Thief steals wallet stuffed with cash from elderly worshipper inside brooklyn mosque

Thief steals wallet stuffed with cash from elderly worshipper inside Brooklyn mosque

BROOKLYN, NY — A thief made off with hundreds of dollars in cash and a wallet loaded with credit cards after snatching a 66-year-old man’s coat inside a Sheepshead Bay mosque Thursday evening, police said.

The brazen theft happened around 7:40 p.m. at the Islamic center located at 2812 Voorhies Avenue, where the unidentified suspect entered the mosque and grabbed the unattended coat before fleeing in an unknown direction. The victim’s wallet inside the coat contained $700 in cash, six credit cards, and other personal items, officials said.

Thief steals wallet stuffed with cash from elderly worshipper inside brooklyn mosque
Photo: thief steals wallet stuffed with cash from elderly worshipper inside brooklyn mosque

Surveillance images released by the NYPD show the suspect as a man between 35 and 45 years old with a medium complexion, standing about 5 feet 10 inches tall. He was last seen wearing a white shirt, green pants, a dark baseball cap, and a black face mask.

The suspect fled before the victim realized the theft had occurred, police said. No injuries were reported.

Security footage is being reviewed by detectives, and the NYPD has released images of the individual through the Department’s DCPI portal. No arrests have been made, and the investigation remains ongoing.

The mosque remained open following the incident, and congregants were urged to keep personal belongings close during prayer services.


Key Points

  • A 66-year-old man’s coat containing $700 and credit cards was stolen from a Brooklyn mosque
  • The suspect is a male between 35 and 45 years old, last seen in a white shirt and green pants
  • NYPD released surveillance footage and is actively investigating

A worshipper’s prayer was interrupted by a thief who slipped out with his coat, wallet and hundreds in cash inside a Brooklyn mosque.

Shore News Network Staff Report

Shore News Network Staff Report is the official newsroom byline used by Shore News Network when a story is produced through the collaborative work of multiple members of the editorial team rather than a single reporter.

This newsroom account is reserved for articles that involve contributions from multiple journalists, editors, photographers, researchers, or news desk staff. It is also used for developing stories that are updated as new verified information becomes available, as well as for community announcements, weather coverage, public safety alerts, election results, and other newsroom-produced content.

Every article published under the Shore News Network Staff Report byline is reviewed and edited in accordance with the organization's editorial standards for accuracy, fairness, attribution, and transparency. Information is verified through official government agencies, court records, law enforcement, public documents, direct reporting, interviews, and other reliable primary and secondary sources before publication whenever possible.

The Staff Report account does not use artificial intelligence to independently generate news or publish unverified information. AI-assisted tools may occasionally be used for editorial support tasks such as transcription, formatting, grammar review, or workflow efficiency, but all published content is subject to human editorial oversight and approval by Shore News Network's newsroom staff.

As an independently owned digital news organization, Shore News Network is committed to original reporting, public safety journalism, government accountability, local community coverage, and breaking news throughout New Jersey and surrounding regions. Stories published under the Staff Report byline reflect the collective experience and editorial judgment of the Shore News Network newsroom.

Readers who have corrections, additional information, or news tips related to a Staff Report article are encouraged to contact the newsroom at news@shorenewsnetwork.com. Shore News Network welcomes factual corrections and updates as part of its commitment to accurate, transparent journalism.