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Williamsburg Real Estate Developer Believed Kidnapped By Men In Van
By
Rebecca Fishbein
Published Jan 3, 2014
Modified Jan 5, 2014
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By
Rebecca Fishbein
Published Jan 3, 2014
Modified Jan 5, 2014
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A Williamsburg real estate developer was allegedly kidnapped last night outside his office; surveillance video reportedly shows him being forced into a van with two individuals shortly before midnight.
The man, who has been identified as 39-year-old Menachem Stark of South Williamsburg, was last seen at around 11:45 p.m. Thursday night. Police say surveillance video shows him being escorted into a white van with two men outside Stark's office at 331 Rutledge Street near Broadway; the NYPD does not know whether Stark entered the car willingly, and the Post reports that Stark was duct-taped by the men before they dragged him into the car.
When Stark did not return home from work, his wife initially called the Shomrim, the Orthodox Jewish patrol; the NYPD tells us they were not notified until 2:30 a.m. His family has since offered a $100,000 reward for his safe return. According to Yelp, Stark ran a number of real estate management companies in the area, and blog FailedMessiah referred to him as a "Satmar Slumlord," reporting that he owns a number of buildings that are currently in foreclosure.
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