USC Chabad House vandalized overnight in incident caught on video
LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- The USC Chabad House was vandalized in an overnight incident that was captured on surveillance video.
"Two thugs just smashed the glass on our front door and ran off," Chabad of USC wrote in the caption of a video posted late Tuesday night on Instagram. "Hoping @uscedu DPS can track them," the statement said, referring to the university's Department of Public Safety. "Our world keeps getting crazier! Thank G-d none of the kids were near the door and we are all safe. Have to figure out something to secure the front door until we can get this fixed."
Video shows four people biking down Severance Street and stopping at the Jewish student center, which was clearly labeled with banners.
Two people get off and quickly run up to the front door. Once the damage is done, they get back on their bikes and ride off.
No injuries were reported.
"They ride up, see the house, one comes towards it and then goes back to the street and another one comes with him to kick the window in," the caption of a second video said, describing the actions of the perpetrators.
The suspects remained at large. Contacted by ABC7 early Wednesday morning, a Los Angeles Police Department spokesperson said the agency was not aware of the incident.
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"The Rohr Chabad Jewish Center at USC offers students and families the opportunity to stay connected to Jewish life throughout the year," according to its website. "Run by Rabbi Dov and Runya Wagner, the center provides Jewish students a supportive and nurturing 'home away from home.'"
Rabbi Dov Wagner said he and his family were steps away from the door while in a learning session with USC alumni when the incident happened.
"It's been the most difficult year for Jewish students on campus that I've experienced in our 25 years here," he said. "Having this kind of attack really takes away that sense of security. That sense of the safe space it's supposed to be."
A report was filed with campus security.
Eyewitness News reached out to the university, but it declined to comment.
