In order to commend acts of bravery and righteousness, The Confucius Building Board of Directors held an award ceremony on Tuesday (July 9th) to honor Rafael Ayala, the manager of the building’s maintenance department, for his courageous pursuit and successful capture of a robber last month. Ayala bravely chased and apprehended the thief during a robbery incident, handing him over to the police.
Chairman of the Confucius Building, Mei Nuosheng, stated that Ayala’s immediate response to the robbery exemplifies true heroism and deserves recognition and commendation. Therefore, the Board of Directors awarded Ayala with a certificate of commendation and a $300 cash prize.
Vice Chairman of the Confucius Building, Yu Jinshan, who was present with Ayala during the pursuit of the robber, mentioned that Ayala fearlessly chased after the thief without hesitation. Yu described the situation as extremely perilous but fortunately, they managed to apprehend the criminal and return the stolen $3,000 to the victim. Ayala’s efforts were instrumental in the success of the operation.
On June 25th, a robbery incident occurred in Chinatown, where a couple named Chen was selling kitchenware on Forsyth Street. During the incident, a robber snatched a wallet containing $3,000 in cash from Mrs. Chen and fled the scene while she was arranging goods.
Yu Jinshan, who was discussing tree planting with Ayala at that time, noticed a young African American man running frantically with Chinese individuals shouting “robbery” behind him. Ayala and Yu promptly joined the pursuit. In collaboration with others, they cornered the thief until the police arrived to handle the situation.
During the award presentation, Vice Chairman of the Confucius Building, Lu Yuanlong, emphasized that improving public safety is a responsibility that rests upon everyone. He expressed the importance of collective efforts to enhance security in Chinatown and hoped for more individuals like Ayala to contribute to a safer New York City.
Following the pandemic, there has been a surge in home invasions and petty theft incidents in New York City. Yu Jinshan, who has been serving Chinatown for a long time, mentioned in an interview with Dajiyuan that while this was not the first time the Chinese community has been targeted for robbery, acts of bravery from passersby help deter criminals and minimize losses.
He cited an incident from last year on Canal Street in Chinatown, where two Hispanic janitors courageously fought off a robbery attempt by a criminal carrying a firearm. Yu Jinshan emphasized that not everyone can display such bravery in the face of danger, but The Confucius Building has always encouraged and rewarded righteous actions.
Moreover, he stressed that standing up against crime doesn’t always require direct confrontation, and individuals should assess the situation and act accordingly. Timely reporting to the authorities can also effectively prevent criminal activities.