BROOKLYN — A thief brazenly pilfered the pockets of coats hanging on racks inside a Midwood synagogue, stealing an iPod and five tefillin as people passed him by on Friday afternoon, NYPD officials said.
The pickpocket, who can be seen in police video, rode up on a bicycle to the Congregation Verezky Synagogue at 814 Ave. L, near East Eighth Street, about 12:30 p.m. and started searching through the coats, police said.
Video shows the man reaching into pockets as people walk past him, apparently unaware that he was stealing.
He made off with three cellphones and an iPod, police said.
The thief also stole five tefillin, the black leather boxes with leather straps that Jewish men wear during prayer, an NYPD spokesman said.
The suspect, who is about 5 feet 7 inches, fled on his bike and hadn't been arrested as of Thursday morning, police said.
Anyone with information should contact Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS (8477).
