Yonkers Police Confiscate $3,500 Worth Of Illegal Fireworks

YONKERS, NY – The Yonkers Police Department is cracking down on illegal firework activity. During two separate investigations, the YPD seized upwards of $3,500 worth of illegal and dangerous fireworks.

"Like many of our neighboring communities, Yonkers has seen an increase of illegal fireworks use which is not only unlawful and dangerous, but is disruptive to nearby residents," said Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano. "Job well done by our Yonkers Police, Fire and Buildings departments for cracking down on a seemingly growing issue this summer."

There has been a 4000 percent spike in illegal firework complaints in New York City. Also, complaints about illegal fireworks being set off have flooded the Mount Vernon Police Department.

The Yonkers Police Department received a recent anonymous complaint through the city’s tip line regarding a specific location where someone was storing and selling large amounts of illegal fireworks. On Monday, police, working with the Yonkers Fire Department and City Building Inspectors, initiated an investigation.

The officers sent to the apartment in southwest Yonkers saw lots of empty firework boxes discarded in the trash and strewn about the immediate area.

Detectives from the Major Case Unit arrived on the scene and, along with YFD and City Building Inspectors, were able to determine that the occupant was in fact storing large amounts of illegal and dangerous fireworks. Detectives from the Crime Scene Unit arrived and processed the scene.

With the assistance of the Westchester County Bomb Squad, the fireworks were safely seized and the occupant of the apartment, identified by police only as a 31-year-old Yonkers resident, was detained pending further investigation. The fireworks are believed to be worth in excess of $3,000.

Then at 8:30 p.m. Monday, Gang Unit Detectives were on patrol in the area of Riverview Place and conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle. An investigation revealed that the occupant of the vehicle was in possession of an assortment of illegal fireworks believed to cost several hundred dollars. The fireworks were seized and the violator was issued a summons for possession.

Possession, storage, sale and transport of fireworks is illegal in the City of Yonkers. The law prohibiting any fireworks with respect to the City of Yonkers can be found in this link from the New York State Department of Homeland Security.

"While NYS did pass a law for permissible uses of some fireworks, Westchester County and Yonkers, did not participate, and have opted out of this law," said Police Commissioner John J. Mueller. If used improperly, fireworks can be extremely dangerous and put members of the public at substantial risk for personal injury or property damage. Emergency room statistics for injuries put children at a higher risk for injury. Yonkers is a densely populated city and as such, make the use of fireworks all the more dangerous."

The Yonkers Police Department has been conducting daily patrol details that are specifically designed to combat illegal firework activity. Patrol Officers are addressing these complaints by issuing City Ordinance Violation summonses, which require the violator to appear in court at a later date.

Members of the public are encouraged to report illegal firework activity to the police non-emergency line at (914) 377-7900 or send an anonymous tip by texting YPD plus your tip to 847411.