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Couple Forced at Gunpoint into Their Apartment, Robbed

Shomrim volunteers and police officers in the lobby of 742 Montgomery St. shortly after the incident.

CROWN HEIGHTS, Brooklyn [CHI] — A young Jewish couple were accosted and robbed at gun point inside their apartment building shortly after Shabbos ended.

The victims, a young married couple along with their infant child walked into the apartment building they live in, 742 Montgomery Street, and were met by two black males in the elevator as they rode up to the top floor.

Once at the door both perpetrators pulled guns, pointed them at the duo and demanded that they enter their apartment and give them cash, at one point one of the gun wielding thugs pointed the firearm at the child and threatened to do harm if they did not comply.

The husband calmed the two thugs telling them that he will give them money, and one of them followed him into their apartment and turned over an undisclosed amount of cash, and the two fled.

The two perpetrators were described as both being black and wearing all black clothing, one being in his mid-to-late teens, while the other in his early twenties.

Ten minutes before this incident occurred the same two perpetrators attempted to rob another person, a Bochur, on the corner of President Street and Albany Avenue. In a similar fashion the duo walked up to him, pointed a gun at him and demanded that he turn over any cash he had on him.

After explaining that it was Saturday and Jews did not carry money on them one of the two checked his pockets and after not finding anything they fled down Albany Avenue towards the scene of their next robbery. The Bochur immediately called 911 after the incident.

In the second incident the woman called the Shomrim hotline in hysteria saying “I was just robbed by two black guys in my apartment, please come quickly, come quickly” many Shomrim volunteers were dispatched and responded to the scene, and police were alerted as well.

After Shomrim spoke with the victim Hatzalah was called to check on the woman, who was visibly shaken and traumatized, but thank g-d was not physically hurt in any way.

Many police officers responded including detectives, lieutenants and captains all of whom interviewed the two victims and went out on patrols in attempt to locate the suspects, which so far have not been apprehended.

“Keeping a building secure is a team effort” said a Shomrim coordinator at the scene, adding that “wedging items in the door to keep it open over Shabbos poses a serious security risk, which can lead to incidents such at these.”

This building has been the scene of a number of very disturbing incidents, including a robbery of a 50-year-old woman, and two incidents in which girls were assaulted in the hallways.

In case of an emergency never hesitate to call Shomrim at (718) 774-3333 24/7

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49 Comments

  • building tenent

    please be aware that buzzing the bell without confirmation of who it might be puts everyone in your building in danger

  • Henya

    I wonder why you never hear about two white guys forcing their way into a black womans apartment?

  • Why not take preventive measures?

    Does this building have a guard? I know that it may seem crazy, but maybe the building’s should start having an emergency alarm button that people can press when they’re in trouble, which in turn will alert someone/ a guard in the front. Maybe with all these things in place, any more incidents can be prevented

  • Not again

    This reminds me of Lepine in 1992 when He followed her in her CH house and murderd her,
    and the sichos of the rebbe about her Mesiras Nefesh.

    Those were the days of Dinkins

  • shortly after shabbos

    i saw two guys coming running from president onto albany…one ran briefly into ally and then the both moved quickly…didnt know what they were up to,something looked wrong.

  • logical

    To me this was always the logical next step for the criminals, I’m only surprised it took so long. If the police are letting all of your mugging friends off the hook, and are even punishing and harrassing the jewish wittnesses, why would you think they would care if you moved on to armed robbery?
    This occurance is completely on the heads of the police. Their attitude invited and encourages such behaviour.
    Jews be ware.

  • Enough!

    PROTEST! Lets go down in front of the police station and demand better protection! Enough is enough! – How many horrible stories can we take?

  • tired

    Sadly its what you get for voting bloomberg time and again..how is it that all the law abiding citizens are unarmed and the criminals have guns ? my sister lives across the street, if it was her they did it to, i’d find them and give them a free comprehensive dental job.

  • hmnm...

    @henya, you do hear about white people robbing at gun point… Just not in a neighborhood with only blacks and jew… In an all white neighborhood you don’t hear about any black crooks…
    A better statement would be ” you don’t hear about orthodox jews breaking into apartments…
    Hence you comment is racially motivated…

  • common wealth

    c-ray-zy…. this is becoming way to popular in this little town we live in.

  • kol hakavod

    it’s great to see shomrim responding so quickly after all that they’ve been through

  • ceo

    CAMERAS ARE A MUST NOW, they are not a luxury.
    ALSO….everyone must remember to watch out for each other. I have seen people do this and it is truly beautiful.
    keep it up, may more and more people do this.

  • ch res

    fisher, sperlin, drizin and all other building owners and condo boards its time to look after yourselves/tenants and put in some video cameras or other preventative measures im sure if u or members of your family lived there u would!!!!

  • Remember when????

    20 years ago there was a spate of “farbrengen robberies”…while husbands were at the Rebbe’s farbrengens, their wives were robbed in their apartments. Deja vu all over again.

    These are not private condos & the landlord will not provide a security guard. However, there are some simple & obvious precautions to be taken:

    1. NEVER open the door without looking through the peephole & asking who it is.
    2. Keep a security chain on, esp. if you are alone.
    3. NEVER GET INTO AN ELEVATOR WITH YOUNG BLACKS…male or female. Racist? No. common sense.
    4.As Shomrim say, wedging the front door of the building open is asking for trouble. For under $5 you can get a Shabbos key & belt. Stop being so lazy or cheap. It will cost you in the end.
    5. ALWAYS CALL SHOMRIM before the police…they respond much faster.

    This young woman is very lucky. Cash, silver, jewelry, electronics…they are only material things & can be replaced. She wasn’t physically harmed. The next victim, G-d forbid, may not be so fortunate. PLEASE BE CAREFUL. We live in a high crime area, despite what the police say.

  • yonti

    To CH res
    One of the greatest security measures of all times are kosher mezuzos on each and every doorpost. If the building is Jewish owned, I wonder if those buildings have that minimal measure taken. Food for though when you go to those said homeowners.
    Moshiach NOW

  • Yankel R.CH

    I copied this comment from another crownheights.info post about another robbery at 742 Montgomery

    “Hi,
    i am the “young couple” that ch.info mentions in the article.

    I am the girl who had all my kallah jewelry stolen only months after my wedding.

    I just want to tell you that my husband went to speak to the management of 742 Montgomery asking for security cameras to be installed after the SECOND robbery in our apartment occured, and was told this.

    “742 Montgomery is one of the most popular buildings in crown heights. There is always a waiting list. If you dont like it, there are people who would be glad to take your place.”

    Needless to say, exactly 2 weeks after the incident we got the HELL out of a town that showed little sympathy for its occupants!

    The only exceptions were Shomrim, who stayed with us the entire day we were robbed, helping with the police and exploring all angles of possibility, as well as the community council’s police liason.

    For those of you who still live in 742 montgmery an “amazing location,” BE FOREWARNED – dont think that anyone in that town will take care of you – take care of your own safety, and families, and remember its YOU – and YOUR CHILDRENS lives at stake.

    ****** *******

    Morristown, NJ”
    Ad mosai????
    Ad mosai???
    Either we do our hishtadlus in the shechuna which means better security organization, locks on buildings or sadly leave to lower crime and more Jewish communities south or north of CH.Less than ten minute drive each direction.

  • me

    get a gun permit. get a gun. learn how to use it. don’t depend on the establishment. learn from history. lock and load.

  • move outt

    why to people live in ch? i grew up there and moved out a couple years ago i cant be more thankful.

  • Elki

    Somehow, in Williamsburgh, this doesn’t occur, for fear of consequences. Someone should find out how they accomplish it and do the same whatever it takes – To stop rodfim and protect Jews makes many acts halachically permissable. For obvious reasons, I am not enumerating what might be done to deter crime in CH.

  • shomer

    I am rather perturbed, not only by the story but by the responses. Video cameras? There have been at least four serious assaults in this building of late! What are they waiting for, someone to get seriously injured, or worse r”l? The residents should DEMAND a full time guard in that building. Stop being so naive, these problems don’t just vanish, do something that could help right away. Video cameras are not even remotely sufficient in this case! Does anyone else see the light here?

  • carroll

    It would be much safer if all landlords would put cameras and lights like the owners of the building on Carroll and Albany

  • everyone from florida is fried out.

    to move out!!:
    do u no what u just said?
    trade physical troubles that can be solved quickly
    for spiritual probloms that will be solved wen moshiach
    comes…

  • CAMERA

    THERE WAS A CAMERA, IF YOU LOOK AT LATEST NEWS, WHAT THEY SHOULD GET IS A GUARD LIKE THEY HAVE A T 446 KINGSTON, IN THE EVENINGS ONLY AND IT SEEMS TO DETER THEM.

  • To: ME

    ME- you said it! We are brainwashed to think that ‘gun control’ controls it for our benefit. The only ones limited by laws are those that keep them. The ‘perps’ will have them anyway, and we law-abiding citizens are at the disadvantage.

    Jacky Mason says it nicely, with humor

    cleaner version: until 5:50, then has ad for book:
    http://www.youtube.com/watc…

  • Why not take preventive measures?

    Firstly, I’m a little bit confused. When I read the article last night, it didn’t mention anything about a husband and a child. All it said was a newly wed couple (or something like that). Which is the correct version?
    Secondly,to Shomer: As I wrote in my previous post, I totally am with you in regards to getting a guard – having a camera is wonderful, but it is definitely NOT a preventive measure – all it is, is a POSSIBLE way to catch the men (only if they’re in the right place and focused on the face)

  • Patriot

    Exercise your 2nd Amendment right. If you have nothing to hide and a few hundred dollars to spare acquire a firearm license and a firearm. Acquaint yourself with it and don’t be scared to use it. The single most effective thing that would ensure the attention of the NYPD and other authorities is a sudden and dramatic rise in firearm permit applications. Especially in such a confined geographic area.

    When you live in constant fear of someone or something you are living in a tyranny. This is the land of liberty and freedom. “Stick up” for what is right.

  • out-of-towner

    If they hire security guards, the rent will go up. The rent is too high already.

  • SAFEZONE 24

    This was a typically crime categorize as “entry under duress”!
    The way to counter this crime is with an alarm system.
    With a central station monitoring, the user of the alarm system has the capability to disarm the alarm with special code that is registers at the central station as disarm signal under duress.
    And the rest is up to our Crown Height Security Patrol volunteering units.
    SafeZone 24

  • xk

    All the tenants should pool money together and hire an armed nightly guard. This, combined with only buzzing people in that you know as well as checking the peephole before opening your door will definitely help put a stop to this. Word will get around about the armed guard and thugs will stay away from the building. Every additional building that follows the above steps will undoubtedly still positive results. These kids want easy targets, so LET’S NOT BE EASY TARGETS ANY LONGER. Ad mosai?

  • to everyone from florida is fried out...

    i’m not looking to start any kind of debate with you, because obviously you are close minded and ignorant, but i will just say that not everyone in florida is fried out. in fact, the communities here are striving more than ever…won’t even begin to comment on the ch situation and the teenagers there and so forth. but thank you for your comment. it definitely put a smile on my face and just reassured my decision to never move to ch:)
    i’m sorry for all the crime going on there. i wish you guys the best of luck and just try and be safe.

  • blame game

    Whether there were cameras, locked doors, or not, makes no difference, they were let in by residents of the building!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That does not go without saying that the building has to be locked and secure, but it wasn’t a breach of security that allowed them to come in!!!!
    So, stop blaming others all the time and look at your own actions!

  • Immediate security is needed

    Why is building management waiting for something worse to happen?G-D FORBID! This particular building has been a target for a long time. Immediate action is needed, and yes, a security guard is the only conscionable response for right now to secure tenant’s real safety. I’m sure word is out among thieves that this building is an easy target.

  • street smarts necessary

    If you sense danger–don’t go into the elevator. Don’t go to your door. Leave the building immediately if possible.