Jewish Federation: “No indications of antisemitic motivations” in Pico Kosher Burglaries

A string of burglaries occurred at several kosher restaurants in the Pico-Robertson area over the weekend. A Los Angeles Police Department spokesperson told the Journal that they received five reports of burglaries in that area but couldn’t provide any information on the specific restaurants at this time.

However, ABC7 reported that the burglaries occurred in the 9300-9400 block on West Pico Boulevard on Saturday morning and that the burglars broke the restaurants’ windows and stole some cash registers. ABC7 identified the burglarized restaurants as Fisherman’s Bowl, Nagila Pizza, Shalom Grill, Shanghai Diamond Garden and Sushiko.

The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles said in a statement that “there are no indications of antisemitic motivations,” adding in an Instagram post that “according to law enforcement, non-kosher businesses were vandalized” as well.

Here is the full statement:

“We are aware of the vandalism and robberies involving the smashing of windows in multiple popular kosher eateries and other locations in the Beverlywood area. Our Community Security Initiative (CSI) team is working closely with [the Los Angeles Police Department] to determine if there are any additional motives. However, at this time, according to our law enforcement partners, there are no indications of antisemitic motivations. We will continue to remain vigilant and monitor the situation to inform the community, should new developments arise.”

 

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Law enforcement told ABC7 that the suspects were “men wearing dark clothing” and that it is unknown how many burglars were involved. An LAPD spokesperson told the Journal that one of the reported instances of burglaries involved three men but it is unclear if those three were involved in any of the other instances.

This is a developing story.

UPDATE 1: Anti-Defamation League Los Angeles Regional Director Jeffrey I. Abrams said in a statement to the Journal, “Reflecting the strength of our new Southern California Jewish Security Alliance, we are working with our partner at the Jewish Federation’s Community Security Initiative regarding the string of burglaries of businesses in the Pico Robertson neighborhood this weekend. We thank [the] LAPD for investigating these crimes. ​While both Jewish and non-Jewish businesses were vandalized, and there is apparently no evidence at this time of overt antisemitism or a hate crime, this once again has stirred fear among the Orthodox Jewish community which was shaken earlier this year by the shootings of two visibly Jewish men.”​ He added: “The recently unveiled mural of solidarity in the neighborhood where these crimes occurred reminds us of the unity and strength of LA’s Jewish community and that we must remain resilient – particularly as we enter the High Holidays.”

Los Angeles City Councilwoman Katy Yaroslavsky also said in a statement, “My office has been in touch with the Los Angeles Police Department, and while we have not seen evidence to suggest these incidents are connected to hate crimes, we are taking the situation very seriously. My staff has also visited the affected businesses to offer support. More information will be provided as the investigation continues.”

An LAPD spokesperson told the Journal that there is currently no indication that the burglaries were hate crimes.

UPDATE 2: Ronit Feispor, owner of Sushiko, told the Journal in a phone interview that both the inside of the restaurant and the restaurant’s windows were damaged from the burglary. Feispor said that the burglars “broke the closet and played around with the register” as well as “opened up all my file cabinets.” She added that there was close to $6,000 in total damages to the restaurant.

“Quite sad what has happened, but it is what it is,” Feispor said. “Thank God no one was inside.”

Regarding reports from law enforcement that the burglaries were not hate crimes, Feispor said that the burglars “definitely knew we were Jewish and definitely knew we were closed” and argued that, despite reports to the contrary, only kosher restaurants were targeted in the burglaries. Ultimately though, she couldn’t say for sure what the burglars’ intentions were. “Who knows what they wanted,” Feispor said.

UPDATE 3: Both Ynet News and The Forward reported that a non-kosher restaurant on Robertson Boulevard  was burglarized over the weekend about a half mile away from the burglaries on West Pico Boulevard. An LAPD spokesperson told the Journal that police did receive a report of a burglary at a business on the 1500 block of South Robertson Boulevard at 4:10 p.m. on August 19, but there is no current information connecting the reported burglary on South Robertson Boulevard to the five burglaries on West Pico Boulevard earlier that day.

UPDATE 4: Kai Kan, a manager at Shanghai Diamond Garden, told the Journal in a phone interview that the burglars caused about $3,000 worth of damage to the restaurant’s front door and that nothing was taken. Kan told the Journal that he did not think the burglary was a hate crime.