Please Be Aware
An individual has been charged with the theft of multiple “We Stand with Israel” street signs in Squirrel Hill. He was caught on home surveillance cameras on the evening of May 13 driving up to specific homes in a white pick-up truck, walking up to the home, stealing the sign and placing it in the back of his truck and driving off.
The individual arrested for Ethnic Intimidation related to stolen/desecrated Israeli flags is now being investigated by the City Controller for possible inappropriate payments. See article below for more information.
Intelligence agencies have noted an increased potential for Foreign Terrorist Organization-Inspired violence against LGBTQIA+ communities in the US during Pride Month which occurs in June. At this time, we have no information that ties any threat activity to the Pittsburgh area.
With the uptick in graffiti, stolen yard signs, and antisemitic activity, please consider joining the Jewish Federation’s Virtual Block Watch Program, a volunteer network that can be called upon to provide residential or business video surveillance footage to help prevent, deter and possibly solve crimes. The program is entirely voluntary and is designed to keep our community safe through collaboration. More information visit jewishpgh.org/info/virtual-block-watch.
Year to date in 2024, the Jewish Federation has logged 120 incidents in our Virtual Command Center. This compares to 41 for the same period in 2023. We remain in a heightened threat environment and are working closely with law enforcement to monitor potential threat activity. Please continue to report any suspicious incidents to us using the Incident Report form.
Security Matters in the News This Week
- Pittsburgh controller raises questions about $18,000 payment to former city employee (cbsnews.com)
- Univ. of Delaware student banned from campus, charged after vandalizing Holocaust memorial (nbcphiladelphia.com)
- Security is a necessity, not luxury, Jewish security experts say at ‘Tree of Life’ screening (deseret.com)
- Paris memorial for people who saved Jews during Holocaust vandalized (timesofisrael.com)
BluePoint Status
Please review your current contact lists in BluePoint. If changes are needed, please contact Erin Fagan at efagan@jfedpgh.org.
Our BluePoint training video and refresher video are available on YouTube. These are useful for new staff or as a reminder for existing staff.
Security Resources and/or Training
Guardian Training
Please contact Erin Fagan at efagan@jfedpgh.org or 412-992-5252 to schedule this training.
Situational Awareness, Active Threat, and De-Escalation Training
If you or your organization have not yet had these training modules, please contact Erin Fagan at efagan@jfedpgh.org or 412-992-5252. All can be made available in person or via Zoom.
Request Training for Your Organization →
If you need more Emergency Safety Procedures Flip Charts contact Erin Fagan at efagan@jfedpgh.org or 412-992-5252.
