Borough Park Shomrim volunteers. Photo: bpshomrim.org.

The banks of Brooklyn are safe(r) again after a robber was apprehended by the Borough Park Shomrim, a Jewish vigilante group, as he attempted to flee his latest target.

On Wednesday October 20^th, Kevin Crawford attempted to rob the Emigrant Savings Bank in the Fort Greene section of Brooklyn. According to an article in the New York Post the 20-year-old allegedly threatened the teller, saying, “Trick or treat, give up the cash or I will kill you, bitch motherf——.” According to the Post story, the teller turned to speak with her boss and the robber panicked and fled empty-handed.

The day before Crawford allegedly stole $1,960 dollars from a bank in the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn.

According to an article posted on the Borough Park Shomrim’s official website, the timeline of events following Crawford’s exit from the Emigrant Savings Bank was as follows, though it should be noted that the location and banks differ from those cited in the New York Post article. The Algemeiner wasn’t immediately able to confirm with either publication the reason for this discrepancy:

“The suspect, still wearing his ski mask and gloves, was apprehended after he was spotted running down the block by a man making a meat delivery to a neighboring store. According to a press release by Councilman David Greenfield, the delivery man yelled out “chaptzem”, before contacting the Boro Park Shomrim and the NYPD.

“The perpetrator was chased down and caught by members of Shomrim…only one block from the scene of the robbery. Shomrim held the suspect and NYPD arrested him.”

The Shomrim are community volunteer patrols affiliated with local New York Chasidic communities. Their  presence is meant as a deterrence and they do not have the authority to make arrests.