A mezuzah-mad thief who swiped miniature religious blessings from seven Trump Village apartments in December has returned — leaving Jewish tenants rattled.
A crook ripped a tiny plastic-encased scroll off the door frame of a 20th floor apartment on Wednesday — just one month after mezuzahs were stolen from the Ocean Parkway towers, cops confirmed.
Trump Village resident Alla Fatima said she broke down crying when she realized her mezuzah had been stolen sometime before 11 am.
“It was so beautiful,” said Fatima. “My friend brought it back for me from Israel.”
The bookkeeper said she paid $220 for a protective silver case for the rolled-up parchment, which contains two hand-written portions of the Torah. Many Jews affix the objects to their homes for good luck and protection.
Mezuzas were stolen from seven Trump Village apartments in an adjoining tower on Dec. 3, police said. It remains unclear if the incidents are related.
Elected officials condemned the attacks on Wednesday night — and vowed to help local rabbis replace the missing mezuzahs.
“Someone is systematically removing mezuzot,” said Councilman Lew Fidler (D–Marine Park) told members of Community Board 13. “We can’t sit in silence when something like this happens.”
Wednesday’s theft was the latest in a wave of anti-Semitic attacks hitting the borough.
Last week, a vandal left four swastikas and the words “Die Jews” on four Midwood properties. Investigators say a man arrested for similar attacks in Manhattan — who happens to be Jewish — is their main suspect.
In November, anti-Semites were blamed for firebombing three cars on Ocean Parkway, although police now believe the attack wasn’t a hate crime after all, but an elaborate insurance scam. That same month, a vandal defaced the Avenue J train station sign so it read “Avenue Jew.”
Anyone with information regarding yesterday’s theft is urged to contact the NYPD CrimeStoppers hotline at (800) 577-8477. All calls will be kept confidential.
