MONSEY - Six Hasidim Busted For Carjacking

MONSEY — Six young men accused of robbing a man of his minivan early Thursday, apparently to kill time and ride around Ramapo, have been arrested, police said.

The robbery occurred at 1 a.m. at the Wald Pavillion strip mall on Route 59, just east of College Road, Detective Lt. Mark Emma said.

Before the robbery, five of the men drove to Brooklyn with the 35-year-old minivan owner and when they came back to Ramapo, they decided to meet a sixth man, Lazer Feuerwerker, 20, of Monsey at the strip mall, police said. They were accued of pushing the driver against a wall and grabbing his key and trying to take his cellphone, Emma said.

His keys were ripped from his belt clip, Emma said. “They then drove off. They apparently wanted to take a joyride.”

The minivan owner called the police. He also called one of the men, whose cellphone number he had, Emma said, but they refused to give back the minivan.

Officers found five of the six men at 2:30 a.m. near the strip mall at 245 Route 59, across from Walmart and down the road from the Police Department, Emma said.

The sixth man, Feuerwerker, had gone home, where the police arrested him, Emma said.

“This was not your classic robbery and carjacking,” Emma said. “But it was a strong-armed robbery. Even though two made physical contact with the victim, they all were responsible for robbing the van.”

All six young men were arraigned before Airmont Justice Daniel Goldman.

Abraham Cy Stern, 17, Monroe, Orange County, was charged with two counts each of second-degree robbery, third-degree unauthorized use of a vehicle, and second-degree harassment. Stern also was charged with fifth-degree criminal possession of stolen property. He was being held on $15,000 bail.

Feuerwerker was charged with two counts each of second-degree robbery, third-degree unauthorized use of a vehicle and second-degree harassment. He was being held on $15,000 bail.

Charged with two counts of second-degree robbery and third-degree unauthorized use of a vehicle were Moshe Feuerstein and Isaac Landau, both 18 and from Monroe, Moshe Meir Weiss, 18, of Spring Valley and Pinchas Braver, 17, of Brooklyn.

Each was released after posting $5,000 bail.

Steve Lieberman • Journal News