OU TorahAll MishnahAll HalachaAll ParshaAll Daf
#416: Burglary - Alerting Authorities

1. One who sees a burglar breaking into a house may call the police, even if it belongs to someone else or is empty. If there is no concern the burglar will endanger human life, such as if he is seen attacking an empty store on Shabbat, according to some poskim it is forbidden to call the police, even if one will lose money as a result (Shemirat Shabbat K'hilchatah 41:24-26). Others suggest that in the modern world, it is always permitted to call the police, since unpunished crimes may lead to endangering lives in the future (Peninei Halacha 27:16).

2. One who will likely suffer a major monetary loss due to a theft or the like may ask a non-Jew to call the police on Shabbat. If one has information about a crime committed that may help lead to the apprehension of the criminal, one should ask a non-Jew to call the police (R. Moshe Heinemann, cited at https://baltimorejewishlife.com/pdfs/Guide%20to%20Calling%20the%20Police%20on%20Shabbos%20and%20Yom%20Tov%20-%20community.pdf). In Israel, the issue is more complicated since non-Jews are not always available, and is beyond the scope of this forum.

To sign up for the daily halacha via WhatsApp or email, click here.

Dedicated by Fran Broder as a zechus for everlasting peace in Eretz Yisrael in the merit of learning Hilchos Shabbos.

PreviousNext