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North Miami Beach, FL - Residents Worry About Crime |
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North Miami Beach, FL - Two and a half years ago, as then-17-year-old Yacov Sakowitz rode his bicycle between Northeast 11th and 12th avenues on 169th Terrace, two teenagers jumped out from behind a parked car and told him to give them his bike. He obliged. The teens beat him anyway.
Alan Sakowitz said he is lucky his son was OK but knew that it wasn't an isolated incident. He had heard about many other incidents in his neighborhood north of the Mall at 163rd Street, including robberies, burglaries and assaults.
To help ''take back the streets,'' members of the community -- many of whom practice the Orthodox Jewish faith -- partnered with Miami-Dade County Police and North Miami Beach Police.
The neighborhood formed a crime watch, and both departments patrol more frequently to help make those who walk to and from temple on the Sabbath feel safer.
Sakowitz said for a while things were improving.
Crime was down and people walked, but lately, the fear has returned as cars are broken into, purses are snatched and women and children are harassed as they walk to and from temple.
North Miami Beach Police Detective Nelson Reyes told residents to keep watch on unfamiliar cars in swales and be cautious when someone knocks on their doors.
''If you see something out of the ordinary, bells and whistles should be going off in your head,'' Reyes said. ``Don't be afraid to call us.''
Still residents wish there was more that could be done.
''We are really scared for our children,'' said Rabbi Mordechai Palgon, principal of Toras Emes Academy in North Miami Beach.
``We understand the police are trying. But the proof of their efforts can only be seen if there are results.''
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Read Comments (13) — Post Yours »
1
Jul 06, 2008 at 10:36 AM Anonymous Says:
thats crazy
2
Jul 06, 2008 at 11:13 AM miami yid Says:
buy a gun!!
3
Jul 06, 2008 at 02:13 PM Anonymous Says:
we need to remember that only 3 weeks ago mayor alvarez visited the community and all the leading rabbis at yehuda kaplouns house and agreed that they would put in more lights and increase patrols
the community shmira has cought more people and the police made 5 arrests in the last week
so hopefully this will improve
concerned but ich hub bitachon it will get better
4
Jul 06, 2008 at 03:31 PM Pinky's wife Says:
Some "frum" investors bought houses and rented them out to the element that turned the neighborhood into a dangerous slum. They were trying to drive down the prices so they could buy more houses and make a killing when the neighborhood went all Jewish.
Some protested, but the Rabbis refused to get involved. Those, who like me, protested were called racist bigots.
Now the neighborhood is dangerous and crime ridden and Jews are suffering. I sold my house and got out because it was obvious what was coming.
NMB is not Brooklyn. Anyone who ever lived in Brooklyn knows that the cops can't protect you, you have to protect yourselves. One of the ways to do this is NOT to rent the house next door to you to outsiders and then complain when they steal your kids' bikes.
It will get better when some of the machers in that neighborhood get some seichel. NMB is not Kansas, Dorothy.
5
Jul 06, 2008 at 04:07 PM Anonymous Says:
Things were improving?
I didn't notice.. Every week I hear about a new story someone got mugged, house car got broken into cop got shot in the neighborhood, this group and that group in the neighborhood wont work with each other to form a cohesive plan to combat the lack of police presence and the consistent crime in NMB.
Mind you after the last big crime wave started Mr Sackowitz convinced community members to pay an extra 800 or so dollars in taxes to get a "Roving Patrol" which has been utter failure in deterring crime.
As for Mr Kaploun his only interest is political ambition he has no interest in actually helping the neighborhood. Both of these guys and a few others want to be a big fish in the little pond. Each of them cant stand to work with the other in fear that their ego will get hurt, so they work against each other. This one knows the mayor who hasnt done crap for the community, that one knows the commisioner, who isnt able to do much for the community, the other one knows the chief who is useless.
Its easy to blame the Rabbi's!, What can they do with these low life machers they wont listen to the Rabbi's anyway even if they dd ask them to work together.
We keep hearing give it time well its been 5 years how much more time do you need?
Instead of a roving patrol (With is a joke) there are 17 entrances/exits to NMB why was'nt the money that went down the tube with the roving patrol used to install a comprehensive Camera Network to surround the entire community its not like the Patrol has any legal authority to intervene anyway. In my mind Cameras record and can replayed images can be enhanced they can be used by ordinary citizens to monitor neighborhood activity A roving patrol who falls asleep on the job anyway isn't anywhere near as effective as Cameras would be.
6
Jul 06, 2008 at 04:08 PM Anonymous Says:
livinig in nmb is more expensive then living in brooklyn! between the housing prices, insurance and taxes you are easily paying 2500-3000 a month!
7
Jul 06, 2008 at 06:41 PM Anonymous Says:
I an a long time resident in North Miami Beach, and I must agree with "Pinky's Wife" - many people blame the Jewish real estate speculators for some of these problems. But there is another cause: many Yidden who have moved in have rebuilt or re-designed once modest homes to look like castles. The criminals who do these home invasions cannot help but believe that if it looks like a castle outside - there must be jewels and treasures inside for the taking! Perhaps this year some of my neighbors will reread the famous Kli Yokor on "P'nu lochem Tz'foino"
8
Jul 06, 2008 at 07:47 PM murray Says:
We in Florida, B"H have a right to carry a concealled weapon, as opposed to those in NYC, for all intents and purposes are effectively banned from doing so. We also have a law here called "Stand Your Ground", so why should we have to hear whinning about the police not doing enough. The cops will never be on every street corner that you are on, at the right time. Besides, from what I have noticed, they really don't care to defend Jews.
9
Jul 06, 2008 at 11:41 PM Murphy Says:
B"H I never had trouble in the ten years I grew up in NMB. It has gotten larger and prgressively worse though. Anon above is right about the rich NY Jews who moved down there and built massive homes. The neighberhood used to be very close knit and modest.
Now thats all changed.
10
Jul 07, 2008 at 12:37 PM Ben Says:
The situation in NMB is ugly to say the least.
You have people who lived here for the past 25 years with little concern for safety, modest affordable housing great Yeshivos Mesivtas kosher stores in a close knit frum community.
N.Y.and it's ugly face made it's way down here a few years ago speculators show offs promiscuity and all that NY has to offer is here in NMB Oray Miklot South. It is so sad that this happened
We have the castles and Hummers now and it is going from bad to worse. Our children are nebach speaking and acting like shvartzes, It saddens me that this happened during a time of supposed frum revival in NMB.
11
Jul 07, 2008 at 06:02 PM Anonymous Says:
It will never change. Don't blame the castles or hummers. Everyone's entitled!! As long as you are right next door to Public Schools and a Wal-Mart, crime will prevail.
12
Jul 07, 2008 at 08:15 PM Menashe S Says:
This is so crazy NMB is one of the safest places to live and Wal-Mart is my favorite place to shop even at night.
13
Jul 07, 2008 at 08:23 PM Menashe s Says:
these coments are nonsence having Wal-Mart in our town is great I love shopping there especially at night when all the nighbohood comes out.