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A middle-aged African-American male was caught on surveillance video attempting to force his way into a Jewish residence. At about 2:00am last night, the suspect approached the home on Montgomery St. and blocked the peephole with a “Shir Hamaalos” card. Luckily, the inhabitants decided not to open the door; there is no telling what he intended to do if the door had been opened.

Video: Man Attempts to Break into Jewish Home

A middle-aged African-American male was caught on surveillance video attempting to force his way into a Jewish residence. At about 2:00am last night, the suspect approached the home on Montgomery St. and blocked the peephole with a “Shir Hamaalos” card. Luckily, the inhabitants decided not to open the door; there is no telling what he intended to do if the door had been opened.

When no one answered the door, the suspect went around the house and tried to have the other doors opened, but eventually gave up and rode away on his bicycle.

Later in the night – at around 2:30am – Shomrim received a frantic call from a Jewish homeowner in the Lefferts and Troy Ave. area that a burglar was trying to gain entry to their home. A Shomrim unit who lives nearby scrambled over, but did not find anyone around.

He then called for backup, and several Shomrim members canvassed the neighborhood. Sure enough, they found an African-American male on a bicycle trying to force his way into a construction site on Carroll St. near Troy Ave.

He failed to get into the site, and Shomrim were unable to hold him for arrest because he hadn’t committed a crime. (They were at the time unaware of the first incident).

Instead, they trailed him as he rode away on his bicycle, not stopping until he was a couple of miles away from Crown Heights.

We are now aware that this man is extremely dangerous. He is trying to break into homes in the middle of the night, and he may be armed – since he is not afraid of inhabited houses.

If you see this man, please notify Shomrim immediately so that they may keep tabs on him.

If someone rings your bell in the middle of the night, and you are not expecting anyone, DO NOT open the door until you ascertain that it is absolutely safe. If not, or if you see any suspicious activity, immediately call 911 or Shomrim at 718 774-3333.

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18 Comments

  • B-H

    at least he didnt try to commit a more serious crime…like making havdala in evergreen

  • Rdz

    I would like to suggest that in emergencies, we should call shomrim AND 911. If the police are not informed they can ignore crimes. In addition, calls to 911 are documented and harder to cover up and ignore.

  • pathetically

    doesnt look like this guy forced ANYTHING. look at the tape. he rang the bell and than left.

  • Sara

    Get his fingerprints. They’re on the tape and the door. For ‘future’ reference!

  • I.M. Black

    You’ve got to be kidding me! I just stumbled on this and I can’t believe I clicked on the CRIME tab and this is what I see! What in this video is suggesting a crime is being committed??? The guy clearly rang the buzzer or bell and left! Obviously no one answered! He didn’t force anything, he didn’t hang around, what here suggested that he was trying to commit a crime? Is is because he’s black, and this is supposedly a jew-ISH home? THIS IS CRAZY!

  • mendy

    to 11: it didnt say he did a crime, rather he attempted to do a crime! points to ponder: 1. He was ringing bells at 2:00 in the am 2. He covered the peek hole so that if someone would open or buzz him in they wouldnt be able to see him 3. he did try the door handel 4. this doesnt say in the article but he tried and rang the side doors as well. question for you: Had the home owner buzzed him in do you think he would just say hi and walk away?!

  • friend of home owner

    He rang the bell and the home owner asked who it was, then the guy left and went to the side of the house and tried the side door. He then proceeded to the back where he saw the car parked. The owner yelled out that police where on their way and so he took off.

  • Reply to 11

    This has absolutely nothing to do with the color of skin. normal people do not ring doorbells at 2:00am nor do the cover the peepholes when ringing the bell at that time. although the video does not show the other side of the house the article does mention that this person attempted to gain entry from other parts of the house. number 11 you sound like a typicle Anti Semite.

  • keep ch safe

    we should buld a wall around eastern parkway and empire from new york ave to albany ave and only allow jews inside. just like in yisrael!

  • sholom

    to 16: creating your own ghetto in erets yisroel or abroad is
    a victory for our foes helping them to delete you altogether
    g-d forbid.do you know we fast on the 10th of teves?!….
    jewish pride and strength and belief in g-d is the response.
    now as the month of elul (meaning “search”)approaches we should all take the HALACHIK advice to check all our MEZUZOS.
    may we all have a KESIVA VACHASIMA TOVA.
    MOSHIACH NOW!

  • dovid

    to 16:
    you should also add,that the rebbe said in public,that if one
    found his tefilin or mezuza posul after the month of elul and he
    did not check them during that month he is NOT considered a shogeg (inadvertent,not responsible),b.c. the poskim say that
    you should do so,“V’SHIGEGAS TALMUD OLEH ZADON”.