A cold-hearted crook wielding a crowbar stole $1,500 from a Queens mosque after cracking open a donation box and breaking into an office, cops said Friday.
The masked man snuck into the Islamic Center of Bosnia and Herzegovina on Crescent St. near 38th Ave. in Long Island City about 9 p.m. Wednesday, cops said.
He used the crowbar to pry open a donation box holding $500. The suspect then broke into an office near the entrance and snatched $1,000 and a checkbook, cops said.
“I don’t know anybody who (would) do this in a house of worship,” said the mosque’s 42-year-old caretaker who identified himself as Senad.
Senad said he noticed something amiss when he arrived at the mosque early Thursday and spotted the dinged-up donation box just outside the main prayer area.
“Obviously something was wrong,” he said.
A surveillance camera captured the blasphemous burglar working to open the metal container, an effort that took at least 15 minutes.
“He had the time,” said Senad.
Cops released a snippet of surveillance footage showing the thief — clad in all white and wearing gloves, a hoodie and mask — carrying a backpack inside the mosque.
He entered through a side door, cops said.
“What kind of people would do this?” said a 53-year-old man who stopped by the mosque Friday afternoon.
“I’m so sad. I lived here since ’85. Nothing has ever happened like this.”
The burglary echoed one that took place two days earlier at a nearby mosque.
A still at-large suspect made off with $7,000 after forcing open two donation boxes and an office door at the Islamic Unity Cultural Center on 12th St. in Astoria.
Siraj Abdurrafi, who worships in Long Island City, said mosques present easy targets for burglars because their doors remain open for most of the day.
“I hear about that thing happening a lot,” said Adburrafi.
“In lot of places, people keep the door open. For the most part any mosque is open to the public. That kind of thing can happen,” he said.
Abdurrafi emphasized that despite the threat of someone taking advantage of the open-door policy, he doesn’t think it should change.
“It’s good that mosques are open like that,” he said. “A lot of people, like me, come outside of schedule. The community is welcome to pray anytime.”
As word of the Thursday burglary spread, several congregants seeking to avoid media attention stayed away from afternoon services.
Only about 10 men showed up for early evening prayers.
Imam Idri Budimlic declined comment, referring reporters to Senad.
“They see police detectives and press. They are scared,” Senad said gesturing toward the small crowd of worshippers.
Anyone with information about the burglaries is asked to call CrimeStoppers at (800) 577-TIPS.
Tags: religion charities long island city Send a Letter to the Editor Join the Conversation: facebook Tweet
