A recent rash of fires in Forest Hills that have left construction sites charred is getting increased attention from the NYPD, which brought in its Arson Explosion Squad and Major Case Squad to help with the investigation.
Police believe all the fires are connected to the same suspect. Five of the seven targeted properties are owned by Bukharian Jews, yet the NYPD has been hesitant to officially declare the arson pattern a hate crime. Nevertheless, the NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force is also participating in the investigation, NYPD Chief of Detectives Robert Boyd said at a community meeting at the Bukharian Jewish Community Center on Tuesday.
Members of the Bukharian Jewish community in the Cord Meyer area of Forest Hills feel they are being personally targeted because of the crime pattern. On Sunday, community leaders announced at the Bukharian Jewish Community Center that they have pooled together $50,000 as a reward for anyone with information about the suspect.
Each fire occurred within a few blocks of each other, starting with the fire on Oct. 20 at 70-35 113th St. A property owned by Rabbi Zalman Zvulonov, director of the Bukharian Jewish Community Center’s Yeshiva, was targeted twice. Located at 112-35 69th Rd., the site was first hit on Nov. 15 and then set ablaze again on Sunday at 12:18 a.m.
Police released a video on Nov. 27 of a suspicious person dressed in all white pacing around 67th Drive near 110th Street, where a fire was set on Wednesday night around 11:12 p.m. Boyd said identifying the arsonist needs to be a community effort and police are asking people with security cameras to position them outward onto the street in case the suspect is walking near.
“We’re trying to tap into community sources that we need to solve this crime,” Boyce said. “We’re going to solve this crime together.”
According to authorities, the arsonist left a note with various letters and symbols one block away from 108-47 67 Dr., where he set a fire. According to a spokesperson for the NYPD, the note “turned out to be a fruitless clue.”
A Courier reporter noticed on Tuesday several police cars patrolling at least three of the arson sites and a command post at 112th Street and 68th Avenue.
“I lay in my bed at night and hear those fire engines going past my house and I say, ‘Oh no, not another one,’” Councilwoman Karen Koslowitz said at the meeting today. “We have to catch the person that’s creating these fires.”
Police on Tuesday released a video of the person of interest walking eastbound on 69 Road in the vicinity of 112 Street and the Grand Central Parkway on Dec. 6 at 12:10 a.m.
Anyone with information regarding the arson pattern is urged to call Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS, visit their website or send a text message to 274637 (CRIMES), then enter TIP577. All calls and messages are kept confidential.
Persons who witness trespassers or others taking part in suspicious activity at a location should call 911 immediately.
