A package thief has been arrested thanks to the swift response of Flatbush Shomrim. As Flatbush Scoop reported, a homeowner in the vicinity of Avenue S and East 8th Street witnessed his package being stolen in real-time via his Ring camera and he immediately alerted Shomrim.
Shomrim volunteers quickly mobilized and tracked down the suspect, who was driving a van loaded with stolen packages. The NYPD later discovered that the thief had been tailing Amazon and UPS trucks, snatching deliveries moments after they were dropped off. Upon apprehension at Ocean Avenue and Avenue T, police also found a significant quantity of Fentanyl and crack cocaine in his possession.
Further investigation revealed that the vehicle itself had been stolen, and the license plates had been taken from another car. The suspect is now in police custody, facing multiple charges related to theft, drug possession, and vehicle-related offenses.
Flatbush Shomrim urges residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activity to prevent such crimes from occurring in the community.
Billboard Protest Targets NYC Leadership Outside Gracie Mansion
A pro-Israel activist organization staged a high-visibility protest last month outside Gracie Mansion, accusing New York City leadership of failing to confront extremist rhetoric linked to the Middle East conflict.
The demonstration, organized by DiploAct, featured a mobile billboard truck circling the mayoral residence on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. The vehicle displayed messages sharply criticizing Zohran Mamdani and alleging that anti-Semitic rhetoric and pro-terror propaganda have been tolerated in the city.
According to reporting cited by VIN News, the truck drove through nearby streets carrying large displays intended to attract public and media attention. The protest comes amid heightened tensions linked to the ongoing Middle East conflict and its political reverberations in New York.
In a social media statement, DiploAct said the demonstration aimed to highlight what it described as a disconnect between global security concerns and the city’s political climate.
“While the West fights Iranian-backed terror,” the group wrote, “his New York hosts chants of ‘Death to America,’ vigils for Khamenei, and activists who praise Hamas.”
The group also referenced the trauma of the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel, which killed more than 1,200 people and triggered the ongoing regional war.
The billboard additionally cited reports that Rama Dawaji had “liked” social media posts that critics say celebrated the attacks.
New York City, home to one of the world’s largest Jewish populations outside Israel, has become a focal point for rallies and counter-protests tied to the conflict.
New Housing Project Planned for Shore’s Exclusive Allenhurst Market
Private construction lender S3 Capital has issued a $49 million construction loan to finance a new residential development in Allenhurst, New Jersey.
The project, developed by RedHoek+, will include 28 luxury townhomes and a 23-unit fully affordable apartment building. The two components represent the first phases of a planned multi-phase condominium community in the small coastal borough.
Allenhurst has historically seen limited new housing construction due to geographic and zoning constraints. According to project backers, only one commercial multifamily building has been developed in Allenhurst or neighboring Deal in the past 40 years. Most recent activity has involved renovations or replacements of older single-family homes.
The project is led by RedHoek+ CEO Lee Cohen, a longtime borrower from S3 Capital with whom the lender has completed seven prior transactions.
“Allenhurst is a very close-knit community where demand is driven by highly localized buyer dynamics,” said Shawn Safdie. He added that strong local relationships and familiarity with the market were key factors in underwriting the project.
The townhouse portion will feature 28 four-bedroom residences with attached garages, modern layouts, and high-end finishes. The apartment building will provide 23 fully affordable rental units, expanding the borough’s housing mix. “Allenhurst is one of the most coveted addresses on the Jersey Shore,” Lee Cohen said.