Police: E. Broadway 'Burglary' was Utility Workers, Firefighters Checking for Gas Leak

When residents of an East Broadway apartment came back to their home last Thursday and found several window screens ripped open, they reported a burglary.

Along with the ripped screens and open windows, a door leading from the basement to the upstairs apartment was left open, and property in the basement had been scattered around. Police agreed, it , and the burglar may have been scared off.

The only strange thing? Nothing was missing.

After checking with the fire department, police realized the "burglars" were firefighters and workers from Con Edison, who entered the building after responding to a report of a gas leak, Lt. James Ladeairous said. Items were knocked over when they entered through a basement window, which made it look like a burglar had torn through possessions in the basement.

The gas leak turned out to be a false alarm, although it wasn't immediately clear why authorities didn't notify the homeowners. After realizing the home had been entered in a fire department response, police called the apartment's residents and closed the case.

UPDATE: April 5, 2011 - Port Chester police say firefighters left a note before leaving the home, but residents didn't see it before dialing police and reporting a burglary.

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