CROWN HEIGHTS — A Crown Heights man who tried to claim a reward for returning a box of stolen Jewish prayer items was arrested over the weekend for swiping them in the first place, police and sources said.
The suspect, whose name was not released, was picked up at 3:30 p.m. Sunday on Kingston Avenue and Park Place after asking for a reward for the box of tefillin — prayer boxes containing excerpts of the Torah — police sources said.
The suspect claimed he had found the box — which was taken from a member of the Lubavitch Hasidic community — on the street, police sources said. It was not clear when the items were stolen.
The suspect has a long criminal history, all involving larceny, police sources said.
He was charged with grand larceny and criminal possession of stolen property and was awaiting arraignment.
