Shabbat Assaults

Crimes in Southfield spur two-city security effort.

Shelli Liebman Dorfman
Senior Writer

A

fter Rabbi Avie Shapiro was robbed at gun-
point on Saturday, Feb. 16, outside a relative's
home not far from his own on the east edge
of Southfield near 10 Mile, his neighbors began to plan
a Neighborhood Watch group.
But when several more criminal incidents against
Orthodox Jews took place in the same area on March 1,
the group became more assertive. After the crime pat-
tern was recognized as similar to incidents in adjacent
Oak Park within the past year or so, city members came
forward to organize a joint-community effort.
"If it can happen to me, everyone out there needs to
be more alert:' said Rabbi Shapiro, director of pastoral
care at Jewish Home and Aging Services' Fleischman
Residence in West Bloomfield.
Awareness is part of the goal of the community mem-
bers, political and public safety leadership from both
cities who will meet to implement private community
security efforts.
The two-city meeting planned for late this week was
spurred by several incidents of assault and battery this
past Saturday evening, March 1.
According to Southfield Police Department reports,
each incident involved men walking alone — presumably
to Shabbat services — who were approached by two to
five young African American teenage males. The assaults
occurred in the area bounded by Greenfield, Pierce, 10
Mile and Lincoln. All victims were Southfield residents in
their 40s and 50s. They were chased, surrounded or fol-
lowed by their assailants.
Assaults included being pushed, hit with snowballs
and other unknown objects and punched with closed
fists in the back and head area. One attack resulted in a
minor ear cut. In each case, victims had been wearing
Orthodox-style black hats, which were knocked off their
heads.
More than one victim said assailants asked for money,
but no property was taken in any incident. No racial or
anti-Semitic comments were made in any cases, but at
least one victim's statement included that he felt he was
assaulted because of his Jewish faith.
A police representative said because of similarities in
the types and locations of the attacks and descriptions of
assailants, the same group appears to be responsible for
all of this past weekend's incidents.
There is doubt, however, that these crimes were related
to the attack on Rabbi Shapiro, who feels he was random-
ly targeted while standing alone in a driveway at 10 p.m.
"Two guys walked past me, then turned back and came
running," Shapiro said of the robbery. "One said, 'Give
us your money! One was holding a gun to my chest. I've
never been so scared in my life. When I reached for my
wallet, he leaned me against the car and pulled it from my
pocket!' Assorted papers and his cell phone were taken

Rabbi Avie Shapiro was robbed at gunpoint.

from another pocket.
"That incident was straight-up robbery late at night;'
said Southfield Police Det. Darrel Palmer. "The others
sound more like people harassing Jewish families."
Either way, Southfield Police Lt. Nick Loussia said, "All
of these incidents are being taken very, very seriously.
They are all under investigation, and we will definitely
step up our efforts with patrolled marked units in the
area. And we will be coordinating with surrounding com-
munities in our efforts. This is a very big deal."

Tale Of Two Cities
Avraham "Jeff" Mifsud lives on the same street as Rabbi
Shapiro and is president of the area's neighborhood asso-
ciation.
At the two-city meeting, he will suggest that house-
holds contribute to pay a security company to patrol
streets on and near where the crimes were committed.
Mifsud praised Southfield police, who he said parked
their cars in front of his home on Saturday because an
incident happened nearby. "They sent out several patrol
cars after people were attacked on their way to Minchah
[afternoon service]:' he said. "Some of our community
members [also] organized and went on foot to look for
these kids."
His hope is "the crimes won't escalate; that it is just
kids." But he is still very upet about what he calls "this
Shabbat's ethnic intimidation."
No suspects have been apprehended in any of
Saturday's incidents or in the attack on Rabbi Shapiro.

A Coincidence?
The Southfield incidents were too close and too similar
to a series of threats and assaults in Oak Park last year
for that city's mayor to ignore.
In the area of Oak Park that borders Southfield, inci-
dents ranged from snowballs and rocks being thrown
at congregants outside an Orthodox synagogue the
past winter to the taunting of men and boys dressed in
traditional Jewish garb and the beating of a man near
the Kollel Institute of Greater Detroit on Lincoln east of
Greenfield last summer.
Following last year's incidents, Oak Park Mayor Gerald
E. Naftaly met with community members, rabbinic lead-
ers and the city's public safety director. Police patrols
were increased and a special city council meeting was
held to discuss safety measures. The mayor, who insti-
tuted an ethnic advisory board to bridge neighbors of
different cultures, called for residents to watch out for
one another.
No one has been arrested in connection with last
year's incidents, but the city's work to increase safety
measures is ongoing and no similar crimes took place
since last summer.
With the recent incidents in Southfield, Mayor Naftaly
has been working closely with Southfield officials as well
as his own city council members and some Oak Park
residents. In addition, Oak Park police officers have been
put on alert.

Being Aware
Rabbi Shapiro is grateful to the Southfield police officers
he said were attentive, professional, compassionate and
sensitive and who dispatched cruisers to patrol the area
near where he was robbed. He also appreciates an alert
neighbor who heard shouting and looked out her window,
later giving a description of his assailants to police. "I
came very close to an unspeakable situation:' he said.
"The experience taught me to be more aware and cog-
nizant of my own safety. Now I look around at strangers
who may be in my immediate area when I get out of my
car in front of a private home or store.
"As members of a community we really owe it to each
other to be more aware of what is happening to our
neighbors."
Lt. Loussia said, "Do what you can to be less of a target
— like walking in groups. Be aware of surroundings.
Carry a cell phone when possible. Be good neighbors;
look out for each other. Keep exterior lights on. "These are
crimes of opportunity. So don't give the opportunity." ❑

To arrange for Southfield Police Crime Prevention
Bureau to meet with residents and groups to dis-
cuss safety issues, call (248) 796 5400.
To contact the Oak Park Public Safety
Department, call (248) 691-7520.

March 6 • 2008

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