT IMPEDING ANTI-BURGLARY EFFORTS IN EDGEMONT
Residents of the Greenville area of Edgemont who attended a meeting two weeks ago with town officials to discuss efforts to combat the most recent wave of burglaries to hit our area were apparently told by Supervisor Feiner to contact our state representatives to demand that state laws be changed to allow security cameras to be placed on telephone poles along state roads.
As one civic association head said in a recent email, "We should all take the Town's advice and write to our elected state officials, Tom Abinanti and Andrea Stewart-Cousins, to ask that the state allow the Town of Greenburgh to install security cameras at key roadways."
However, Greenburgh Police Chief Joseph DeCarlo said the only security devices under consideration to improve security in Edgemont are stationary license plate readers and state law does not place any limitations on their location and usage.
In addition, Chief DeCarlo said the only state law limitation he is aware of has to do with placing cameras at intersections to photograph vehicles going through red lights. Currently state law only allows cities such as New York City and Yonkers to install this equipment. A picture is taken of the vehicle and plate going through a light and a ticket is sent to the owner of the car.
Chief DeCarlo said he hasn't researched why towns cannot use these devices, but said that issue has nothing to do with the Town's efforts to combat burglaries in the Edgemont area.
Town officials who suggest writing to state officials may simply be trying to deflect attention away from the Town.
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written by the voice, December 22, 2011
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Residents of the Greenville area of Edgemont who attended a meeting two weeks ago with town officials to discuss efforts to combat the most recent wave of burglaries to hit our area were apparently told by Supervisor Feiner to contact our state representatives to demand that state laws be changed to allow security cameras to be placed on telephone poles along state roads.
As one civic association head said in a recent email, "We should all take the Town's advice and write to our elected state officials, Tom Abinanti and Andrea Stewart-Cousins, to ask that the state allow the Town of Greenburgh to install security cameras at key roadways."
However, Greenburgh Police Chief Joseph DeCarlo said the only security devices under consideration to improve security in Edgemont are stationary license plate readers and state law does not place any limitations on their location and usage.
In addition, Chief DeCarlo said the only state law limitation he is aware of has to do with placing cameras at intersections to photograph vehicles going through red lights. Currently state law only allows cities such as New York City and Yonkers to install this equipment. A picture is taken of the vehicle and plate going through a light and a ticket is sent to the owner of the car.
Chief DeCarlo said he hasn't researched why towns cannot use these devices, but said that issue has nothing to do with the Town's efforts to combat burglaries in the Edgemont area.
Town officials who suggest writing to state officials may simply be trying to deflect attention away from the Town.