Chabad Rabbi on Scooter Chases Down Burglary Suspect in Palm Beach
Graphic by Angelie Zaslavsky
A rabbi rode a motor scooter to chased down a suspected burglar after spotting him outside of a Palm Beach, Florida Chabad house.
Avrohom Ezagui, a Lubavitcher rabbi, became suspicious when he saw a man holding a bag of valuables, according to The Palm Beach Post.
Ezagui assumed the valuables had been taken from Chabad and gave chase on his scooter. A fight reportedly broke out when Ezagui reached the man, Eric Hanna, 28.
But Hanna had actually allegedly targeted a nearby home, not the Chabad house. He allegedly broke into the home through an open window and grabbed over $10,000 worth of jewelry, the paper reported.
Hanna was later arrested by police and faces two counts of burglary, one count of larceny of more than $10,000, one count of loitering, one count of battery and one count of criminal mischief. Bail was set at $87,000.
In 2011, the Chabad Palm Beach synagogue was targeted by burglars. Besides making off with valuables the crooks swiped a $1 that had been blessed by the late Lubavitcher rebbe Menachem Schneerson.
The synagogue offered a $1,000 reward for the safe return of the bill, but apparently got no takers.
I’m personally matching all gifts to the Forward, up to $36,000. Can I match your gift now?
Hello, fellow Forward reader! I’m Joel Brown, a Forward reader and supporter for more than 15 years, and currently the chair of the board of directors.
I’m an avid Forward reader because it ticks so many of my essential boxes: excellent journalism, Jewish focus and diverse viewpoints. In today’s political climate, what I most appreciate is the Forward’s independence — made possible by the generosity of its membership.
The Forward is committed to bringing you unbiased, nuanced Jewish news. From my position as board chair, I see an exciting future as we expand our position as the definitive independent voice of contemporary American Judaism.
— Joel Brown, Forward board chair
Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
