Suspect sought for urinating on synagogue in Northeast Philadelphia
NORTHEAST PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Police are searching for a man who they say urinated on a synagogue in Northeast Philadelphia.
It happened at 12:30 a.m. Sunday at the Congregation Beth Solomon, located at 198 Tomlinson Road.
Surveillance cameras captured the man as he approached the front doors, gave an obscene hand gesture in the direction of the camera, then began to urinate on the walls and sidewalk directly in front of the doors of the synagogue.
The man then entered the passenger seat of a white four door sedan and left the area.
The suspect is described as being approximately 20 years old, thin build, light complexion, short beard, black hair, wearing a white shirt, and jeans.
Philadelphia Police Lt. Dennis Rosenbaum says this is something the department isn't going to stand for. They believe this was an anti-Semitic attack.
"We believe the synagogue was targeted," Rosenbaum said.
Neighbors are upset and disgusted.
"That's horrible. That's a disgrace, to do that to a synagogue, to do that to anything, a place of business, a home, a synagogue, a mosque, a church. I think that's horrible," neighbor Jan Chanin said.
"To do something like that there's just no good reason for it," neighbor Jim Zakrzewski said
Chanin, who lives just a few homes down from the synagogue, fears with the violence over the weekend in Charlottesville, Virginia along with this vandalism, a trend is starting to form.
"I've been upset, outraged, sick to my stomach since Saturday watching everything that happened," Chanin said.
This congregation has fallen victim to several attacks lately.
Their cameras have been shot out with paintballs, their camera feeds have been cut, and their menorah has been stolen.
If you have any information about the suspect's identity and/or whereabouts, you can submit a tip anonymously by dialing 215-686-TIPS (8477) or text a tip to PPD TIP or 773847.
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