After Long Chase, Shomrim Apprehend Bike Thief

A determined bike thief was apprehended after first attempting, then later successfully stealing a bicycle on Sterling Street. After a long chase the suspected thief was apprehended.

The incidents began unfolding at around 3:30pm when Shomrim received a call on their hotline alerting them to a person, described as a black male with a light complexion and an average build, attempting to cut the lock on a bicycle on Eastern Parkway near Brooklyn Avenue.

A number of Shomrim volunteers responded and by the time they arrived on scene, the caller told them that he confronted the suspect, who claimed it was his bike. Following the confrontation he abandoned his task, got on his own bike and fled down Brooklyn Avenue towards Empire Boulevard.

Later, a patrolling Shomrim volunteer spotted an individual matching the description of the earlier suspect on Empire near Kingston Avenue, riding a bike with another neon green children’s bike in his hand and immediately notified the dispatcher.

By chance another Shomrim volunteer passed by a Jewish woman, who upon recognizing him as part of Shomrim, related that she had seen a person on Sterling Street cutting the chain off a bike that was locked up in front of a Jewish home. The description she gave matched that of the one suspected earlier, and currently spotted with the same stolen bike.

Shomrim notified 911, and began following the suspect. Within minutes he realized he was being followed and began fleeing.

A long and winding chase took Shomrim down Empire Boulevard, then down Albany Avenue, around onto East New York Avenue then doubling back and further down to Rutland Road, then Winthrop Street, then back up through the Rutland Road Park and finally coming to an end on Fennimore Street near New York Avenue.

By this point dozens of Shomrim volunteers and community members surrounded the suspect and convinced him to wait for police, who showed up a short while later. After speaking with the witness and later the owners of the bike, the suspect was placed under arrest.

A sizable group of rabble-rousers attempted to turn the incident into a racial confrontation, saying that even though he may have stolen a bike “no one had the right to chase him”, then fabricating a story about the suspect being hit by a car during the pursuit. Police officers were not easily fooled and after arresting the man most of the agitators left the scene.

A special thanks goes out to the Shomrim volunteers who diligently pursued the matter and did not let a bike thief get away, and to the police officers who made the arrest.

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11 Comments

  • rb29

    these people seriously need to be habilitated. Not rehabiliated because that means that they had something going for them. They need to be taught basic concepts of acceptable, ethical living. If the police would work with the local schools here, their jobs might be easier. This is just way too much. They are not dealing with the source. These people who do this, often had way less than adequate living situations and did not learn basics of life. Someone is really short-changing these people and it must be addressed. Everyone complains but does not look at what could be done. Take some sensible action.

  • tc4522

    great job on everyone’s part, THANKS to the police and to Shomrim for sensible thinking and actions.

  • Is he riding my sons bike??

    3 expensive bikes stolen from us in the course of 3 months, the last one, last week ,costing $700!! Give them back now!!!!!

  • scw

    the job by Shomrim and Police was admirable and appreciated. I feel that these tactics should be a clear directive.
    thankyou

  • just saying

    “the caller told them that he confronted the suspect, who claimed it was his bike. ”

    If the caller called Shimrim then why did he confront the suspect, he should have waited for Shomrim to arrive, catch him in the act and have him arrested. All the confrontation did was scare him away, which led to a chase (which could have been avoided).

    Thank you Shomrim for a job well done.

  • If schools

    could institute a non- denominational prayer or a
    moment of silence daily, they would know about
    “an eye that sees…” and hopefully act ethically.