Pelham Police Police Chief to Brief Residents on Armed Robberies

PELHAM, NY—Pelham village police Chief Joseph Benefico plans to meet with people at a private residence today to try and ease concerns over two armed robberies that have taken place here this month.

A Pelham resident is holding a neighborhood meeting inside of her home today in response to two robberies that took place next to the Pelham train station.

The first robbery took place at about 12:10 a.m. on Jan. 12. A man was walking on First Street, near Cliff Avenue, when he was approached by a suspect wearing a ski mask and brandishing a black, semi-automatic handgun.

The robber ordered the victim to lay on the ground and stole a wallet and phone, before fleeing. The suspect in that robbery is described as a six-foot tall, black male, between 180 to 200 pounds, who was wearing a black jacket and black pants.

The second robbery took place Tuesday at 8:20 p.m. on the 200 block of Monterey Avenue. A woman was walking home from the train station when she heard foot steps approaching her from behind. When she turned around, she saw a man wearing a black ski mask, black hooded sweatshirt and black pants approach her and display a black, semi-automatic hand gun.

The robber, who was described as being about 170 pounds and 5-feet, 10-inches to 6-feet tall, ordered the woman to lay on the ground. He then grabbed two carry bags and a wedding ring before fleeing the scene.

Catharine Taylor is one of a number of Pelham residents who has expressed concern about the incidents.

"Even though there has always been occasional crime in Pelham -- and it's always been a good idea to be careful getting off the train at night  -- this is pretty unnerving," Taylor said.

Pelham Police Detective John Hynes said police believe the incidents may be connected to robberies that took place in New Rochelle on Jan. 28 and Mamaroneck on Jan. 17.

In the New Rochelle armed robbery, man brandished a handgun and robbed two women as they entered an apartment buiding on 30 Eastchester Rd.

The Mamaroneck robbery involved a man who was robbed on Glenn Road, near the train station.

The descriptions of the suspect involved in the four robberies are all similar, according to Hynes.

Hynes said the Chief Benefico was attending tonight’s community meeting to clear up some rumors that have spread regarding the robbery. Hyne also urded community members to take extra precautions, including walking in pairs at night, while police investigate the crimes.

Additional crime prevention tips can be found here or on the PDF to the right of this story.

Anyone with information regarding these crime can call Detective Hynes or Detective Rick Deere at (914) 738-2000.