Philadelphia – Police Seeking Suspect who Urinated on Philly Synagogue

Philadelphia – A northeast Philadelphia synagogue that has been vandalized three times within the past year has been hit again, this time by a man who urinated on the synagogue.

Police said that the incident took place at Congregation Beth Solomon just after midnight on August 13th.   Surveillance footage shows a man walking up to the synagogue and making an obscene hand gesture for the security camera before relieving himself on the outer wall of the building next to the synagogue’s front doors.

The rabbi of the synagogue was in the building when the incident took place, calling police after noticing movement on the facility’s security cameras.

Video footage shows the suspect getting into the passenger seat of a four door white model sedan, possibly a BMW.  He is believed to be in his twenties, with a thin build, a short, closely cropped beard and black hair and was wearing a white shirt and jeans when the incident occurred.

Philadelphia’s ABC 6 News (http://6abc.cm/2i51z2a) reported that Lieutenant Dennis Rosenbaum said that he believed that the synagogue was deliberately targeted, with this the fourth incident in the past year.

A large menorah stolen from the front of the synagogue by an unidentified man last August was returned three weeks later under the cover of darkness and the synagogue’s security cameras have been shot out with paintballs and had their camera feeds cut by unknown individuals.

CBS News (http://cbsloc.al/2i2tsaW) reported that the synagogue’s mikvah, located two blocks away was similarly vandalized while it was under construction,  with seven incidents taking place from November through January.

Police are turning to the public for assistance,  hoping that the synagogue’s clear video footage will help bring a quick arrest. Police declined to confirm reports that the suspect has already been identified, saying only that the investigation is continuing.

“We have a zero tolerance for any kind of hate,” said Rosenbaum.