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CROWN HEIGHTS [CHI] — A Shliach from out of town on his way to the Hey Teves Farbrengen, was walking on East New York Avenue when he spotted a Black man carrying a Tallis and Teffilin bag. Without pause he snatched it from the man and a struggle and commotion ensued.

Out-Of-Town Shliach Nabs Burglar, Shomrim Reunites Victim with Teffilin

CROWN HEIGHTS [CHI] — A Shliach from out of town on his way to the Hey Teves Farbrengen, was walking on East New York Avenue when he spotted a Black man carrying a Tallis and Teffilin bag. Without pause he snatched it from the man and a struggle and commotion ensued.

The incident unfolded at around 10:30pm as the Shliach was heading out of the Shluchims hotel on East New York and Albany Avenues and spotted the thief standing nearby. Knowing that the man should not be holding such a religious article he did not hesitate and grabbed it, and after a short struggle he fled into the hotel.

A group of out-of-towners, who were staying in that same hotel, were frantically searching for the number to the Shomrim Hotline, in the meantime they called 911. A few minutes later they came up with Shomrims number and called them as well.

Nearly a dozen Shomrim volunteers answered the call, many of whom were sitting at the Hey Teves Farbrengen, hurried out to the scene – a mere three blocks away – and arrived to discover a group of Yidden surrounding a lone Black man, and a group of police officers holding the man in handcuffs and everyone was shouting at each other.

Before the scene got completely out of hand, one Shomrim volunteer approached the ranking police officer and asked him if they needed or wanted Shomrims help – and he happily accepted.

Taking control of the situation and calming everyone down Shomrim got the story from the out-of-towners. after checking the name on the Teffilin they contacted the owner – whom they knew, and asked him where he had parked his vehicle and asked him to meet them at the scene.

Shomrim learned that the victims van was parked on Lefferts Avenue near Kingston Avenue, heading over they discovered it had been burglarized.

By uniting the victim with his possessions; his Tefillin, a few charity boxes, a GPS and other assorted items, it allowed police to arrest the man for Grand Larceny from an Auto and return the man’s belongings.

Shomrim said that the police officers acted with great courtesy and professionalism, being patient and accepting Shomrims assistance, which resulted in a great arrest as well as reuniting the victim with his belongings which was valued at well over $1000.

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21 Comments

  • awacs

    You need better pictures of the perp, in case we see him again. Also, why not name the Shomrim folks who helped?

  • MMA

    one must take back what belongs to them.
    Chazak Chazak ve nitchazek.
    May we get back what belongs to us (Land in Eretz HaKodesh) and the goyim should learn sheli sheli, shelach shelach, etc.

  • wow

    why not name the shliach??? this was definitley mesiras nefesh, for something holy and for yenem’s gelt,
    how was he not afraid?

  • Steve Mc

    NAB OF THE YEAR. EXCELLENT EXCELLENT WORK BY EVERYONE. Clearly everyone worked in unison and got the job done. As for the perp, let him rot in jail.

  • It was Berel Shemtov

    Always there to grab things away and give them to the rightful owner regardless of risk.

  • amazing & schocked

    a rarity ! police professional actually arresting a thief or criminal involving a crime against anash? full moon isn’t for another 9 days!

  • Job well done!

    Notice the thug didn’t take the roll of toilet paper. Don’t get me started on that one.

  • was there

    it was not berel shemtov he only showed up after, it was a Rabbi Katz a shliach in chicago.

  • Good job!!

    Great job all around! The ganif wasn’t too bright, openly carrying a blatantly Jewish item like that. Maybe they’ll knock some sense into him in the slammer, but more likely than not he’s already done time before. Trying to knock sense into a shvartsa kup is like trying to knock sense into a shtick holtz…

  • msts

    WHY would you post his name in public? You should mention it in shul, but not on a public forum. not fair

  • No excuse for racism

    Is it really a good example to others visiting this posting to see the racism in some of the comments? In contrast, I must commend the author of the original article for the more professional and race-neutral approach. Yes, the perpetrator of the crime was black, but there are black yidden, and how would you (#s 15 & 17 especially) feel knowing that they could also be enjoying this story of comeuppance except for the racism?