Yeshiva World News

[YWN PHOTO LINK BELOW] 3:00PM EST: The NYPD is currently on the scene investigating numerous swastikas which were found on a schoolbus belonging to a local Yeshiva.

Williamsburg Shomrim (WSPU) received a call to their hotline by someone who noticed the spray-painted swastikas on the bus parked at Harrison Avenue & Wallabout Street, and sent units to investigate. Upon the arrival of WSPU, they requested officers from the nearby 90th Precinct to respond – who in turn requested the NYPD Hate Crimes Unit for an investigation.

Detectives are looking for any cameras in the vicinity which may have captured the neo-Nazi who is responsible for the latest hate-crime to hit the Chasidic community in Williamsburg.

YWN PHOTO LINK: http://www.theyeshivaworld.com/photos.php?albumid=5432992467353846641

In early January, the Independent UK ran an article about Shomrim in Stamford Hill. Now the BBC ran an article as well:

A group of Jewish volunteers who have set up their own patrols in north London are putting themselves at risk, police have said.

Shomrim Stamford Hill Safety and Rescue Patrol (SHSRP) scout the streets 24 hours a day assisting the community.

“We are the eyes and ears of the police,” said Isaac Kornbluh.

But a statement from the Metropolitan Police said that members were endangering themselves.

Shomrim SHSRP was set-up in 2005 after several attacks and robberies took place in the streets of Stamford Hill in north London.

The 22 volunteers – who wear navy blue security style uniforms and are equipped with bullet-proof vests – say they do not want to replace the police but want to make people feel more secure.

“In all areas of London there’s neighbourhood watch and we are taking it one step further,” added Mr Kornbluh.

Residents can call Shomrim SHSRP who will liaise with the police. Volunteers, who have had security training, have radios and respond to calls via a central operator.

When a crime is reported on the emergency line, the operator alerts the police via 999. Patrols will also try to identify suspects.

Shomrim SHSRP say some members of the community do not call the police because of language problems. Their operators are able to assist these people by relaying their information to the police.

Prosecution risk

However, Shomrim SHSRP does not have law enforcement powers and cannot apprehend a suspect.

But a statement from the Metropolitan Police said: “There is an issue of members of the public putting themselves at physical risk.

“Through attending an escalating situation, interfering with possible evidence or potentially risking criminal prosecution themselves, should their conduct in dealing with members of the public justify that course of action.

“We would always encourage members of the public, from all communities, to contact their local police Safer Neighbourhoods team to discuss crime and safety issues in their area.”

(Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/8477471.stm)

After months of the Stamford Hill (UK) neighborhood being plagued by car burglaries, Shomrim Stamford Hill division finally caught a man in his late 30’s red-handed.

Shomrim Units witnessed the man vandalizing the vehicle, and was in the process of bagging all the items he can find in the car.

Additional Shomrim members responded, and apprehended the man until the Police arrived and placed the man into custody.

The Police on the scene praised Shomrim’s dedication, and are quite certain that the suspect arrested is part of larger gang that they have been trying to apprehend for many months.

Click on the following link for photos: http://www.theyeshivaworld.com/photos.php?albumid=5430352715793889441

(David Braun – London UK)

With his dark-blue uniform, earpiece and walkie-talkie, Nochem Perlberger could pass for a police officer as he patrols the leafy streets of London’s Stamford Hill neighbourhood. Like an officer of the law, he responds to emergency calls, visits crime scenes and pursues suspects.

However, he is a member not of the constabulary but of the Stamford Hill Shomrim Rescue Patrol, a group of Orthodox Jewish men who, for the past two years, have been “policing” the streets of their community in Hackney.

Set up nearly two years ago, the group now has 22 patrolling members, a headquarters and even a 24-hour emergency number, staffed by six operators, which residents call to report crime. “Every house and child in the community knows this number off by heart,” said Mr Perlberger, one of the group’s committee members.

In the five months since the Stamford Hill Shomrim hotline was established, they have dealt with more than 2,000 calls including break-ins, thefts and muggings. On average, they identify three to five suspects a week and hand them over to the police.

When a crime is reported on the emergency line, the operator alerts the police via 999 and the Shomrim patrolmen via radio. Patrolmen close to the scene will then attend, day or night, often arriving before the police. They will then go about trying to identify and pursue the suspect.

But while the figures look impressive, not everyone is happy. The Metropolitan Police is not keen on the suggestion that their services require supplementation. Senior officers have voiced concern over the group’s existence, insisting that trained police officers and no one else should attempt to deal with crimes in progress.

Hackney’s borough commander, Chief Superintendent Steve Bending, said: “Whilst I have a great amount of respect for the Orthodox Jewish Community within Hackney, I do not support the concept of any community having its own form of patrol service. There is a risk of other communities feeling intimidated by this course of action.

“There is also an issue of members putting themselves at physical risk through attending an escalating situation, interfering with possible evidence or potentially risking criminal prosecution themselves, should their conduct in dealing with members of the public justify that course of action.”

Predictably, the Shomrim disagrees. Mr Perlberger countered: “There are a number of barriers which sometimes make it difficult for Jewish victims of crime to contact the police. There is a language barrier and a culture barrier. Also, the police have a lot of things to do and if a crime is minor they will take a long time to visit the victim. People think ‘Why waste time calling the police, if they won’t attend?’

“The police would like it if I said we were their eyes and ears, but I like to say that we are the first response. If someone is a victim of crime they call us and we can be there sometimes within 40 seconds. The nearest police station is a seven-minute drive.”

Once at the scene the Shomrim members say their first responsibility is to calm the victim, then they will attempt to “secure” the suspect. Mr Perlberger explained: “We try to ensure that the suspect does not run off, although we never put our hands on the suspect. If he does leave the scene we will follow him either on foot or in a car and relay our information to the police.”

The Stamford Hill Shomrim is twinned with a similar group in Golders Green. Both were established after a rise in petty crime in their respective areas and are funded by local fundraising. They are based on the Shomrim groups which were established in the USA in the 1980s.

To join the London Shomrim, members must be Jewish, male and married and willing to devote large chunks of their free time to the cause. Mr Perlberger added: “We only recruit people who can give away their hours. If someone has a 9am to 7pm job he is obviously not for this organization.

“All members must be married because we think they will be more respected by the community. Also it shows they are not youngsters who are just looking for a bit of action, it shows they have responsibilities.”

All new recruits are given training. The group says that they teach members to approach situations with caution and never to get into a face-to-face confrontation with a suspect. “If anyone steps out of line they are dismissed,” Mr Perlberger adds.

While the group mirrors the US model, the major difference is that many of the American groups work in tandem with the local police department. In the UK it is not just Chief Supt Bending who is unhappy with the Shomrim set-up. When the group was established in 2008, Supt Steve Dann, the then Hackney commander, said: “I am very upset that no-one has approached me about this. It has been done behind my back. I see this as a slight against me that we were not delivering a service.”

And when the Golders Green group came into existence earlier this year the then commander Chief Supt Steve Kavanagh said: “Uniformed patrols which communities are asked to pay for make me extremely nervous.”

But Mr Perlberger is nonplussed. “Working with the police is our aim and I wish it was that way and if we had been welcomed by the police then that is the way it would be,” he said. “They say we might intimidate other groups, but we are not exclusively helping Jewish people. When people call us we don’t ask their religion, we will help anyone.

“If the police think this is a slight against them that is their problem. They might think we are vigilantes, but we are just trying to do what the police is supposed to be doing.”

Several pillars of the community like what the Shomrim do. Rabbi Kurt Sterm said: “These men are not vigilantes or anything like that. They are just really dedicated youngsters who want to help their community.”

Michael Levy, the Conservative Party councillor for the Springfield ward, added: “The police are understandably nervous because it is a new organisation but they will soon pick it up and realise that the group is a benefit and can help to drive down crime. It is a valuable service and will be able to augment the police service.

“The police encourage neighbourhoods to have a neighbourhood watch service and I cannot see a great deal of difference between that and this, apart from the fact that this is active rather than static. But that is a good thing because it will inevitably provide a great deal of intelligence for the police service.”

(Source: The Independent UK)

Crown Heights – A Jewish woman was accosted and robbed at gun point inside her apartment building shortly after Shabbos ended.

Crown Heights Info reports the following: 

The victim, a young married woman walked into the apartment building she lives in, 742 Montgomery Street, and was met by two black males in the elevator as she rode up to the sixth floor. After entering her apartment she heard a knock at the door and one of two men she met in the elevator forced his way into her apartment while pointing a gun in her face.

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.

One stayed in the hallway as the other entered and demanded that the woman give him cash, which she did and the two suspects fled.

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.

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 in the past, including a robbery of a 50-year-old woman, and two incidents in which girls were assaulted in the hallways.

(Source: Crown Heights Info)

A business on Bedford Avenue in (new) Williamsburg was robbed at gunpoint on Wednesday afternoon.

Sources tell YWN that two black males entered the business [which makes signs] at approximately 3:00PM with guns drawn. They fired off one shot into a piece of furniture, and demanded that all employees move into a room in back of the store. They then demanded wallets and cash, and made off with a large amount of cash and lots of credit cards.

The owner of the store, himself a member of Williamsburg Shomrim (WSPU), called the NYPD and WSPU – who both answered the call with a heavy & rapid response. Upon arrival, the NYPD’s 79th Pct requested a Level 1 Response to the scene, and NYPD Emergency Services Units were dispatched to the scene for evidence collection.

Detectives are currently reviewing the cameras from the surrounding areas.

Dozens of WSPU & NYPD units canvassed the area for a few hours looking for the suspects, but as of now, none have been apprehended.

Additionally, the thugs used one of the stolen ATM cards a short while later at a nearby bank, and made a withdrawal.

WSPU thanks Deputy Inspector Lyons, the commanding officer of the 79th Precinct, who personally responded to the scene to offer whatever assistance he could.

(Eli Gefen – YWN)

PHOTO LINK BELOW: Williamsburg, Brooklyn – The Department of NYS Homeland Security (DHS), the FBI, and the NYSP met on Wednesday afternoon with community leaders, Head of Institutions, & the coordinators of Hatzolah & Shomrim to discuss security matters and other issues pertaining to the community.

The meeting was opened with remarks by Rabbi David Niederman the head of the UJO. Rabbi Niederman thanked the FBI and DHS for being visual on security matters affecting the Jewish community. He also made special mention of the great working relationship that they have with community activists and the Hatzolah & Shomrim organizations.

Rabbi Niederman introduced other Askonim at the meeting such as Rabbi Abe Friedman who is the Jewish liaison to The DHS’s NY Office, Rabbi Aryeh Lieb Glantz the head of CUTA in Williamsburg, Rabbi Issac Wertheimer the head of UTA in Williamsburg, and other leaders.

DHS Director Tomas Donlon introduced his staff which were in attendance, and then introduced FBI Special agent Rich Frankel, and NYSP Major Copy (Troop NYC) who heads the Homeland security division for the NY state police. Mr. Donlan explained the involvement that he and his office have on a daily bases between the NYPD and NYSP in terms of threats to synagogues and other Jewish targets.
 
FBI Richard Frankel explained to the gathering how the FBI office handles terror threats on a daily basis.
 
Major Copey assured leaders that his office is treating the Jewish communities concerns with the utmost sensitivity.

The meeting was attended by the following Yeshivas and Mosdas Hatorah: Pupa, Kloisenberg, Viznitz, Satmar and others. 

Representing Williamsburg Hatzolah was Coordinator Shia Bernath, and Shomrim Coordinator Yanki Itzkowitz was representing WSPU. NYPD Deputy Inspector Michael Kemper and his community affairs staff were in attendance as well as the 79 Precinct Liaison,  Rabbi Abe Lichtenstien.

YWN PHOTO LINK: Click HERE for photos.

PHOTO LINK BELOW: A packed room full of Rabbis, Priests and Imams gathered on Monday evening for the NYPD’s annual 70th Pct Clergy meeting.

The purpose of the meeting is to keep all congregations up to date on the latest crime-stats in the 70th Pct, and deliver important information to be distributed to the community.

The meeting was opened with a video showing the various units of the NYPD in operation, and paid tribute to the officers of the 70 who have fallen in the line-of-duty over the years.

Chief Chaplain of the NYPD, Rabbi Dr. Alvin Kass then delivered warm words of thanks to the 70 Pct for their superb job in keeping crime lower than it’s ever been in history. Rabbi Kass, himself a resident of the 70th pct then spoke warmly about the upcoming Chanukah Holiday, and spoke about the importance of all communities working harmoniously towards a safer community.

The final speaker was the commanding officer of the 70th pct, Deputy Inspector Ralph Monteforte.

Inspector Monteforte assumed command of the 70th Pct approximately two years ago, and has made it a priority to reach out to all religious and community leaders in the 70 – just as Chief Joseph Fox – Chief of Brooklyn South – has done in his entire command.

Monteforte spoke to the crowd of more than 150 Clergy members, while a fascinating “power-point presentation” was displayed on a large screen.

The presentation explained in detail how the NYPD assigns their units throughout the precinct, and showed where exactly they focus most of their manpower based on higher crime in a particular area.

Deputy Inspector Monteforte has what to be proud of, as can be seen in the following crime statistics

*Murders – 6 [down 14% from 7 in 2008] (in 1990 the number of murders was 45)
*Rapes – 12 [down 63% from 32 in 2008] (in 1990 the number of rapes was 56)
*Robberies – 350 [down 25% from 469 in 2008] (in 1990 the number of robberies was 2,482)
*Felony Assaults – 296 [down 7% from 318 in 2008] (in 1990 the number of assaults was 878)
*Burglaries – 327 [down 10% from 362 in 2008] (in 1990 the number of burglaries was 3,365)
*Grand Larceny – 677 [down 14% from 777 in 2008]

The only crime that went up in 2009 is Grand Larceny Auto -(stolen cars) – 191 [up 12% from 171 in 2008].

Overall, crime in the 70th Pct is down 14% in 2009. Not only that, but crime was down in 2008 as well – and that earned a recognition of Commissioner Kelly by presenting the 70 Pct with an award.

Inspector Monteforte thanked the members of Flatbush Shomrim for their assistance in keeping crime to an all-time low by patrolling the streets at all hours of the day and night.

The Inspector then explained the many programs the 70 has to offer the residents residing in the Precinct.

Below are just a few of the many services offered:

*Cash For Guns – No Questions Asked!
*Civilian Police Academy – 15 week course; covers topics such as Police Science, Law & state of the art policing strategies.
*Is Your Home As Safe As It Can Be? – To have a police officer do a free inspection of your home call the Crime Prevention Officer at 718-851-5504.
*Safety Tips Against “Con-Artists”.
*Electronic Equipment “Etching” Program – This service is totally FREE! The police will etch a (discrete) number on your electronic devices so that if it’s lost or stolen, it can be returned to you. Call the Crime Prevention Officer at 718-851-5504 for more info. NOTE: There are approximately 9 other programs to help protect your vehicles and homes, enquire with the Crime Prevention Unit.
*FTAP [Formal Trespass Affidavit Program] – A very helpful program to get rid of suspicious building in a multi-dwelling apartment building. Call Police Officer at 718-851-5556 or 5558 for more information.
*Domestic Violence – If you know someone having issues, call the Domestic Violence Team at 718-851-5569.

If your “House Of Worship” has not been informed of the recent clergy meeting, and you would like to be informed of anything that may be of importance to your congregations, or your congregations might need something from the police department, please call the 70th Precinct Community Affairs Unit [Detective Scotto] at 718-851-5557.

The 70 pct has 70 synagogues, 60 churches, and 8 mosques, and has a population of more than 200,000.
The 70 receives close to three hundred 911 calls each day.

YWN salutes the 70th Pct under the leadership of Deputy Inspector Ralph Monteforte, Captain Pete Venice, Captain Mike Giovanelli, Sergent Lane & his team, and Lieutenant Jackie Bourne all the officers of the Community Affairs Division.

YWN PHOTO LINK: Click HERE for photos taken by Shimon Gifter for YWN.

(Yehuda Drudgestein - YWN)

PHOTO LINK BELOW: Williamsburg Shomrim (WSPU) recieved a phone call on Tuesday afternoon, that 3 males were seen on a fire escape and attempting to pry open a window of an elderly resident on Ross Street.

Arriving Shomrim members arrived, and from their cars saw that a window on the second floor was in fact pried opened.

Numerous Shomrim units surrounded the entire block, and a few minutes later three perpetrators exited the window back onto the fire escape.

WSPU chased the three perps – in three different directions, and were able to apprehend them along with fast-responding officers from the NYPD’s 90th Precinct.

All three suspects were quickly apprehended by WSPU & the NYPD: Tyrone Smith (21) apprehended on Ross Street & Bedford Avenue; Phillip Smith (20) apprehended on Whyte Avenue & Clymer Street; Fayima Calloway (22) apprehended on Bedford Avenue & Williamsburg Street.

The three suspects were placed under arrest and taken to the 90th Precinct to be processed.

“Shomrim thanks the 90th Precinct under the command of Deputy Inspector Michael Kemper, and the rest of the NYPD for working closely with us. Together we can – AND DO – make a difference to keep the number of crimes in our neighborhoods very low,” a WSPU spokesperson told YWN in a statement.

Boruch Hashem, there was no one in the apartment at the time of the crime.

These three arrests brought the total number of arrests by Williamsburg Shomrim this week to eight.

YWN PHOTO LINK: Click HERE for photos.

(Moshe Altusky – YWN)

4:30PM EST: Crown Heights - Today the six Shomrim members standing on trial for have been vindicated. All of the major charges against them either being dropped or found not guilty by unanimous verdict.

Last week when the prosecution rested and concluded their case, the judge dismissed all the charges relating to the allegations about weapons being used as well as the gang assault charges, were dismissed by default for failure to present enough evidence.

The one charge that was found guilty against one of the Shomrim volunteers was for assault in the 3rd degree, which baffled all those present in the courtroom as well as the co-defendants and lawyers.

Upon exiting the jurors were polled as to the reasons behind their findings, the answer came quick that none of the witnesses sounded like they were telling the truth.

Defense council said that it was clear that any attack by Shomrim was out of self defense and that an appeal is forthcoming.

“This is not a Didan Notzach and Shomrim is not celebrating this verdict” said a spokesperson for the group, adding “we are devastated that our fellow volunteer and friend has been found guilty of this Messira and blood liable. Let us not forget we still have the $150 million lawsuit against us.”

On a more positive note Shomrim said “we were here yesterday, we are here today, and we will be here tomorrow for anyone that calls on us.”

(Source: Crownheights.info / YWN-107)

The following is a NY Post article: Police yesterday busted two of the hipster Brooklyn cyclists who repainted whole sections of Williamsburg bike lanes the city had just removed at the request of the neighborhood’s Hasidic community.

Quinn Hechtropf, 26 and Katherine Piccochi, 24 – who surrendered hours after posting a video of the guerilla public-works operation on YouTube – allegedly used paint rollers and stencils to recreate all the markings that had been sandblasted away.

“We’re self-hating Jewish hipsters,” Hechtropf joked last night as the two walked out of the 90th Precinct with desk-appearance tickets.

“They handcuffed us,” Piccochi complained.

Both were hit with criminal-mischief charges as well as a violation for defacing the street.

Williamsburg Shomrim grabbed Hechtropf and Piccochi in the incident at 3:30 a.m. Monday. Cops took their names but at the time did not arrest them.

“The cops told them they wouldn’t get arrested, but the police must have come under pressure by the Hasidim,” said Baruch Herzfeld, the unofficial spokesman for the pro-bike-lane group.

Detectives asked them to come in to the precinct and they did, accompanied by a lawyer.

Cyclists have decried the removal of the bike lanes, but many Hasidic residents had complained that all the bikers whizzing by posed both safety and spiritual risks to the community.

Many of the hipster cyclists wear too little clothing for the Hasids, who are not supposed to stare at members of the opposite gender and wanted the enticement removed.

Herzfeld contends the activists were comprised of both Hasidic and hipster riders unhappy with the removal of the 14-block bike lane. On the video, the team is shown repainting the lanes with rollers as a pulsating rhythm plays in the background. They used a stencil and spray paint to recreate a bicyclist icon on the roadbed at Bedford Avenue and Williamsburg Street.

The group’s message appears in white text on a black background:

“We are New York City bicyclists and our message is clear. Don’t take away our bike lanes. We use this stretch of Bedford Avenue because it is a direct route to the Williamsburg Bridge.

“We will continue to use it whether or not there is a bike lane here, but not having one puts us at greater risk from cars.”

The statement says the group will restore the lane markings if they’re removed again.

And the city Transportation Department said it will remove any unauthorized markings.

Hasidic residents complain they are being portrayed as the enemy, when it is the cyclists who are breaking the law.

“That unauthorized painting on New York City property is unlawful, but that is overlooked because it’s committed against the terrible Hasidim,” Moshe Goldberger said.

(Source: NY Post)

VIDEO LINK BELOW: The following appears in Tuesday’s NY Post:

The hipsters just will not let their bike lanes go.

Groups of bicycle-riding vigilantes have been repainting 14 blocks of Williamsburg roadways ever since the city sandblasted their bike lanes away last week at the request of the Hasidic community.

The Hasids, who have long had a huge enclave in the now-artist-haven neighborhood, had complained that the Bedford Avenue bike paths posed both a safety and religious hazard.

Scantily clad hipster cyclists attracted to the Brooklyn neighborhood made it difficult, the Hasids said, to obey religious laws forbidding them from staring at members of the opposite gender in various states of undress. These riders also were disobeying the traffic laws, they complained.

Two cycling advocates were apprehended by the Shomrim Patrol, a Hasidic neighborhood watch group, as they repainted a section of bike lane at 3:30 a.m. yesterday, but when cops arrived, no one was arrested and no summonses were issued, police said.

“These people should apply for a job at the DOT,” neighborhood activist Isaac Abraham said of the repainting. “You put it on, they take it off — and they will probably do this again.”

A Department of Transportation spokesman said: “We will continue to work with any community on ways we can make changes to our streets without compromising safety.”

A source close to Mayor Bloomberg said removing the lanes was an effort to appease the Hasidic community just before last month’s election.

Abraham contends the bike lanes put children at risk of getting hit by cars or bicycles as they exited school buses.

But Baruch Herzfeld, who has tried to bridge the gap between hipsters and Hasids with a bike-rental program, said safety is not the issue so much as xenophobia.

“They don’t want the hipsters in their neighborhood,” he said. “It’s like in Howard Beach back in the day when they didn’t want black people in the neighborhood.”

The cycling advocacy group Transportation Alternatives has not taken sides in the dispute.

But bike lane or not, “cyclists have a right to be on Bedford Avenue,” said Wiley Norvell, a group spokesman.

YWN VIDEO LINK: Click HERE to see a video of bicyclists repainting 14 blocks of bikelane in the dead-of-night.

(Source: NY Post)

Private donations have saved the Baltimore Police Department’s horse unit for at least another year. Nearly $90,000, including a big one for $50,000, poured into the Baltimore Community Foundation.

The money falls short of what police had originally said would be needed — $150,000 — and the unit’s future beyond 2010 remains in question. But Wednesday afternoon, the police commissioner and mayor announced that a $5,000 check from the Curtis Bay-Brooklyn Environmental Oversight Committee and Curtis Bay Energy Co. put the fund raising driver over the top.

Ambrose brought his horse Barney, though he had to stay outside in the rain while officials moved the announcement inside the Southern District police station’s roll call room. Barney posed for the media when it was all done, and after the mayor had disappeared.

So efforts by citizens who sent in checks for $100, and a little girl in Baltimore County who raised $2,000 selling lemonade, and a Jewish community crime fighting group who raised $15,000 playing the cops in football, paid off.

But with the city’s budget still in need of fixing, it’s going to be tough to secure funding for another year. If the unit is going to remain active, it needs a corporate sponsor.

(Source: Baltimore Sun / YWN-112)

The following article appears in Monday’s Baltimore Sun: 

At 10 p.m. on a Monday in Northwest Baltimore, more than 20 Orthodox Jewish men are packed into a two-room apartment with a couch and maps of the nearby synagogues, eating kosher chili and discussing how to respond to the next neighborhood emergency.

Those gathered here are members of Shomrim, Hebrew for “watchers,” and they make up a round-the-clock citizens patrol, complete with matching jackets, radios and a hot-line number that area residents know as well as 911. Members have intervened in suicide attempts, divided the neighborhood into quadrants and fanned out to look for missing people, thwarted bicycle thefts and saturated areas hit by burglaries to report suspicious people to police.

“They’re an invaluable service to the district,” said Maj. Johnny Delgado, commander of Baltimore’s Northwest District. “There’s not a day that goes by that we’re not in contact about something.”

Here’s how serious Shomrim members are: Last year they brought a playbook to an informal game of flag football with a group of district police officers and won, 40-13. This year’s rematch, a fundraiser at Northwestern High School earlier this month, raised $21,000 for the Police Department’s mounted unit and was attended by Mayor Sheila Dixon and Police Commissioner Frederick H. Bealefeld III.

The group, which counts among its members a lawyer, an auto mechanic, a pharmacist, a jeweler, a psychologist, a salesman, a roofer and an accountant, started in late 2005 after a rash of burglaries in the city’s Orthodox community around Upper Park Heights and Greenspring. Several men, including business owners, decided to start patrolling the streets in the early morning hours.

“We had guys out from midnight to 4 pretty much every night, with the concept that anybody out on the street between then is a possible suspect or victim,” said Ron Rosenbluth, one of the founding members and owner of Tov Pizza, a kosher pizza place on Reisterstown Road. “And we got lucky in the first couple days to catch one of the burglars.”

Service to the community is an important part of Judaism, and Shomrim is not alone in supplementing city services in Northwest Baltimore. Hatzalah, an all-volunteer ambulance service that responds until Baltimore EMS resources arrive to take over patient care, handled more than 700 calls in 2008. There’s also Chaverim, a volunteer road service that changes flat tires, provides jump-starts and responds when community members lock their keys in a car. Chaverim’s Web site claims more than 3,000 calls annually.

“We have an underlying principle within our religion that all Jews are responsible for one another,” said Erika Pardes Schon, president of the Baltimore Hebrew Institute at Towson University. “That is the core philosophy for why we make sure we have organizations and institutions in place that take care of people within our communities.”

Most of Shomrim’s members are Orthodox Jews, but they respond to incidents involving different pockets of the community. There is currently one non-Jewish member, who is black.

“When we get a call, we don’t ask what color, creed or faith. We go,” said Phil Jacobs, a Shomrim member who is executive editor of the Jewish Times and has written about the group’s efforts.

On a recent night, they sat on chairs set up in every available corner of the small unit donated to them by the Park Heights apartment complex owner. In a side room are stolen bikes they have confiscated from thieves, and a donated color copy machine to make fliers of missing people.

Rosenbluth called the meeting to order, using a gavel. He read a handwritten letter from an Israeli man who was believed missing and was tracked down by Shomrim members. In the letter, the man thanked them for giving up their “entire Shabbos on my behalf,” referring to the weekly Jewish holy day.

“This is the beginning of a protocol that we have to stay on,” Rosenbluth tells his members, waving a chart showing the procedures for finding missing people. “We’re going to need everybody’s help.”

Northwest Baltimore already had a robust neighborhood watch group that did patrols, so the founders decided that Shomrim might best serve the community if it was call-driven. They stressed that residents should call 911 first – but then call Shomrim. Sometimes people turn to them first.

“We’ll get there faster than police because it’s our neighborhood,” said Nathan Willner, an attorney and board member. “We can create a perimeter and get 10 units there, in private cars, so the suspect doesn’t know they’re being watched. That’s invaluable information that can make all the difference in police being able to get there and catch a suspect.”

Nevo Zuckerman, a 31-year-old rabbi at the Yeshivat Rambam school, is one of Shomrim’s newest members. He said he saw Shomrim at work in the community and wanted to join. And, he admits with a smile, after serving in the Israeli army for nine months, he “missed the action.”

Shomrim members acknowledge that there are potential hazards in their eagerness to get involved in potentially dangerous situations. But Shomrim requires a probationary period, provides training, and has strict internal disciplinary procedures. Its members seek to serve as eyes and ears, and rarely take action. In the past, members have been dismissed for not following protocols.

“This is not ‘Starsky and Hutch,’ ” Jacobs said. “We’re regular citizens who believe in the safety and integrity of our neighborhood, and we believe in our police department. We’re augmenting that.”

In addition to working with city police, Shomrim has interacted with Baltimore County police, though on a more limited basis.

“We usually ask for their assistance in specific cases,” said Bill Toohey, a former county police spokesman, during an interview last month. “Given their discipline and organization, they can fan out and help us find them. … These kinds of groups supplement the police – they do not replace the police.”

Delgado, who joined the city’s Northwest District in 2007 after a long career in East Baltimore, said he has never seen a citizen group as active as Shomrim. When he first learned of the group, he was taken aback.

“They had jackets, unit numbers. They knew about police call signs, and how we code complaints. They knew everything from top to bottom,” said Delgado. “I said, ‘What the heck?’ I thought something was weird.”

But Delgado said the group quickly won him over. With the Police Department devoting renewed energy to developing community partnerships and asking neighborhood residents to play a bigger part in their communities, Shomrim represents the gold standard.

“With a group that motivated, you’ve got to utilize them,” Delgado said.

(Source: Baltimore Sun)

The HaShomrim organization was launched in northern Jerusalem to patrol the chareidi areas, an added force to enhance area security in the hope of curtailing burglaries and thefts. One of the forces behind the organization is Jerusalem Councilman Rabbi Shlomo Rosenstein, who has seen the fruits of the organization’s labor, reporting a significant decline in thefts in the community due to the visible presence of the volunteers during the week.

R’ Rosenstein recently arranged for a non-Jew to patrol on shabbos, bringing the organization to 24/7 operation, resulting in a significant drop in crime. Police informed HaShomrim officials that thieves who were apprehended during the week explained many of their colleagues comes to chareidi areas on Friday night and shabbos, well-aware they cannot telephone police. This seems to have compelled Rosenfeld to find a non-Jew to patrol on shabbos to fill this critical void.

The shabbos patrols are now underway, and organizers are optimistic the patrol will spread to other chareidi areas, including Makor Baruch, Sanhedria, Zichron Moshe and N’vei Tzvi.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)

Williamsburg Shomrim (WSPU) caught a “big fish” on Tuesday afternoon, when their members apprehended a group of people suspected of passing counterfeit US currency to local establishments.

Sources tell YWN that Shomrim received a phone call that a group of 4 people were walking the streets of Williamsburg, and making small purchases using $100 bills in multiple stores.

One store owner checked the bill, realized they were counterfeit, and called Shomrim for assistance.

Shomrim members followed the suspects as they made purchases in 8 stores, and finally apprehended them after a small foot-pursuit. The NYPD was quick to respond, and placed them into custody.

Shortly after they arrived at the 90th Pct, a Shomrim member found more than $7,000 in fake bills on the street – which was thrown there during the foot-pursuit.

The US Secret Service has been called to assist the NYPD in this investigation.

Additionally, these arrests today bring the total arrests by Williamsburg Shomrim in this week to 12; four arrested on Monday for breaking into cars, some graffiti arrests, and others for breaking windows on a bus filled with Yeshiva children.

Just another reason to thank WSPU for keeping the streets of Williamsburg safe!

(YWN-112 / YWN-53 / YWN Desk – NYC)

Baltimore, MD – Mayor Dixon and Baltimore City Police Department Commissioner Frederick Bealefeld joined Baltimore City Council President Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, Baltimore City Councilwoman Rikki Spector, State Delegate Sandy Rosenberg, and Baltimore City Orphan’s Court Judge Karen Friedman at the annual Shomrim vs Baltimore City Police Department Northwest District flag football game at Northwestern High School.

Sunday’s game raised $21,000 for the Baltimore City Police Department’s Mounted Unit.
“Today’s friendly competition highlights the collaboration and partnership of efforts between the Baltimore City Police Department and Shomrim to keep the citizens of the Northwest District safe and secure,” stated Mayor Dixon.

“I want to thank Shomrim and Boost Mobile for their donations that raised $21,000 towards the Baltimore City Police Department’s Mounted Unit.”

Shomrim beat the Baltimore City Police Northwest District today 24-21 in a close and competitive game that was full of good sportsmanship and mutual respect. The true victor of today’s event was the Baltimore City Police Department’s Mounted Unit who received $21,000 in much needed funding. Shomrim donated $15,000 to the Mounted Unit and Boost Mobile donated $7,000.

About Baltimore Shomrim:
In response to increasing crime trends in the community, a group of concerned citizens founded Shomrim of Baltimore, Inc. in October-2005, as a 501(c)3 non-profit community organization whose overall mission is to improve public safety and security. Currently, Shomrim has over 30 volunteer incident responders who provide security and safety assistance in the Northwest Baltimore Neighborhood which encompasses parts of Baltimore City and Baltimore County.

Shomrim works closely with both police departments by assisting them in deterring crime, being additional “eyes and ears” in our neighborhoods; thereby helping them make more arrests and improve the overall quality of life in our neighborhood.

(Chaim Sharf – YWN)

This Monday afternoon at approximately 12:30 PM a Flatbush Shomrim member observed a Hispanic male lurking around in a backyard of a house at the corner of Avenue I & East 27th street. Upon observing, the Male Hispanic cut a screen and broke a window lock with a hammer & screwdriver. The perpetrator then entered the home through the window.

Several Shomrim members responded and surrounded the house. After nearly 15 minutes Shomrim members apprehended the perpetrator in the house, called for NYPD for assistance, who subsequently took the suspect into custody. Shomrim then contacted the grateful owners that are vacationing in Florida.

There has recently been several burglaries in the Flatbush neighborhood, and hopefully this will put an end to some of them.

Shomrim tells YWN “If you ever see someone suspicious walking around please don’t hesitate to call the Flatbush Shomrim 24 hour emergency hotline number at 718-338-9797. It is also through your Eyes and Ears that help us make this a safe community.”

(Eli Gefen – YWN)

11:15PM EST: [UPDATE BELOW] Boro Park Shomrim is currently conducting a search for a missing elderly person, and are being assisted by dozens of volunteers from Hatzolah and Chaverim.

The NYPD has called a Level 1 response, and K9 and Aviation units are on the scene assisting the 66th Pct as well.

INFO DELETED…..

If you see this person, or have any info – please call the Boro Park Shomim hotline immediately at 718-871-6666.

UPDATE 11:56PM EST: The missing person has been found. The family thanks everyone for their help.

(Dov Gordon – YWN)

A crook was captured after breaking into a car in Sheepshead Bay, authorities said Friday.

Roberto Garcia, 31, climbed inside a 1997 Nissan Maxima on Avenue R near East 27th Street just before midnight Tuesday, sources said.

He soon exited, dropping two cellphone chargers and an MP3 player.

Members of the Flatbush Shomrim civilian patrol followed the suspect and directed police to an intersection where Garcia and alleged getaway driver José Hernandez, 37, were arrested.

Both were charged with petit larceny and possession of burglary tools.

In another incident, a graffiti vandal was busted after leaving his mark on parking meters in Midwood.

Vebija Bolic, 34, was caught red-handed after witnesses saw him scribbling the tag “Acro” in Magic Marker on parking meters along Avenue J near East 16th Street at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, sources said.

The witnesses called the Flatbush Shomrim hot line, and members of the volunteer group followed him and tipped off cops, who nabbed him nearby.

At the time of his arrest, Bolic had markers and cans of spray paint in his possession, sources said.

(Source: NY Post)