Ukraine – Borough Park Man Robbed At Gunpoint In Uman, Uses iPhone App To Locate Thief

    22

    Matis Swerdloff with Kyiv Police captain Vlad Capon on Sept. 30, 2014, in Kiev Ukraine.Ukraine – A Brooklyn man who was in Uman for Rosh Hashana found himself staring at the business end of a gun on Monday during a taxi ride from Uman to several Ukranian holy sites.

    Join our WhatsApp group

    Subscribe to our Daily Roundup Email


    Matis Swerdloff, who also goes by the name River Dale, was taking a taxi with a friend from Uman to the airport in Kyiv, with stops in Breslov, Meshbitz and Berdichev to visit the kevarim of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov, the Baal Shem Tov and Reb Levi Yitzchok of Berdichev. While the friend decided to remain in Meshbitz, Swerdloff, a 30 year old Boro Park resident, continued alone in the taxi to Berdichev and Kyiv International Airport.

    “I was very tired and fell asleep in the taxi after Berdichev,” Swerdloff told VIN News. “Once we got to Kyiv, the drover woke me up and pointed a gun at my head, demanding I empty my pockets and give him my iPhone.”

    Swerdloff complied with the driver’s demands and the taxi driver continued to navigate his way through the streets of Kyiv.

    “I realized I needed to come up with a plan to get out of the car ASAP,” said Swerdloff. “I remember thinking that I wasn’t going to let my wife become an agunah. As soon as the car slowed down in traffic, I opened the door and rolled out of the car, running away.”

    Swerdloff, who has been to Uman numerous times, realized that he was near the airport, one of the few places in the Ukraine where he could find someone with whom he could communicate.

    “I have traveled all over the world and there is usually someone who speaks English, but here there are no people or cops on the street who speak English,” said Swerdloff.

    Arriving at the airport, Swerdloff located an English speaking police officer and told him that he had been robbed but that his iPhone, which had the Find My iPhone app, was enabled with GPS tracking.

    “Once I showed them how it worked they were wowed,” said Swerdloff.

    “He told us his phone has GPS and we go to police office and find his phone by internet,” said Officer Vlad Capon.

    The robber was located and arrested by police. Officer Capon declined to give the name of the 35 year old, saying it was against Ukranian law.

    “He is arrested, we have police protocols and he is going to the judge,” said Officer Capon.

    While Swerdloff was originally told that as a witness to a crime he had to remain in the Ukraine, he was later informed that he had permission to leave the country but that his suitcases and money were to remain behind as evidence in the crime.

    Swerdloff contacted both the American embassy and Community Activist Zvi Gluck and with the help of Officer Capon, finally had his belongings released this morning.

    Despite his harrowing experience, Swerdloff who hopes to be back in New York tomorrow, says that he has no qualms about returning to Uman.

    “I made a very big mistake by going alone in the taxi,” said Swerdloff. “You don’t go anywhere alone here. People don’t chap that this is a real third world country.”


    Listen to the VINnews podcast on:

    iTunes | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | Podbean | Amazon

    Follow VINnews for Breaking News Updates


    Connect with VINnews

    Join our WhatsApp group


    22 Comments
    Most Voted
    Newest Oldest
    Inline Feedbacks
    View all comments
    9 years ago

    Yet ANOTHER reason not to travel to that cesspool.

    lazerx
    lazerx
    9 years ago

    why people go to Ukraine and give money to anti-Semetic monsters is beyond me. For 2,000 years people dreamed of praying in the holy land, in Jerusalem, at the Kotel.

    So now we have Eretz Yisroel, we have Jerusalem and the Kotel, so why do we have to go somewhere else? Is the grass always greener in the other place?

    Stupid Jews, come to the holy land and pray. Who ever is Chutz LeAretz is like one who worships idols!

    MontrealGuy
    MontrealGuy
    9 years ago

    Happy that he is well and alive! Matis is a great Hatzolah paramedic and well known person.

    9 years ago

    I wouldn’t even fly in a plane OVER Ukraine, let alone land there!

    allmark
    allmark
    9 years ago

    Why on earth does he also call himself “River Dale”???!!!

    MayerAlter
    MayerAlter
    9 years ago

    He must have been in Ukraine often. He understood well that offering a bribe to get his property back would have the police move heaven and earth. Still, he was obviously a rich American. The usual price in Kiev for this sort of service is UAH 500, about $40.

    shvigger
    shvigger
    9 years ago

    And why exactly did his suitcase and money need to stay in Ukraine?

    Benny
    Benny
    9 years ago

    “he was later informed that he had permission to leave the country but that his suitcases and money were to remain behind as evidence in the crime”

    Buy buy phone, money and suitcases!
    Welcome to former USSR!

    SGMoish
    SGMoish
    9 years ago

    So genius gets robbed by their and then bribes cops to rob him again?! Only in Ukraine, only in Ukraine.

    9 years ago

    He should bench Hagomel!

    9 years ago

    Didn’t want his wife an agunah? Someone, G-d forbid shoots you dead, I don’t think you’re wife is an agunah.

    issac01
    issac01
    9 years ago

    You don’t belong in Uman!!!!!