The stolen menorah has been replaced by representatives from Chabad Lubavitch. The new, near 10-foot menorah was installed this afternoon and a previously scheduled lighting ceremony will go on as planned at 6 p.m. at library point.
The original six-foot, aluminum menorah was stolen by unknown suspects, according to Haddonfield Police Chief John Banning, sometime between Tuesday, Dec. 20 and Wednesday, Dec. 21. The menorah was part of a display erected by Chabad Lubavitch in front of the Haddonfield holiday tree.
Banning said the theft was possibly in connection with the rash of metal thefts in Haddonfield in the past few months, but he said the police department is not ruling out a hate crime.
The menorah was anchored down to the ground by several large screws, Banning said, but more so to keep it from blowing away in the wind than to deter a theft.
Since there was not a surveillance system nearby, Banning said the best chance the department has of recovering the menorah is if a report comes in from a metal yard or someone from the public has information regarding the theft.
