Graffiti Taggers Deface Road Signs

Graffiti-makers have targeted traffic control signs throughout the town of Bedford over the last week and damaged about 15 of them, said police Lieutenant Jeffrey Dickan.

Defaced signs have been discovered on South Road, Harris Road and Croton Lake Road in Katonah; Bisbee Lane in Bedford Hills and Pines Bridge Road in Bedford Corners, among other areas.

The signs were tagged with the letters “SMET” and “SMEF.” Tags can be a personalized signature or style of a particular artist or group, according to Dickan.

 “We always see an uptick in this sort of criminal mischief when the weather gets nicer,” he said. “It becomes costly for the town to clean, repaint and replace signs. If residents see anyone loitering around signs, particularly in the evening or overnight hours when these incidents tend to occur, they can contact us."

The police department can be reached at (914) 241-3111.

Here is a selection of other recent police activity:

Plate reader tags unlicensed driver

A Mahopac resident was arrested in Bedford after a patrol car with a license plate reader tagged his car. On April 21 Bedford police stopped Thomas Ferretti, 23, on Cherry Street because the LPR alerted police to an insurance lapse on Ferretti’s vehicle. A computer check showed that Ferretti was driving without a license and a suspended registration. Ferretti was charged with third-degree unlicensed operation, operating a motor vehicle with a suspended registration and an equipment violation. He was released on $250 bail pending an appearance in Bedford town court.

Goldens Bridge woman driving with no license

On April 21, Bedford police stopped Diane Riley, 58, after her car was tagged by the license plate reader patrol car on Bedford Road near the intersection of Green Lane. Riley failed to produce a driver’s license for the investigating officer. She was charged third degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a car, operating a motor vehicle with a suspended registration and failure to provide a driver’s license. She was released without bail pending an appearance in town court.

Kohl’s Employee Accused of Stealing From Register

A Bedford Hills resident is accused of taking $375 over a period of four months from the register she operated as a Kohl’s employee, say Bedford police. Store security personnel conducted an internal investigation from January through April, and police arrested her on the afternoon of April 21. She was charged with petty larceny and released on $100 bail pending an appearance in town court.

Impatient driver arrested for speeding, non-use of interlock device

Bedford police arrested Julio Milla, 40, of Katonah, on April 17 and charged him with second-degree unlicensed operation of a vehicle, driving without an inspection certificate, speeding, and failure to use an ignition interlock device, which can prevent intoxicated drivers from starting and driving a car while under the influence of alcohol.

Police Officer Gruppuso was assisting Westchester County police with traffic on the Saw Mill River Parkway with a motor vehicle accident by monitoring a lane blocked off with flares. Milla drove into the blocked lane at an “unreasonable speed” and Gruppuso stopped him. A computer check showed that he had no license, his car’s inspection was expired, and he should have had an interlock device on his car. Milla was released on $200 bail pending an appearance in town court.