Dim Amor

As the State of Israel confronts missile attacks from Lebanon and Iran, and a persistent sense of tension is felt among the public, several property-related incidents have been recorded in recent days in which, according to suspicions, offenders exploited the sensitive security situation to carry out break-ins, thefts, and threats.

According to official statements released by the Israel Police Spokesperson on March 2 and March 3, 2026, several suspects were arrested in connection with a series of criminal incidents that occurred during the days of fighting and air-raid sirens. Police note that the investigations are ongoing and that possible links to additional incidents are being examined.

Break-ins at Businesses in Central Tel Aviv During the Sirens

In a police statement dated March 2, 2026, it was reported that during the night three residents of Judea and Samaria were arrested in a hideout apartment in the city of Bat Yam, on suspicion that they had broken into businesses in central Tel Aviv under the cover of the sirens.

According to the police statement, on the night following the last Saturday evening, with the start of Operation “Roar of the Lion,” three separate reports were received overnight regarding break-ins at businesses and the theft of property. Among the incidents reported was the theft of cash registers containing money from food and hospitality establishments in the city center.

Following the reports, officers from the Lev Tel Aviv police station in the Yarkon district opened an investigation in cooperation with forensic investigators. The preliminary investigation raised suspicion that those involved were residents of Judea and Samaria staying in Israel without legal permits.

During subsequent operational activity, and in cooperation with officers from the Bat Yam police station, the three suspects were located in a hideout apartment in the city. According to the police statement, the three are residents of Qabalan. They were arrested and transferred for questioning together with findings that allegedly link them to the break-in incidents.

Police added that during their interrogation investigators are also examining a possible connection between the suspects and additional property crimes that occurred in recent days.

Another Incident in Jerusalem: Threats Against a Taxi Driver with a Replica Gun

A day later, on March 3, 2026, the police spokesperson published another statement regarding a criminal incident that occurred in Jerusalem.

According to the statement, officers from the Jerusalem District Police arrested two suspects who allegedly stole merchandise from a business in the city and later used a taxi driver to transport it, threatening him with what was later found to be a replica handgun.

The incident began after police received a report from a taxi driver who was threatened during a ride in Jerusalem by two passengers. According to the report, the suspects threatened him with a handgun during the journey.

Following the report, officers from the Lev HaBira police station launched extensive searches in the area and established roadblocks. During the operation, the vehicle in which the suspects were traveling was identified.

Police carried out an operational interception of the vehicle, forced it to stop, and arrested the two suspects. According to the police statement, the suspects are residents of Ashkelon and East Jerusalem, aged 26 and 46.

A search of the vehicle led to the seizure of a replica handgun allegedly used to threaten the driver, as well as property suspected to have been stolen.

A preliminary investigation raised the suspicion that the two men had stolen merchandise from a nearby business and subsequently approached a taxi in the area. According to suspicions, they threatened the driver while cocking the replica weapon in order to intimidate him and force him to transport them along with the stolen goods.

Police added that an initial check revealed that one of the suspects is listed as a wanted person under an arrest warrant for recent burglary and theft offenses.

Property Crime During Emergencies: A Known Phenomenon in Conflict Zones

Law enforcement officials note that the phenomenon of property crime during periods of emergency is not unique to Israel. During times of war or security crises, a window of opportunity may sometimes arise for offenders seeking to exploit stressful conditions, air-raid sirens, or abandoned homes and businesses.

Similar cases have been documented in other parts of the world. During the war in Ukraine between 2022 and 2026, following the Russian invasion, reports repeatedly emerged of looting and break-ins into homes while residents had left their residences due to sirens and shelling.

In some cases, as reported at the time in international media, local residents who caught suspected looters tied them to poles in public spaces as an act of public humiliation. Such incidents drew international criticism due to their violent nature, although some members of the local public presented them as a deterrent measure.

Photo: Israel Police Spokesperson – used in accordance with Section 27A of the Copyright Law.