A man dressed as a Hasidic Jew was caught on camera
stealing sacred items worth $7,000 from the Chabad synagogue.
Thanks to an AirTag tracker, Shomrim volunteers recovered them within hours.
By Yanki Farber
An unusual incident occurred Tuesday in the heart of Crown Heights, Brooklyn, when an African-American man, not Jewish, was captured on security cameras disguised as a Hasidic Jew. Wearing a black hat and visible tzitzit (fringes), the man entered Chabad Headquarters at 770 Eastern Parkway and stole a tallit and two sets of tefillin from secured lockers.
The stolen Judaica items are valued at approximately $7,000, according to a report by COLlive.
Footage of the theft quickly circulated among volunteers of Shomrim, the local Jewish neighborhood watch group. Thanks to an Apple AirTag hidden in one of the tefillin pouches, the suspect was later tracked to Manhattan.
After several hours of surveillance, Shomrim Manhattan volunteers located the thief and recovered the stolen items. The tallit and tefillin were safely returned to their rightful owner within hours of the theft. “This case shows how technology like AirTags can assist in fighting theft,” said one Shomrim volunteer.
Community members report that the same individual had previously been seen around 770 and is also suspected of stealing an electric scooter in the area. On Tuesday night, he returned to the synagogue and committed the theft while dressed to resemble a member of the Hasidic community.
In response, Crown Heights community leaders are urging residents and synagogue visitors to stay alert, safeguard personal belongings, and report any suspicious activity—especially from individuals posing as community members or engaging in criminal behavior. “Watch your personal items closely,” said one community elder. “Do not let suspicious individuals roam freely in 770.”
