Village of Pelham Manor Police Chief Thomas Atkins reported in a statement to residents on Tuesday “there have been two residential burglaries involving vehicle theft” in recent weeks.

“In one residential burglary, a vehicle was successfully stolen by the perpetrators,” said the emailed statement sent at 8:05 p.m. “I understand residents’ concerns related to the recent criminal activity in our community and wanted to reach out to residents directly.”

“Please know that the PMPD has increased police patrols in the area, reallocated staffing resources and continues to vigilantly strategize to combat these crimes,” said Atkins. “In-house resources include our regular patrol vehicles, as well as our unmarked vehicles. We continue to communicate with other local police departments in Westchester County and the mutual aid system remains available to us.”

He said the department is working on the crimes with the Westchester County Real Time Crime Unit, which is “a cutting-edge criminal analysis unit connecting more than 100 local, state and federal law enforcement agencies in and surrounding Westchester County,” as well as the Drivers of Violence Enforcement (DOVE) detail, a county police effort that targets the types of crimes that occurred in Pelham Manor.

The chief’s statement followed two shorter alerts from the village this week and last that were more vague. One said “residential burglaries and stolen vehicles are trending in our region,” while the other reported “there have been attempted vehicle thefts and home invasions in and around the village.” Atkins’ communication also came after posts in Pelham groups on Facebook described the incidents, while others detailed purported crimes that have not occurred, at least based on what the chief wrote.

As did the two earlier emails, Atkins reiterated the need for residents to lock their homes and vehicles, use alarm and surveillance systems and report suspicious behavior to the department’s desk at 914-738-1000 or by calling 911 from a landline phone.

“We strongly urge our residents to be mindful of the security of their home,” Atkins said. “If your home has a garage, prioritizing its use for vehicle storage is advisable. All vehicle owners should bring their keys and fobs inside their home and should consider a designated safe storage place for them. It is also a good idea to consult with your homeowners’ insurance company for additional information on how to better secure your home. Residents are asked to reach out to me if you have any questions. My door is always open!”

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