Masked burglars broke into the Chernobyl beis medrash on Chavakuk Street in Bnei Brak over Shabbos and stole silver keilim used by the Rebbe Shlita at his tish, in the latest incident in a recent wave of break-ins hitting the city.

The thieves timed the burglary to coincide with the Rebbe’s absence — he had traveled to Yerushalayim for a Shabbos event dubbed “Lev Yerushalayim,” attended by roughly 100 Chernobyler chassidim, which included a fundraising campaign for a new beis medrash being built in the capital. The burglars broke into the room housing the safe and made off with the silver keilim inside, leaving behind silver-plated items — a detail that suggested prior knowledge of which pieces were genuine silver.

The thieves arrived wearing masks and used a special spray to prevent leaving fingerprints. The chassidus estimates the loss at tens of thousands of shekels. A police complaint was filed and detectives visited the scene Wednesday to collect testimony.