Village of Ossining Police sent out an alert to citizens this morning that the schools had been temporarily locked down while officials were "investigat[ing] an incident."
The lockdown, where everyone is secured within their classrooms, was initiated around 10 a.m., said Superintendent Raymond Sanchez, following a report of a nearby armed home invasion.
Sanchez said the schools quickly moved "lockdown" status to "lockout," meaning the students and teachers could "go about their business" and move freely within the schools but no one could come in or out of the buildings. This was lifted in less than a half an hour, he said.
Police have not yet been available for further comment about the incident. This morning, the investigation was still underway and "in its preliminary stages," an Ossining police detective said.
The Hudson Valley Reporter reported that a resident on Yale Avenue was home when three men in masks, one armed, broke into her home and stole items. When they left just before 9:30 a.m., she reportedly called police.
Ossining police said the incident wasn't directly involved with the schools but it was in the "general area" so they secured schools as a "precaution."
Sanchez said the decision to secure all the schools briefly was a good one as "you just don't know." He said there were "quite a number of variables" he had to deal with during such a situation, communication to parents being top among them as well as the "efforts focused on safety."
As soon as police deemed it safe enough around 10:30 a.m., the schools were back to usual.
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