Last Motsei Shabbos around 8.30 pm members of Shomrim patrolling the Golders Green area of North West London witnessed two people loitering in Heather Gardens. A Shomrim member told the Jewish Tribune, “something didn’t look right.” He then noticed on the front of a nearby vehicle the words “Kill the Jewish”; on the rear and side of the car graffiti had been sprayed that said “Hitler was good man.”

The Shomrim member called for assistance from nearby members of Shomrim who refused to let the suspects leave until police officers arrived. After Police searched the property and found further evidence in Heather Gardens, they arrested the perpetrators of this anti-Semitic crime who were taken to Colindale police station, accompanied by a member of Shomrim who gave a statement.

No one can be prosecuted without a statement, Shomrim told the Jewish Tribune. Every crime must have a victim and in this case, the victim was the Jewish community. Since without a statement no crime is considered to have taken place, giving a statement to the police is vital. It’s not even necessary to go to the police station to offer a statement since the police are happy to come to your home or your place of work so that you can do so. Giving a statement to police is a public duty, helping to make our society a safer place and everyone who is unfortunate enough to be the victim of a crime or who witnesses a crime should do so.

Gavriel Ost CEO of Shomrim London NW said ” We constantly urge the kehilla to report crimes or suspicious behaviour without delay to the 24hr Shomrim NW Hotline on 0300 999 1234. It only takes a few seconds for a suspect to turn a corner, get on a bus, into a car or even on a tube which means within 10 minutes they could be in a completely different part of London. Our members are dedicated and our record speaks for itself. We can have members at the scene of a crime within 2 minutes of receiving the phone call and with the community’s help that could be within 2 minutes of the crime taking place. We would generally follow the suspects and give their precise locations to the arriving Police unless the suspects were in the process of committing the actual crime. The target response time for the Metropolitan Police to an “I” grade (“immediate emergency response”) call, is within 12 minutes. Police can head to the location of the suspect which is constantly updated by Shomrim, instead of the scene of the crime enabling the suspect to be immediately arrested. This system not only works but has proven to be extremely effective.  In the last few years, daily arrests are made by Barnet Police through the assistance of the Shomrim members who follow the suspects after they have committed a crime until the arrival of Police.”

(Dina Rosell – Jewish Tribune, UK)