Camera Towers Installed Near Kosher Markets In Pikesville Following Jersey City Attack

BALTIMORE, MD. (VINnews) — In the wake of Tuesday’s shooting rampage in Jersey City which targeted the local Jewish community, other communities are asking for more safety precautions to be placed in overtly Jewish establishments.  Baltimore County Police have placed camera towers at two kosher markets in Pikesville at the instigation of County representative Izzy Patoka.

Patoka e-mailed residents Thursday and told them that he had partnered with the Pikesville police precinct and Baltimore City Councilman Isaac “Yitzy” Schleifer to have camera towers placed at the Market Maven and Seven Mile Market in order to monitor for “any suspicious activity” and to ensure the safety of the employees and customers at both stores.

Patoka stressed in his e-mail that the towers were being placed “out of an abundance of caution” after the murderous attack in Jersey City took the lives of four civilians including two Jews.

“Now more than ever, we must be committed and unified in the fight to eliminate antisemitism, bigotry and hate from our society,” Patoka said

Patoka in his email also mentioned that the “horrific and reprehensible crime of hate” in Jersey City marks the third time within the past 14 months a Jewish establishment has been the target of a “deadly antisemitic attack” in the nation. Patoka praised the county police department for their “proactive response.”

“No person should have to fear for their life at the grocery store, school, work, place of worship or anywhere in between,” he said.