Williamsburg, NY – Shomrim Patrol Foils Nut Job Getaway

Williamsburg, NY – A local Jewish volunteer civilian patrol foiled the getaway of a man accused of stealing 75 lbs. of almonds on Sunday.

The NEW YORK POST (http://bit.ly/YlioyT) has reported that the Jewish civilian volunteer group, Shomrim Patrol, acting on a tip called into their hotline, caught and detained the man, who allegedly ran off with three boxes of almonds taken from a parked delivery van two hours earlier.

According to the court complaint, Juan Ayala, 35, grabbed three 25 lb. boxes of almonds from the van that was parked on South 8th Street near Bedford Avenue in Williamsburg around 4 p.m. on Sunday.

Unable to maneuver the weighty boxes, Ayala dropped his loot and fled on foot, successfully eluding police who responded to a 911 call from the van driver.

Two hours later, Ayala crashed his 2010 silver Toyota Carrola into an unoccupied, parked van on W ythe Avenue and South 8th Street—a mere two blocks from the crime scene.

A witness to the accident called the hotline for Williamsburg Shomrim Patrol as Ayala attempted to flee the scene.

The patrol held Ayala until police arrived—the same cop who had missed him the first time around.

Ayala, who has a lengthy criminal record, is charged with third-degree burglary, attempted petty larceny, trespassing, and leaving the scene of an accident, and is currently being held at Riker’s Island with bail set at $2,250.