Page 4 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • August 7, 2013 Wyckoff Group issues EAB warning The Wyckoff Shade Tree Commission is warning area residents that the emerald ash borer, an insect responsible for the deaths of large numbers of ash trees, has been identified in two Connecticut counties and that a quarantine of ash wood products, saplings, and firewood has been declared to protect Wyckoff. The emerald ash borer has also been identified in Dutchess County, New York and in Berkshire County, Massachusetts. Firewood and other hardwoods and ash tree seedlings should not be brought into New Jersey by residents or nursery owners. Originally a species native to China and Siberia, the emerald ash borer is about a third of an inch long as an adult, with a bright green body and black eyes. The larval phase of the ash borer is a deadly enemy of ash trees because the larva bore into the bark, inter- fering with the flow of nutrients between the crown and the roots, eventually killing the tree. Police investigate gift card scam The Wyckoff Police Department is investigating a number of thefts, house burglaries, and narcotics offenses. On July 17, the manager of Walgreens on Wyckoff Avenue reported that an elderly woman had been in the store several times during the previous few days and had purchased almost $4,000 in gift cards. Conversations with the woman led the store personnel to believe that she had been the victim of a scam. Sergeant Daniel Kellogg investigated and determined that the 83-year-old woman had been contacted by tele- phone and had been told that she had won a lottery and that she needed to pay lottery fees to collect her prize. After purchasing the cards, the elderly woman was contacted again and the caller asked her for the serial numbers on the gift cards. These numbers allowed the person to remotely withdraw the money from the gift cards the woman had purchased. The incident is under investigation, but police say there is very little chance they will be able to recover her money. On July 19 at 9:09 p.m., Wyckoff police were contacted by a citizen regarding a possible drunk driver traveling on Route 208. A license plate number was provided that identified the owner as a resident of Sicomac Avenue. Sgt. Michael DeMaio and Ptl. William Plisich checked the home and observed the vehicle on Sicomac Avenue. The driver turned onto Richard Place, where the driver, a 49-year-old man, was arrested for DWI. He indicated to the officers that he observed the police cars and was afraid to turn into his driveway. He was charged with driving while intoxicated following a breath test. On July 20, Sgt. Michael Ragucci and Ptl. Peter Good- man responded to a Lincoln Avenue home to investigate a report that an individual was under the influence of nar- cotics. The investigation determined that a Wyckoff man, 20, was in need of medical attention. He was also found in possession of marijuana and a marijuana grinder. He was transported to the hospital and charged with the narcotics violations. On July 21 at 8:45 p.m., Ptl. Kyle Ferreira observed two boys on the field at Sicomac School. He felt their actions were somewhat suspicious and began to observe them from a distance. He then observed them exchange something by hand. Ptl. Ferreira approached them. When he was observed by the boys, they separated in opposite directions. The offi- cer apprehended one of them: a 16-year-old Wyckoff boy. The resulting investigation determined that the boy was in possession of 315 Oxycodone pills ranging from 5mg to 80 mg. These pills have a street market value of about $10,000. The boy was arrested and charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance, and possession on school property. He was released to a parent. The complaints will be heard in juvenile court. Wyckoff Chief of Police Benjamin Fox complimented the efforts of Ptl. Ferreira that took these narcotics off the streets. Law enforcement officials note that addiction to this drug is at an all time high, and addicts will stop at noth- ing to get what they need. On July 22, the owner of American Moving and Stor- age on West Main Street reported that he suspected one of his employees had stolen items from a customer during the moving of the customer’s property. Several bottles of expensive perfume and a camera were reported stolen. Sergeant Kevin Kasak and Patrolman Brenda Groslinger interviewed the employee, a 25-year-old Newark man, and charged him with theft. He was also wanted on a warrant from Irvington and he was lodged in Bergen County Jail in lieu of $1,000 bail. On July 25, the manager of Wine & Spirit World on Franklin Avenue reported that a woman had shoplifted several bottles of alcohol worth $213 and fled the store. A license plate number of the vehicle was obtained and the 34-year-old North Haledon woman was identified by the store manager from a photograph on her driver’s license, (continued on page 9)