Metro Detroit Man's Israeli Flag Vandalized, Stolen 4 Times: Police

ST. CLAIR SHORES, MI — A St. Clair Shores man's Israeli flag has been vandalized and stolen from the front porch of his home four times over the past few weeks, according to police.

Surveillance cameras captured a white Jeep, possibly a Patriot, pulling up to the home near Greater Mack and Grossedale in St. Clair Shores at 9:47 p.m. on March 2, according to police.

Moments later, a person jumped out of the passenger Jeep and ran straight toward the Israeli flag and tried to rip it down from the flagpole, according to police.

After failing to pull the Israeli flag down, the person, who was wearing a light hoodie, light pants, black and white sandals and a dark face mask, ran back to the Jeep, according to police.

They returned five minutes later and again tried to pull the entire flagpole from the structure, before fleeing, according to police.

While police reported the incident as vandalism and larceny, the homeowner, Michael Krebs, a Jewish man with Israeli heritage, told Fox 2 Detroit the multiple incidents are a hate crime.

Krebs also said he had an Israeli flag stolen from the porch of his house in February, but that one wasn't captured on camera.

"I have an American flag next to an Israeli flag — they're taking the Israeli flag and for some reason that's bugging them," Krebs told the news station.

Last Saturday, March 9, the suspects in the white Jeep returned to the home, this time with scissors and cut the flag from the flagpole and took it, according to police.

The suspected thief was wearing a light hooded sweatshirt with a graphic, light pants, black and white shoes and a white face mask, according to police.

"It’s pure hatred, it’s the only way I can put it," he told WXYZ. "I’m never gonna stop. They can take as many as they want and I’ll just keep putting them right back up."

Anyone with information about the incidents or the white Jeep and its suspects was asked to contact the St. Clair Shores Police Department at (586) 445-4307.