The theft of the inflatable 9-foot novelty from the Chabad of Pinellas County is still under investigation.
A mammoth menorah stolen from a local synagogue has been anonymously returned.
But the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office will continue to investigate the incident as a theft, authorities said Wednesday.
Members of the Chabad of Pinellas County saw the 9-foot-tall inflatable statue lying near the driveway of their center just after Wednesday morning prayer service.
The novelty went missing Monday, the last day of Hanukkah.
Stolen menorah returned anonymously, damaged
The theft of the inflatable 9-foot novelty from the Chabad of Pinellas County is still under investigation.
A mammoth menorah stolen from a local synagogue has been anonymously returned.
But the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office will continue to investigate the incident as a theft, authorities said Wednesday.
Members of the Chabad of Pinellas County saw the 9-foot-tall inflatable statue lying near the driveway of their center just after Wednesday morning prayer service.
The novelty went missing Monday, the last day of Hanukkah.
The blue and yellow vinyl menorah came back half-deflated and torn and with what appeared to be cigarette burns on its red base, said Rabbi Shalom Adler, who leads the largely Orthodox congregation.
The menorah, which cost $300, will not be used again because of the damage, Adler said.
Detectives are investigating the incident as grand theft, said Sgt. Jim Bordner, Sheriff’s Office spokesman
“We still don’t know what the perpetrators’ motivation was in this,” Bordner said. “What prompted them to take the item and what prompted them to bring it back?”
Adler said his first notion was not to press charges when he realized the menorah was back, but after inspecting the damage he changed his mind and will pursue criminal charges if someone is arrested. He still believes it was a prank.
“Yes, it’s back,” Adler said. “But I don’t think we’ll be able to use it again.”
emi
i dont know if anyone heard bout this, but there was also a baby yishke that was stolen from a church a few wks ago. kinda strange…
chaya
is there a pic of the menorah after the damage??
funny
Circumstances aside, the picture of a Rabbi with Tzitzis carrying this huge inflatable novelty menorah is cute and hilarious. It almost begs to have the words "please submit your humorous captions for this photo"!
Pinson
weird ppl in this world yet probably it was some bored teenagers who took it for the pride in doing a crime and returned it since they didn’t want to get busted. Good Meforesh?
dfgh
why won’t they be able to use it again? cant it be fixed some how?
miki
chaya:
there is a picture of the menorah after the damage on Chabad On Line.