Crime Ring Busted For Stealing Ammunition From IDF Base

Permitted for publication: Six Resident from Beer Sheva and northern Israel were arrested for allegedly stealing 33 firearms from an IDF base.

A joint police and GSS operation led to the arrest of 6 residents from Beer Sheva and the north, on suspicion for stealing 33 firearms-in the M16 assault rifle class- from the Sdei Teman IDF base in the south. The robbery took place last month and was intended for gun trafficking.
Police are expected to request today (Monday), that the 6 remain detained for the time being, since investigators are transferring the incriminating material to the state attorney’s office for the purpose of examining and preparing indictments against those involved in the theft and trafficking of the weapons.

Police put out a statement saying, “This was a complex investigation in a race against time to remove the threat from the innocent”. Hinting that the investigation has more to yield, the statement said, ”There will be further arrests”.

The ring is suspected of breaking into the ammunition depot in the Sdei Teman army base located in the south, on May 26, and stealing 33 firearms. An intense investigation led authorities to discover 11 of the stolen rifles and an additional 3 firearms unrelated to the theft. Authorities also discovered a large stash of drugs and the vehicle used by the ring to carry out their thefts.
The incident is very alarming since it’s not a random theft of a firearm, rather an organized group of individuals who meticulously planned and executed a major theft of ammunition with the intention of reselling the weapons to the highest bidder, even if they are terrorists.
“This is a serious case of the theft of dozens of weapons from within a military base, and the trafficking of weapons on both ends of the country, north and south”.

The investigation revealed that the thieves were working on the base as painters, and at some point, broke into the ammunition depot and made away with the rifles.
The ring worked with detailed plans and had meticulously planned every detail of the theft including where to conceal the stolen goods once they were removed from the base. Within 24 hours the group sold 28 of the rifles, and four days later another 5.

Bechasdei Shomayem the ring was busted before they could continue operating.

Translated by Eli B.

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!