Friday, Jan. 13

• A worker at the Sunoco gas station on Orchard Park Road observed a man drive away without paying for $33 in gasoline. The man had reportedly hit the “need assistance” button at a prepay pump; the worker assumed it was an elderly person and so she activated the fuel station. She then turned in time to see the man leave the parking lot. Police later learned that the man had used his credit card to pay for the gas, but the card was never charged.

• Patrol stopped a vehicle with insufficient tail lamps on Clinton Street. Further investigation revealed that the driver’s license was suspended, the vehicle’s registration was suspended and that there was no insurance in effect for the vehicle.

Total calls received: 95

Saturday, Jan. 14

• A pickup that was plowing a driveway on Maplewood Avenue backed up across the street and into a neighbor’s new mailbox post. The cost to replace the mailbox is about $200.

• A woman on Delray Avenue was inside her house when she reportedly witnessed two suspicious males lurking around a neighbor’s home. She pounded on the window to get their attention while she called the police. Then, the males fled toward Graham Avenue. Two other youths who were outside shoveling at the time recognized the suspects and gave both names to the witness, who then relayed the names to police. Further investigation revealed that a window had been smashed at the victim’s home and a propane cylinder from a portable grill had been disconnected. Police found and arrested only one of the two suspects; he is charged with burglary in the second degree and criminal mischief in the third degree.

• Several knickknacks, a key and a pewter tray worth $100 were said to be missing from an Electric Avenue home. The owner’s daughter observed footprints near the side door, which had been damaged. Various drawers, closets, cupboards and boxes had been opened and rifled through; however, nothing else was said to be missing at that time.

Total calls received: 57

Sunday, Jan. 15

• Patrol responded to Lein Road because of a disabled vehicle, which was found heavily damaged on the east shoulder of the road and unoccupied. Patrol contacted the owner’s parents, who stated that their son had not yet returned home. The subject later confirmed with his parents that he had been operating the vehicle but refused to speak with patrol. He is charged with three traffic violations: leaving the scene of an accident, leaving the lane of travel, and open container.

Total calls received: 41

Monday, Jan. 16

• The owner of an auto care shop on Seneca Street reported that his New York State inspection certificate had been removed from a locked cabinet.

Total calls received: 37

Wednesday, Jan. 18

• A large “AD” model battery weighing 130 pounds was taken from a payloader that was parked behind Reserve Fire Hall on Berg Road. The battery is said to be worth $300.

• A male resident received a letter in the mail from Publisher’s Clearing House, indicating that he had won $2.6 million. The man contacted the number on the letter and spoke to an alleged representative, with whom he provided his Social Security number and driver’s license identification number. After that conversation, the man called Publisher’s Clearing House at a different number and was informed that he had been scammed.

• Patrol observed a vehicle with tinted windows and no front plate to be parked diagonally at the corner of Manhassett and Edson streets. The driver told patrol that she did not have identification but gave her name and date of birth. Further investigation revealed that there was an active warrant for her out of Buffalo. Then, the woman said that she had given a false name because her license is suspended. Patrol continued to arrest her for criminal impersonation. In addition, the male passenger was found to be in possession of marijuana and also had an active warrant out of Buffalo. Patrol also found potentially stolen clothing in a bag lined with tinfoil, which is a way to trick store security sensors.

Total calls received: 82

Thursday, Jan. 19

• A man was observed loading approximately 2 tons of scrap metal from Ebenezer Railcar on Indian Church Road into his red pickup, a late-90s model Dodge Ram. When the complainant questioned his actions, the man asked, “Is this steel?” The man also said his name was “Jim” before driving away.

• Patrol responded to an accident at the intersection of Union and Center roads. The driver of the suspect vehicle admitted to taking hydrocodone and Ambien; she had attempted to peel the label off one of the prescription bottles in her possession before it was confiscated. The woman’s pupils were dilated, and she appeared confused. When asked for her license, registration and insurance, she provided only the latter two items. When asked for the license a second time, she told the officer to stop yelling at her; she also said she already gave it to him on “Saturday” because he asked her for it “on Friday.” The woman is charged with driving while impaired by drugs in the second offense and failure to yield the right of way.

• While shoveling on Bellwood Avenue, a man observed a silver Pontiac G6 lose control and strike another vehicle that had been parked on the street. Then, the driver of the suspect vehicle left the area. The witness said the Pontiac should have damage to its passenger side and that the side mirror should be missing.

• A Shultz Road woman reported that her mailbox had been “sheared off” by a plow. The cost to replace the mailbox would be approximately $300.

• A man on East & West Road reported that the door to his mailbox had been torn off some time during the night.

Total calls received: 63

Friday, Jan. 20

• Patrol followed an alleged drunk driver from Union Road at Northwood Avenue to St. Joan Lane. The driver was observed to be speeding as well as weaving in and out of his lane of travel. He failed to yield to patrol until he parked in a driveway on St. Joan. The driver slurred his words while speaking with patrol and failed sobriety testing; he recited the alphabet only up to the letter “O” before stopping. He was arrested and later registered a .17 percent blood alcohol level.

• The supervisor of a Transit Road construction company reported that several tools totaling approximately $1,500 were missing. No damage was found to the door or door frame where entry was likely made into the garage where the tools were stored.

Total calls received: 49

Saturday, Jan. 21

• A Mineral Springs Road man had reportedly witnessed a blue and white pickup strike his home business sign as well as a fire hydrant, both located in front of his residence. The truck then continued west on said road toward Buffalo.

• Patrol observed a vehicle to be stopped for no apparent reason in the eastbound lane of Center Road at Lyndale Court. The vehicle’s driver-side brake light was not working. Patrol observed a strong odor of alcohol on the driver’s breath; the man also had slurred speech and glassy eyes. He failed several sobriety tests before he was arrested for driving while intoxicated. He later registered a .17 blood alcohol level.

• A man was observed to have made two improper right-hand turns from Seneca Street onto Harlem Road and then onto Indian Church Road. The driver turned into the oncoming lane of traffic each time he turned. Patrol attempted to stop the vehicle by activating the overhead lights, which did not yield until patrol activated the siren. The man appeared intoxicated and failed two of four sobriety tests. He was arrested and later registered an .11 percent blood alcohol level.

• A woman on Naples Avenue reported receiving a call from Saks Fifth Avenue in New York City to confirm the purchase of a near-$550 pair of sneakers. The purchase was to be shipped to a location in Florida. The woman called the store’s Fraud Department to stop the processing of the unauthorized purchase.

Total calls received: 56

Sunday, Jan. 22

• Patrol stopped a vehicle with a cracked windshield on Center Road. The operator gave a false name and was arrested for criminal impersonation in the second degree. The man was found to have a suspended license as well as an outstanding warrant out of the Town of Tonawanda.

• A Buffalo woman reported that her cellphone was stolen while she was inside Rane Party Bar on Seneca Street.

• Patrol followed an alleged drunk driver who was swerving on Seneca Street and who did not activate his vehicle’s headlights. Upon initiating a traffic stop, the vehicle struck the curb and went up onto the sidewalk, also striking a road marker. No damage was caused to the vehicle. The driver had bloodshot eyes and garbled speech. In an attempt to recite the alphabet, the man repeated “AB3” several times, never making it past the letter “B.” He failed other sobriety tests before he was arrested for driving while intoxicated. He later registered a .19 percent blood alcohol level.

Total calls received: 60

(Editor’s note: The Bee’s police blotter is a sampling of unusual calls received by the West Seneca Police Department. It is not intended to be a complete record of all incidents reported. Residents can report incidents to the WSPD by calling its anonymous tip line at 675-8423.)