Officers of the Walden Police Department had a busy week in the village as they investigated car larcenies on Oak Street last Tuesday, April 9, and maintained traffic safety during a brief power outage last Friday, April 12.

Larcenies on Oak Street
The police department received three cases of car theft along Oak Street on the night of Tuesday, April 9. Officers are currently investigating the incidents and believe they were the cause of one felon. The department arrested an alleged suspect on the night of Sunday, April 14 on a warrant from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, but they ended up being arrested for an unrelated crime.

Officer Roy Werner advised residents to always lock their vehicles to minimize thefts and encouraged using security cameras, which would greatly aid the department in solving any future incidents.

“It’s crucial to remind our residents that criminals seek easy targets of opportunity, disregarding the hardships they cause for you,” the department posted on its Facebook page. “Remember to consistently lock both your car and residence doors. Safeguard your valuables by keeping them out of sight and securely locked away. Let’s deprive these criminals of any chance to disrupt our peace and security.”

Power Outage
Many residents reported hearing an explosion near Montgomery Street on Friday, April 12 around 3:25 p.m.; the police department confirmed that a transformer blew out at the NYSEG substation on Mckinley Avenue. This resulted in a power outage that lasted until 5:15 p.m., affecting the entire village and its traffic lights.

During these two hours, the department informed residents to follow the four-way stop rule at traffic light intersections to maintain safe driving for everyone. The department also employed crossing guards to ensure that this rule was being followed.