The suspect being taken into custody by NYPD Anti-Crime police officers.

Barefoot and Freezing, Resident Chases Down Burglar

Temperatures in Crown Heights plunged last night into the single digits, but that did not stop a determined resident from chasing down, barefoot and in pajamas, a burglar he witnessed inside his car.

Relaxing at home with his family late Motzei Shabbos, the man suddenly heard a car alarm go off. He was positive it was his car, and immediately sprung into action. Running out of his house barefoot and in his pajamas, he witnessing a Black man sitting in the driver’s seat of his car and rummaging through it for items of value.

The burglar noticed that he was spotted and immediately exited the car and began fleeing from Maple Street up Kingston Avenue. The owner of the car quickly called Shomrim and kept following the suspect from a distance.

Within mere moments, Shomrim Spotted the suspect on East New York Avenue and Brooklyn Avenue and called 911, while continuing to follow him from a distance and waiting for more backup.

Finally, the suspect realized that he was being followed by over a dozen Shomrim volunteers and gave up fleeing. At first he attempted to explain that “it was someone who looked just like him and wearing the same cloths” that committed the robbery, but quickly abandoned that idea and plead that he be let go.

A group of anti-crime unmarked police officers, lead by Lieutenant Weiss, quickly arrived on scene and took the suspect into custody. The officers congratulated Shomrim and thanked them for their assistance, adding that “this guy was probably going around checking the doors of cars all over the neighborhood.”

A Shomrim coordinator told CrownHeights.info that an even bigger yashar koach goes to the owner of the car, who refused to simply become a victim, and that more neighborhood residents should follow his example. “Crime would surly go down if we ensure that the criminals are caught and properly punished. They will be afraid to come back and commit future crimes,” he said.

20 Comments

  • shomrim volunteer

    Im glad we caught this perp be4 he got a chance to victimize more crown heightsers
    10/4

  • What happened NEXT to this perp

    Tell us the FOLLOW UP!!!

    What was he charged with?

    Was he held for bail or released from station?

    If bail, what was the amount and terms / conditions?

    Does he have a record/sheet?

    When is his court date?

    Catching them is an important FIRST STEP, but it MUST not end there! The word needs to get out that EACH criminal caught will be prosecuted to the fullest extend of the law, and that only happens when there is HEAVY community pressure to follow this through to the end.

    So CH.Info, please follow up, To take the bite out of crime it isn’t enough that we only bark. We need teeth.

  • I saw him being arrested

    I was just out of the picture. There were so many cops & Shomrim members on Lefferts I thought it was Nelson. But in fact it’s a young guy, who must be Son of Nelson. FTR it was very cold @11:45 last night. I don’t know how the owner could run after this guy in his PJ’s!

    Great job, Shomrim, as always.

  • tR

    this is excellent: A Shomrim coordinator told CrownHeights.info that an even bigger yashar koach goes to the owner of the car, who refused to simply become a victim, and that more neighborhood residents should follow his example. “Crime would surly go down if we ensure that the criminals are caught and properly punished. They will be afraid to come back and commit future crimes,” he said.
    however, not everyone gets out there, and truth is that we need surveillance cameras as back up.

  • Neighbor

    Yasher koach etc. however, do not always be a chochom. He could have had a gun or thrown a knife or bottle. Be vigilant and careful. Beontopof it but cautious.

  • needed a plumber

    Thank you very much for Clarifying. I was going to hire Dovi for his professional plumbing services on Sunday but I thought he lost his marbles. I passed by him and he was walking down the street barefoot and shirtless. Now it all makes sense. I will definitely hire him now! certainly He’s not afraid of any challenge!

  • cher

    No one said that he engaged the perp rather the one who called Shomrim followed the perp from a distace, not putting himself in danger. Thanks to the NYPD and Shomrim.

  • Agreed with #7

    I saw this lubavitch guy chasing after the perp.
    I am amazed at this guys determination and preserverence. First off how did he know the perp wasn’t armed and dangerous, secondly what would have happened if the perp saw him chasing him and attacked him first. His brothers must be from either boston, Chicago or Texas. I know the guy personally, I remember once calling him in middle of the night to get my back, however by the time he showed up he was so out of breath he couldn’t do anything.
    The main problem here may be that you need to keep your car door locked. Had it been there wouldn’t have been neither a victim or a perp.
    Kol hakavod to Levi for driving the victim home and radioing that he has the victim with him 10/4…the organizational skills of shomrim are top notch, please advise how I can donate money to the cause

    Yesher koach!!!!

  • confused

    why is the robber called a perp? is this a name shomrim assigned for the person?
    also whats with these special codes shomrim uses like 10/4. what do they mean? also why dont shomrim have blankets to offer the victim? i can only imagine how cold he must have been. people you must all donate blankets and warm stuff to the shomrim ppl so they have enough to give out

  • A yenta

    I don’t want to call myself a yenta, but I have heard so much about this barefoot plumber. I always knew he was a good plumber, but now apparently he’s an amazing barefoot vigilantly. Yasher koach

  • SOXFAN

    Best excuse yet:

    “At first he attempted to explain that “it was someone who looked just like him and wearing the same cloths”

    Reminds me of the famous “these ain’t my pantses, I borrowed them from my uncle” excuse.

  • dovre emes

    my wife saw this man running down the street and got extremely scared… according to baba basra and baba kama in daf 76 it states a man should not run down the street with no shoes on.
    yasher koach to the barefoot vigilante for conquering the hooded bandet, may he be locked up for many years.
    again yasher koach.

  • to # 13

    please don’t be disrespectful on this public forum. I went to Ohlay terah so its not my fault i don’t know English. thank you for the quick lesson. however maybe you can explain what these special codes are since you seem to be quite educated.
    also when will shomrim begin handing out blankets to victims.
    to #14 stop being a yente…i know this plumber personally and and he is not a vigilante.. he is simply a chossid that didnt want someone stealing from his car. like a said earlier he once came to defend me after i was robbed but by the time he arrived with his heavy boots he was so tired he couldnt lift his finger. after hearing about his brave act i will call him anytime to defend me.

    • Shomrim

      The first thing Shomrim did for the owner of the car was put him in one of their vehicles which had the heater on… After speaking with police they drove him home to get shoes and a coat then took him to the precinct so that he can sign the complaint then drove him home once again.

      Once again Shomrim has gone far beyond the extra mile in order to help a fellow Jew in need.

      Thank you Shomrim and Yashar Koach!

  • To # 18

    I’m not sure where u received that information. I spoke with the car owner personally and he told me that while he perp was being arrested he was standing on the street watching and video taping. As a matter of a fact he was allowed to go in the Shomrim members car however since he wanted to be part of the action as well as the fact that the video quality would not have been great he opted on staying in the cold. Therefore I agree with #17 that shomrim should have warm blankets to give to all victims so they can be part of the action and still be warm. Possibly portable solar powered heaters as well however blankets should be a given.

  • LAURIE COMBO

    WHY DO JEWS STILL LIVE IN CROWN HEIGHTS ?

    HOW DO YOU KNOW HE WAS A BLACK MAN ?

    WHY DID YOU INTERRUPT HIM FROM STEALING ?

    YOU SHOULD GIVE MORE CHARITY TO THE CHURCH :!!!!

    ITS NOT THE BLACK MANS FAULT !!!