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Utica and St. Johns may not be the absolute safest place for a religious Jew, man or woman, to wander. Yet the community council maintains a number of affordable housing buildings there with over 50 Jewish families living there. And what some would say was only a matter of time before it happens, happened.

Jewish Woman Mugged Erev Shabbos on St. Johns Place

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Utica and St. Johns may not be the absolute safest place for a religious Jew, man or woman, to wander. Yet the community council maintains a number of affordable housing buildings there with over 50 Jewish families living there. And what some would say was only a matter of time before it happens, happened.

A Jewish woman was accosted by a teenage due who grabbed her cell phone and keys as she was walking into her building on St. Johns Place between Schenectady and Utica Avenue, just minutes before Shabbos.

The pair was described as a black boy and girl around 16 to 17 years old.

“West Beirut” is what the area is commonly referred to among those who live there and their guests, a common quip about “having to bring your passport” when heading there only highlights how people feel about the area, the only draw being affordable the housing units which Crown Heights so sorely lacks.

Police were called but could not locate the two muggers, and filled out an police report.

Thank g-d the woman was not hurt, but was shaken up.

24 Comments

  • asher

    Best soultion would be to have more jews move into that part of town. Esp if it is cheap!

  • Mace/Pepper spray

    Yes!!! “FED UP! is %100 RIGHT!!!
    EVERY person in Crown Heights should carry around a can of mace/pepper spray-And don’t hesitate to use it in case of emergency!!!
    the community council should maybe give it out to the residence.

  • CN

    Why do you make such a big deal about where she lives? Do you have any statistics or other proof showing that Jews are subject to crime more in that area of Crown Heights than in any other places in Crown Heights? To the contrary, the articles on your site show crime occurring all over Crown Heights.

  • Mice....

    I guess the summer mice are coming out… Last nite we went outside and saw a neighbors car broken into….. Poor them.. They are going out of town and now can’t…

  • awacs

    “MACE!MACE!MACE!!!! Every single person in CH should own one..and USE IT!”

    Not a bad idea, but it looks like it wouldn’t have helped this victim – by the time she could have gotten her senses together and pulled it out, the perps would be long gone.

  • awacs

    “MACE!MACE!MACE!!!! Every single person in CH should own one..and USE IT!”

    By the by, you really mean pepper spray – true Mace(tm) is still illegal.

  • Moshe Rubishkin

    If she would call chanina and he can call dov hikind to tell the 77 pct that jews are killing terorist maschchissim.
    the 77 would be investigating and wasting time .
    but who cares for a little lady being assaulted ?

  • Hadassah Cole

    Y and B locksmith just came to change my locks erev Pesach! I agree with the mace spray to carrey at all times but speaking from my expeirence when its in the moment its hard to think to use anything else but your voice! I will say that 77th precint did not catch them as of yet however they did show up to the sceene withen 60 secondes after it happend. If I would be living in the “real crown heights” I am not so sure that would have happend.

  • Mendy Hecht

    All you people, including the writer of this foolish article, don’t know what you’re talking about.

    I live out here and this is classic media sensationalism. It’s not bad here! It’s irresponsible to imply otherwise.

    Mendy Hecht
    1441 S. John’s Pl.

  • Yaacov

    To CN: You tell where crime happens so people in that area know whats taking place in their neighborhood so they them selves can keep an eye out for trouble and keep them selves safe. What is the deal with all the haters on this website claiming it is racist or has an alternate motive. If you don’t like what is written here you have the option not to read it.

    To Asher: I agree

  • CH RESIDENT

    again again what is hapening none stop
    attacks and no one is moving…. our big LEADERS
    too busy they are…

  • CHSpellcheck

    “the community council should maybe give it out to the residence.” Residence is a place of living. Residents are the people that reside in the residence.

  • zalmen

    why won’t landlords like joe popack and others open their buildings up us hasidics, makes nosence unless they are getting city and state money to house other types.

  • HC

    Mendy Hecht: Your right its not so bad out there. I lived in the area for 3 and half years and this is the first thing that has happend to me. Sad to say I did know something would happend one day due to animals and lack of police around the area I just didnt know how bad it would be. And yes I wish they will get caught and get locked up but you and I know that wont happen. But Mendy it is important to write where all crime is. And its true crime can happen anywhere in Brooklyn or even in the world. This is CH.info job although they do sometimes feel its ok to stretch the truth a bit. (The mugging did not happend on Utica and St Johns)

  • Get Real

    ASHER ARE YOU NUTS?…MY friend the best solution is to move all Yidden out of that zoo! Look the main part of Crown Heights (Nostrand to Troy/Empire to EParkway) has been occupied by Yiddin for how many years??…ITS STILL GARBAGE…You will not be able to change S Johns and Utica so quickly…