At 9:50 am on Monday March 5, police responded to a 911 call about a break-in at 1101 Dobbs Ferry Road near Elmwood Country Club. The caller said that someone was breaking into the house. Uniformed patrol units responded to the area and found two young men walking along Dobbs Ferry Road, near Forest Boulevard. The men fit the description of the suspects. The suspects were detained at the scene by the officers and were positively identified as the persons who allegedly broke into the house. Both were placed under arrest and were charged with Burglary 2nd degree, a Class C Felony.

The defendants were identified as Jose M. Delacruz, age 18 of Yonkers and Phillip B. Villanueva, age 17 of Yonkers. A subsequent investigation by the Greenburgh Police Detectives has led to additional burglary charges against Phillip Villanueva. He was charged with two additional counts of Burglary 2nd degree for burglaries at 61 Manhattan Avenue, in the Fairview section of town, on December 16, 2011, and at 298 Chatterton Parkway, Hartsdale, on January 27, 2012. An additional charge of attempted Burglary 2nd degree was filed against Mr. Villanueva relating to a burglary of a second apartment at 298 Chatterton Parkway, Hartsdale, on the same date.

Philip Villanueva

Jose Delacruz

(pictured at top: Phillip Villanueva)

Additional reports:

Another stray pit bull was found, this one on Sprain Valley Road on the night of February 28. The dog was picked up and taken to an animal shelter.

At 4:50 am on Saturday March 3rd, police stopped the driver of a 2011 Camry for speeding and going through a red light without stopping. When police spoke to the driver they smelled alcohol, and the man who identified himself as Clarence Burnha,, age 25 of Hartsdale, admitted to drinking a “twenty two of Old English”. He was given sobriety tests and found to have a BAC of .20. Burnham’s car was towed and he was taken to police headquarters where he was charged with DWI and multiple traffic violations.

While exiting a parking space at the Christmas Tree Shop on Central Avenue in Hartsdale, on Saturday morning 3-3, Miriam Cuesta, age 69 of Yonkers hit the accelerator, struck another car and then ran into the front wall of the store. She was not injured and there was no structural damage to the store.

There is now a substantial reward being offered to anyone who can help find Lauren Spierer. Spierer, as you likely know, is the 20-year-old Edgemont resident who went missing on June 3rd at Indiana University after a night out with friends. On Friday February 24th her family wrote the following on the Facebook page dedicated to the search for Lauren:

As a result of an extremely generous donation, the reward has been increased to $250,000.00. 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.

All information submitted that has a direct impact relative to finding Lauren will be evaluated. Information that is deemed credible and helps result in the resolution of this case will be awarded to the appropriate individuals from the total reward amount of $250,000.00.

We remain dedicated to finding our daughter. For more information about Lauren you can visit www.findlauren.com . We offer our sincere thanks for any information you can provide.

Rob and Charlene Spierer

In response to this substantial reward, the Bloomington Police issued this statement:

The Bloomington Police Department is aware that the family of Lauren Spierer is offering a reward for information that leads to her return and that hopefully leads to holding accountable anyone who may be responsible for her disappearance. The Department continues to actively investigate the case involving the disappearance of Lauren Spierer and requests that anyone with information contact the Bloomington Police Department at 812-339-4477. We will have no further release at this time.

I put a call into Beau Dietl and Associates earlier this week asking to speak to someone on the case. Either the receptionist was unaware of the case, or they are incredibly strict about press inquiries. I got a curt “No” and then a hang up. So far my email request for comment has gone unanswered.

In missing person cases, if the missing person was abducted by a stranger, a reward can be helpful. The reward can spur an angry family member, a friend or a local storeowner to report suspicious behavior that can be used to form a lead. In this case, it has been speculated that Lauren knew the people she was with when she was last seen -- and it was not a case of a stranger abduction. In Lauren’s case keeping the story in the public eye may be key.

In a booklet titled Missing Person Toolkit-The Kirsten Foundation, the Washington State Missing Persons and Unidentified Remains Task Force offers a rather frightening and in-depth guide for families on what to do and how to deal when a loved one goes missing. In a recommendation on how to use the media they say, "Rewards can be helpful to generate leads and to create a news story. If you are planning to offer a sizeable reward, increase it incrementally to create an additional news story."

However, it goes on to warn: If you are successful about obtaining publicity about your missing person there might be some who will call seeking to exploit your situation. Be wary of those who demand money with a promise to find your missing person, including private investigators or psychics or most distressing, those who claim to be holding your person for ransom.

The Spierer’s have likely considered all of the scenarios and issues that could stem from this increase in the amount of the reward. The stress and pain that they have endured over the past several months must be unbearable. Regardless if the reward or any article written or news report filed will lead to answers about Lauren, it is important to show that she will not be forgotten, especially here.

Jen is a freelance journalist who has covered the economy and markets for over a decade at a major financial news outlet. She lives in Scarsdale with her husband and 2 children. Jen has yet to bake a successful batch of cookies.

Registration for incoming kindergarten students (for the 2012-2013 school year) will be held in all five of the Scarsdale elementary schools (Edgewood, Fox Meadow, Greenacres, Heathcote and Quaker Ridge) from Monday, March 5 to Friday, March 9. Students may be registered between 9 AM and 3 PM.

Children whose fifth birthday falls on or before December 31, 2012 may be registered. Documents needed include immunization records, proof of age such as birth certificate or passport, and proof of residency, along with the registration forms and instructions, which may be downloaded at www.scarsdaleschools.k12.ny.us/registration (on the District Web site, click on Parent Information, and then on the “Student Registration” link), or obtained at the school.

Proof of residency can be either in the form of a copy of the deed for a house, or a signed rental agreement (lease), plus a utility bill. Please be aware that some homes in this area have a Scarsdale mailing address, but are not within the Scarsdale School District. If there is any doubt, you may contact the District office for verification: 914-721-2444. Enrollment in one of the five elementary schools is determined by the neighborhood in which you live.

If you have any questions concerning registration, please call your local elementary school.

Register Now to Vote in the Village Election on March 20th

If you are not a registered voter but want to vote in the Village Election on Tuesday, March 20, 2012, the last day to register with the Westchester County Board of Elections is Friday, March 9th. You may pick up a mail-in registration form at Village Hall, or you may go directly to the Westchester County Board of Election, 25 Quarropas Street, White Plains.

In order to register to vote, you must:

• Be a U.S. Citizen

• Be 18 years of age by the date of the election in which you want to vote

• Live at your present address at least 30 days before an election

• Not be in jail or on parole for a felony conviction

• Not claim the right to vote elsewhere.

For registered voters who will be out of Westchester County on Village Election Day, an absentee ballot can be obtained by filling out an application form at Village Hall or by requesting one by phone or mail. March 13th is the last day for the Village Clerk to receive an application for an absentee ballot which is to be mailed to a qualified voter; however, applications made in person can be accepted until Monday, March 19, 2012.

All Election Districts will be voting at the Scarsdale Library. Hours of the election are 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and Noon to 9 p.m.

For more information, call the Village Clerk’s office at 722-1175.

As Scarsdale residents and police deal with the recent spate of break-ins, residents in neighboring towns such as Mamaroneck, New Rochelle, Pelham and Harrison are contending with an even more freighting crime-wave; armed robbery.

Since mid-January there has been a rash of gun-point holdups in neighboring towns. Often times the victim is a commuter walking home from the train station at night when the perpetrator approaches. There have been six incidents since mid-January including two last week.

On February 9th there were two separate incidents, one in the Village of Mamaroneck and another in Harrison. In both cases, a commuter was walking home from the train station and was approached from behind by an assailant with a handgun and ordered to the ground. The victims were robbed of personal possessions including money and cell phones. According to one report, the Harrison commuter was hit on the head during the robbery. In that case, the victim was taken to White Plains Hospital for treatment.

Similar incidents took place on January 12th and January 31 in Pelham and on January 17th in Mamaroneck.

In nearby New Rochelle on January 29th two females, one a student at Iona, were also held up at gunpoint and robbed of their possessions after entering a building.

The suspect’s description is nearly identical in all cases: An African American male between 5 feet 10 inches to 6 feet in height, 175 to 200 pounds, medium build. He is usually wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt, jeans and a mask or a light colored bandana covering his face, though in one instance, the suspect’s height was estimated to be closer to 5 foot 7. Both men and women have been targeted in these robberies

“Victims are usually approached from behind while travelling on local roads. We see a similarity in all of the cases leading us to believe that is the same person or persons in all cases,” according to Lt. Robert Koziak of the Mamaroneck Police Department.

Koziak says that the police departments in the towns that have been hit have been coordinating with one another and have stepped up patrols. When asked if there have been any leads or breaks in the case, Koziak merely said that the investigation is ongoing.

Back in Scarsdale, when asked about these crimes, Detective Lt. Thomas Altizio responded that while “the stations along the Hudson, Harlem and New Haven train lines are patrolled by the MTA Police Department. (Scarsdale) has an officer assigned specifically to the downtown village area through the early evening and always have patrol cars assigned to make frequent checks on the area each shift.”

Altizio reminds commuters, and residents in general that people walking home should follow standard safety practices; People should “try to walk with someone and go to the nearest home or business if they feel they are being followed. People should always immediately report suspicious person or activities to their local police.”

New York State Crime Stoppers is offering a $2500 cash reward to anyone who has information that directly leads to the arrest and convictions of the robber or robbers in these attacks. People should call 866-313-TIPS if they any information that can lead to an arrest.

Jen is a freelance journalist who has covered the economy and markets for over a decade at a major financial news outlet. She lives in Scarsdale with her husband and 2 children. Jen has yet to bake a successful batch of cookies.