Police Appeal to Crime Victims: Don't Wait to Call Us

Port Chester police want crime victims to call them right away, after two recent incidents in which victims were attacked on the street, but went home before calling for help.

In an incident last week that had elements of both a con and a robbery, a Port Chester man who was victimized waited until his laundry was finished drying -- then took his clothes home -- before returning to the crime scene and calling police. The 27-year-old forfeited $180, a gold bracelet and two gold chains in the Midland Avenue incident, and the suspects haven't been found.

On July 5, a Port Chester man who was attacked in a failed robbery also went home before he called for help. In that incident, the victim was walking on North Main Street near Adee Street at 3:45 a.m. when he was jumped by two men. The would-be robbers went for the victim's money, but panicked when the victim fell onto the concrete. They ran off, leaving the victim with a swollen eye, but his wallet still intact, Lt. James Ladeairous said.

The victim ran home, then called police. Officers took a statement, and paramedics took the victim to Greenwich Hospital to get his eye looked at, but by the time patrols checked the area of the foiled robbery, the attackers were gone.

Those first few minutes after a suspect has fled are crucial, Ladeairous said, and the chances of police catching up to robbers and attackers are greatly increased if victims call right away.

"The faster they can get to us, the better the chances are we can make an arrest," he said. "Call us right away so we can get right to the scene."

In a town contained within 2.4 square miles, patrol units are typically close by, and it's not unusual for police to catch suspects as they're fleeing a crime scene.

Crime victims can call 911 to get routed directly to an emergency line; the Port Chester police main line is 914-939-1000.