Police Officer Foils Theft of Inflatable Lawn Ornament

An Orangetown Police Officer on patrol at 4:25 AM Dec. 5 observed a 2005 Dodge Caravan parked in front of a home in Blauvelt.

The officer also saw a man—later identified as Jeffrey J. Meyers, 41, of Walden, NY—hiding behind the vehicle while holding a large, inflatable, snow man lawn ornament.

Police allege he had stolen the snowman moments earlier from the front lawn of a home on Sunset Road.

The owner of the house came outside after he was awakened by his barking dog and confirmed that the property was his. The homeowner also provided the officer with a video from his surveillance system that police said clearly showed the suspect walking onto his lawn, unplugging the inflatable snow man and carrying it to his vehicle.

Meyers was taken to Orangetown Police Headquarters in Orangeburg where he was charged with Petit Larceny, Criminal Possession of Stolen Property 5th degree (misdemeanors) and Trespassing (violation). He was released on an appearance ticket and is due in Orangetown Court on Jan. 7.

Police ask any Orangetown residents who have experienced similar thefts recently of lawn ornaments to call the Orangetown Police Detective Bureau at 845-359-2121.