A crew of thirsty revelers broke into the basement of a Queens synagogue and went on a drinking binge inside — with one raising a cup of booze to a surveillance camera that recorded their impromptu party, police said Friday.
Cops have arrested three of the illicit synagogue celebrants and were looking for the fourth, police said.
The suspects were already inside Yeshiva Hashevaynu, on 72nd Drive near 147th St. in Kew Gardens Hills, at about 3 p.m. on Dec. 7 when the rabbi asked them to leave, according to court documents.
But instead of leaving, the quartet used a coat hanger to unlock the basement’s door and went downstairs, where food and some alcohol were stored.
The foursome popped open two bottles of liquor, which they drank in plastic cups, and ate some food, cops were told.
After they left, the rabbi shared surveillance footage of the mini-party with cops at the 107th Precinct, who identified and rounded up suspects Abokhay Badalov and Khanan Khavasov, both 25, within a week.
Khavasov was identified as the one who used the hanger to pick the lock and toasted the surveillance camera, prosecutors said.
“The surveillance footage depicts [Khavasov] holding a hanger in his hand and walking up to the security camera in the above-mentioned basement and raising a shot glass containing what appears to be an alcoholic beverage to said camera,” the complaint reads.
Khavasov admitted to eating the food and drinking the liquor, but didn’t realize he had done anything wrong, he told police, according to court documents.
“Yes, we took the food and alcohol, but I did not think that was a crime because it is donated to the synagogue by the community,” he told police, according to the criminal complaint.
A third suspect, 19-year-old Michael Isakov, was arrested on Jan. 15, cops said.
All three were charged with burglary, petit larceny and criminal trespass. They were released after their arraignment since none of the charges they’re facing are bail eligible.
A judge ordered them to stay away from the synagogue for the foreseeable future, officials said.
No injuries were reported and nothing outside of the food and drink that was consumed was taken, cops said.
The fourth suspect remains at large. Anyone with information regarding his whereabouts is urged to call NYPD Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential.