Theft of Batteries, Breach of Peace and Media Matters

Thefts of Batteries Continue

The owner of a construction site on Garder Road has filed two complaints over the thefts of batteries from construction vehicles and machinery over the past two months.

On Jan. 7, he told police that $2,180 worth of batteries were stolen from various machinery, including excavators and backhoes sometime overnight. There were eight large batteries, two medium sized ones and four small ones. 

Similar thefts occurred on the property on Dec. 10.

At the Car Wash

Joseph Heffner, 33, of Strawberry Hill Road in Stamford was arrested on a warrant for breach of peace on Jan. 5 and bond was set at $500 for a Jan. 15 court date. Police said the charge stems from a physical altercation at Monroe Car Wash in June.

Nothing to See Here

Police were busy patrolling the area around Sandy Hook Elementary School on Fan Hill Road as students attended classes for the first time last week. Several complaints about members of the media trying to snap photos had been made.

On Jan. 3, an officer issued verbal warnings to two New York journalists and another suspicious person complaint was made, but the person had left before police arrived.

At 8:31 a.m. on Jan. 3, there was a report of media blocking the road and reporters were escorted back to their vehicles.

Ten minutes later, photographers attempting to take pictures at Monroe Turnpike were sent on their way.

At 1:53 p.m., police received a complaint of media setting up at Fan Hill Road and officers sent them on their way.

The Park is Closed

The park ranger told police he found the gate chain broken at Webb Mountain Park at 8:25 a.m. on Jan. 7 and vehicle tracks going in. Inside the park, he found empty beer bottles and a smoldering campfire in area one, but nobody was around, according to the report.

The park has been closed to the public since the end of October and will not reopen until May, police said, adding the incident is under investigation.