Garden City PD Warn Of Scam Callers Impersonating Department

GARDEN CITY, NY — The Garden City Police Department reported the following incidents for the week ending Jan. 26.

Jan. 18

• An officer smelled a strong odor of natural gas on Hamilton Place. The fire department was notified, responded to the scene, and determined the source of the leak was a boiler in a nearby apartment building. Firefighters rendered the area safe.

Jan. 19

• Items were reported stolen from a vehicle parked on Hampton Road.
• A person reported there were unauthorized online purchases made against her credit card.
• Two drivers were charged with driving on Franklin Avenue with suspended registrations.
• A vehicle was damaged while parked in Clinton Parking Field.

Jan. 20

• Officers responded to Rockaway Avenue for a transformer fire which ignited a tree and resulted in local power outages. Firefighters safeguarded the area and extinguished the fire. PSEG responded, made repairs, and restored power.
• A resident reported receiving a phone call from a person claiming to be a Garden City police officer. The caller advised the victim to provide payment to avoid being arrested for a criminal charge. It was determined the call was a scam. However, the suspect’s phone number on the victim’s phone erroneously came back to the department. Residents receiving similar calls are advised to hang up and dial 911.

Jan. 21

• A driver on Stewart Avenue was charged with driving with a suspended license and excessive speed.
• Items were reported stolen from a vehicle parked on Hayes Street.
• Officers responded to Tanners Pond Road where a vehicle struck a tree and the driver was seen fleeing the scene on foot. Upon investigation, Garden City detectives arrested the 39-year-old male driver on Jan. 24 and charged him with leaving the scene of an accident and driving with 12 license suspensions.

Jan. 22

• A victim’s identity was reportedly stolen and used to file a false unemployment claim.
• A motorist on Meadow Street was charged with unlicensed operation, passing a stop sign, and improper license plates.
• An officer patrolling Garden City Plaza was investigating a suspicious vehicle when he discovered a missing vulnerable adult as reported by Nassau County detectives. Nassau police and the missing person’s family were notified.
• A driver on 9th Street was charged with unlicensed operation and disregarding a “Do Not Enter” sign.
• Surveillance cameras recorded two people stealing packages from the front porch of a Wickham Road residence.

Jan. 23

• A driver on Rockaway Avenue was charged with driving with a suspended license and passing a red traffic light.
• A victim reported his identity was stolen and used to open an unauthorized bank account.

Jan. 24

• Packages were reported stolen from the front porches of two Princeton Street residences.
• Police and firefighters responded to Kellum Place for smoke emanating from a building and determined the cause to be a malfunctioning boiler.
• A driver was charged with driving on Rockaway Avenue in violation of a restricted license and excessive speed.
• Items were reported stolen from a vehicle parked in Garden City Plaza.

Jan. 25

• A truck struck the Cherry Valley Avenue overpass. The driver was charged with disregarding bridge clearance signs.
• A driver on Clinton Road was charged with unlicensed operation and excessive speed.
• A Garden City business reported a fraudulent $22,000 check was cashed against the company’s bank account.
• A driver on New Hyde Park Road was charged with unlicensed operation and using a portable electronic device.