Video: Panhandlers Go on Theft Spree at Wedding Hall

A pair of panhandlers, who are known to frequent Shuls and events around Crown Heights, were captured on surveillance video rummaging through the pockets of dozens of coats during a wedding at the Razag ballroom, making off with a wallet, a scarf and a coat.

The incident was discovered when a wedding guest from out of town went to retrieve his coat and discovered that his walled, which he had left in his coat pocket, was missing. Understanding that he was the victim of a robbery, he approached the manger of the hall and asked if they could review surveillance footage.

That same evening the man noticed a charge on his credit card from a non-kosher food establishment, located just around the corner from the Razag wedding hall. The victim called and cancelled his credit cards, then called 911 and filed a police report.

Later on, when reviewing the surveillance camera footage, the perpetrators were quickly discovered.

Two White males are seen coming out of the hall and approaching the dozens of coats that were left out in the hallway. Together, they go through each and every coat’s pockets. Of the two, one is a familiar face in Crown Heights, while the other seems to be new to the neighborhood.

The duo spent over two minutes, one going through the coats that were hung on the Mechitza while the other spent time under the stairs – and can be seen pocketing the wallet that was reported stolen. That same one then picks up a coat that does not appear to belong to him and puts in on, while the other takes a scarf.

Infuriatingly, as the pair exits the hall, the one that took the wallet is seen asking a man for ‘tzadakkah.’ The man happily obliges and gives him a dollar.

“People cannot assume that their belongings are safe just because they are in the building,” said a worker at the Razag Hall. “A safer bet would be to leave one’s coat at the coat check. There they are ensured that their coats and belongings will be there when they are ready to leave.”

Earlier this year another panhandler was apprehended after he was captured on surveillance video stealing an iPad at a wedding that was taking place in Oholei Torah.

CrownHeights.info received at the time a barrage of complaints about posting the video and clearly identifying him.

“The kneejerk reaction against reporting a crime perpetrated by a person who appears to be Jewish only serves to allow those thieves to continue their free reign and terrorize our neighborhood,” said a Shomrim spokesperson. “That same person later went on to steal cash and electronics from an apartment on Lincoln Place a few weeks later, and was arrested for that crime as well.”

In the comments section of the article about the iPad theft, a reader shared a link of the same person stealing a cell phone that was left to charge in the hallway of Lubavitcher Yeshiva on Crown Street.

“People need to be continually vigilant regarding these panhandlers, many of whom are only pretending to be religious Jews,” the spokesman said.

If any reader recognizes one of both of these thieves, please notify Shomrim immediately by calling (718) 774-3333. There are open police reports against them and they will be immediately arrested.

37 Comments

  • who leaves stuff in their coats

    i would never leave anything in my coat not even keys, its not about if it gets stolen its always possible to have your coat lost or switched with someone else, never leave anything in your coat

    and a wallet? are you crazy? why dont you leave your wallet on the table and see if its still there at the end of the wedding

  • jewish dude

    If these people are not Jewish the shomrim , police, and jail will be our only response.

  • the cameras

    AT LEAST there were surveillance cameras so we have a way to deal with it. finally.
    may we never need it.

  • Are people blind?

    The chassidim guests walked right by while the ganavim were openly rifling through pockets. They have no shame & the guests don’t seem to notice. Unbelievable. But you know that even though someone will recognize them they won’t say anything. Chas v’sholom it’s meseira! Funny how meseira is only allowed for the Shomrim Six.

  • moshe

    use the coat room there is some1 usually there. I know oholie Torah has 1, doesn’t Razag have 1 as well ?

  • SD

    A CLEAR PICTURE OF THESE PERPETRATORS SHOULD BE HUNG IN EVERY SHUL AND HALL IN CROWN HEIGHTS, AND THEY SHOULD BE CHASED OUT IF SEEN.. IT IS BEYOND MY COMPREHENSION THAT PEOPLE CHASTISED THIS WEBSITE FOR PUBLICIZING OTHER OFFENDERS IN THE PAST. THEY WILL STEAL FROM A COAT TODAY AND FROM YOUR HOUSE TOMORROW. WE DO NOT NEED THIS TYPE OF ELEMENT IN OUR NEIGHBERHOOD.

  • Lesson in life--read very carefully!!

    1. When you are walking down stairs and you see people looking through coats, dont just walk by them, you should ask them “What r u doing”, and that way they can be scared! That was so stupid of the people walking by them without saying a single word!!

    2. When the 2 theves are leaving and one asks someone for money, DO NOT GIVE TO THEM! Why would you give him money?????????? he is stealing money from you!!!!

    Bottom line, when you see someone at any hall weather its the Razag, or Ohlei Torah and there looking through the coat racks, ask them and tell them,”go away from there”! DONT JUST WALK BY!!!! that is too dumb and DONT GIVE THEM MONEY!!!!!!!

    • yes i read very carefully

      How in the world is the guy giving tzedaka, supposed to know that they are thieves?! (What’s the thought process here?)

    • s

      to comment 9
      before criticizing use a little bit your Brain,intellect (i am sure,you don’t have a lot) and watch again, if you have the ability you may realize
      1)people thought they were looking for their own coats
      they did not see them looking in pockets and stealing
      so you are the most stupid !!!
      2)theves ??? (you are an oholei torah alumni )
      he did not know they are thieves
      if he knew he probably would not give him money
      so you are the most dumb !!!

  • the one with the glasses looks like a tzedaka collector

    next time leave ur coat in the coatroom

  • Give Tzedakah wisely

    My fellow Yidden, rachmonim bnei rachmonim. Please do not give these Shnorrers any more than a dime or a quarter. Instead, give Kollel Chabad the schools, Benjamin’s KSCVK, Stock’s CSSY etc.

  • make this end

    My friends had a bunch of stuff stolen by the Razag Valet parking staff a few years ago.

    Shoulda kept the mikvah…

    • Yossel

      I wouldn’t let those clowns park my car, I’m sure it would come back with dents, scratches, and damage to the engine.

  • Don't be lazy

    Why don’t people use the coatroom. I always do. It’s on the left when you come out of the elevator, or left on bottom of landing.

  • declasse intellectual'

    Typical New York behavior. The joys of living in the most unsafe city in the world!!!!

    • Milhouse

      Not even close. It’s not even in the top five unsafe cities in America, let alone the world. The most unsafe city in America is New Orleans, followed by Detroit, St Louis, Baltimore, and Oakland. The most dangerous city in the world is San Pedro Sula, Honduras.

  • Yossel

    NOW you know why I am NOT comfortable giving money to the Crown Heights Schnorrers. That includes the men in front of, and inside, 770, and the nasty Russian ladies who hang out by the the House of Glutt.

  • Crown heights

    All halls has thieves I know someone who got married a few weeks ago in boro park a lot of stuff was stolen. They told the people in charge of the hall to go through the camera they found out it was people who work there. Don’t bring vaulbel to a hall .

  • ty razag!

    my husband came from out of town, walking down the stairs was wondering why there was no coat room, & put his coat down there. Yup, his was the coat taken! TY Razag for taking the time to go through & find who did it! It’s a coat that is really hard to find & we’ll be happy to get it back! As far as watching people going thru coats, you think they’re looking for their coat.

  • nb

    8. SD wrote:

    A CLEAR PICTURE OF THESE PERPETRATORS SHOULD BE HUNG IN EVERY SHUL AND HALL IN CROWN HEIGHTS, AND THEY SHOULD BE CHASED OUT IF SEEN.. IT IS BEYOND MY COMPREHENSION THAT PEOPLE CHASTISED THIS WEBSITE FOR PUBLICIZING OTHER OFFENDERS IN THE PAST. THEY WILL STEAL FROM A COAT TODAY AND FROM YOUR HOUSE TOMORROW. WE DO NOT NEED THIS TYPE OF ELEMENT IN OUR NEIGHBERHOOD

  • ben rav

    there should be warning signs to remind ppl in every public hall or shul and take out the most important things to be with you

  • anonymous

    That’s why I never give any money to all the snores that are collecting money in crown heights unless they are legit.

    • Yossel

      So how do you know who is legit? I give money to mosdos and organizations that I know help people and don’t keep the money for themselves, like Simchas Chosson v’Kalla (Mrs. Benjamin’s fund).

  • anonymous

    When you are going to a Simcha nobody things that someone is going to go through you coat

  • Stealing

    What bothers me most is that they are not just stealing money from the coats, or from the people they schnur from. They are stealing money from the people who really need the money but will be turned away because we are sick of these prankster and don’t know who to trust!

  • No More Tzdaka

    maybe they will use it for druggs! oy vey
    where are the social services, to get these panhandlers off our streets! they make it dirty!
    maybe they’re worse than the Dirty Jews who brought disease with them from europe! we need to worry about our safety! and who ever said there’s such a thing as “tzdaka”? the rabbis who made it up want to control us! why can’t they just get a job? why should i pay for health insurance from my hard earned income while they get food stamps?

    Now for those who still retain their inteligence:
    Today is asara biteives and the satan set you guys up and your falling for it. In the end you could fast shabbos to shabbos but its the giving that counts, and what better way to make his case with a youtube video of a panhandler stealing to create mass hysteria, close the gates of charity and gain his ticket to the next calamity waiting to strike.

    I’m not that foolish, and today I will double the amount I would normally give to a beggar I pass on the way to work. I don’t care what color he is or what he will use the money for. For all I know is that he is less fortunate then me, and I’m being put to the test, and I know what’s expected of me.

  • please get a sharp closeup

    we need a sharp photoshopped close up you cant see much from the video