Crown stolen from Hollywood synagogue

Police arrested a man who they said stole a crown from a Hollywood synagogue and sold it to a North Miami precious metals store.

On June 15, a silver crown was reported stolen in a burglary at Chabad by the Ocean.

"We realized it's a break-in, so right away, we went to look," said Rabbi Dovid Kudan.

Kudan said the crown was missing. To make things more difficult for them, it was dedicated to a member of the congregation who had recently passed away, Mrs. Blanche Fisch. Fisch's name was on the crown.

"That was hard in itself. She was always the first one in the synagogue. A beloved member," said Kudan.

Months passed before police arrested Alexander Gesin on Thursday.

Gesin, 44, admitted to selling the crown to the metals store for $600, said detectives. The store owner, who is Jewish, was suspicious and showed the crown to a North Miami police officer.

"So they began to do some research to find out where the crown was from," said Kudan. "What were we gonna do, what were they gonna find? We didn't have our name on it."

Kudan said Fisch's legacy helped lead police to the synagogue.

"Perhaps she helped return her crown," he added.

Gesin also had another silver Torah dressing in his possession at the time of his arrest, said detectives.