Dramatic Shomrim/NYPD/ESU Subway Standoff Ends With Arrest of Shul Break-In Suspect

A shul break-in early this morning ended with a dramatic police standoff and arrest after Shomrim volunteers tracked down the suspect within minutes.

Shomrim received a call around 3:00 a.m. reporting that a person had broken into a shul and emptied out valuables before quickly fleeing the scene. After obtaining a description, Shomrim IT began tracking the suspect’s direction of flight, following him through the area until he was traced to the train platform on New Utrecht Avenue.

Responding units located the suspect sitting on the platform, apparently waiting for a train. When volunteers approached, the suspect bolted across the platform and jumped onto the tracks.

The NYPD was called to the scene and requested ESU (Emergency Service Unit) assistance to safely remove him. A standoff lasting close to two hours followed on the tracks before ESU successfully got the suspect off and into custody.

He was placed under arrest and is expected to face charges related to breaking into the shul and theft of valuables.

No injuries were reported.