Police: Burglar Steals From Brooklyn Synagogue 3 Times
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Police say a burglar broke into a Brooklyn synagogue three times and stole cash from the donation box.
"It hurts. It hurts a lot," said Isaac Kerber, president of Congregation Israel of Kings Bay.
Kerber said he has been losing sleep the last two weeks, replaying surveillance video backwards and forwards, determined to identify the serial thief pilfering his beloved Brooklyn synagogue.
"It bothers me because this is like my second home, a home of worship," Kerber said.
Surveillance video from around 10 p.m. on Nov. 24 shows a man climbing through a rear window into Congregation Israel of Kings Bay. Police said he swiped a collection box with $600 and quickly made a getaway.
The synagogue assumed it was a one-time heist. It even found the stolen box in a trash can across the street.
But the suspect kept coming back, each time getting more emboldened.
"The second time he was going around, getting money from the small ones. The small charity boxes. He was throwing around the second time. The third time also. The same thing. Made a big mess," Kerber said.
The congregation started hiding the collection jars, but the suspect would still find them after tearing through cabinets and drawers.
On Dec. 2, he stole $750. Then, on Dec. 5, he took $850 more, police said.
The synagogue desperately needs the money to cover operation costs.
"We have a lot of expenses. The budget is about $100,000. Paying the rent, paying the rabbi," Kerber said.
Now, more money has to go into repairs.
Kerber said he's had no choice but to purchase bars that will be placed over all the windows to prevent the thief, should he again come back.
Anyone with information about the suspect is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). You can also submit a tip via their website or via DM on Twitter, @NYPDTips. All calls are kept confidential.