M-16 rifle
Photo: Sebastian Scheiner
Arms robbery cell nabbed
Seven members of cell behind numerous arms robberies arrested by police in months-long operation; police believe cell members tracked soldiers to their houses to steal their arms
Seven residents of Wadi Ara arrested in a complex operation coordinated between the Shin Bet, Israel Police and Military Police are suspected of robbing 60 weapons from soldiers in the Hadera and Zichron Yaacov areas.
Two cell leaders are in police custody while the others have been released under restriction orders.
Police believe members of the cell tracked soldiers returning from duty from the Benyamin train station to their homes in the area and broke into their houses at a later time to steal their weapons.
It remains unclear how many of the 60 arms stolen by the cell have been sold to terror groups, but police believe criminal the cell's clientele included criminal elements.
Half a year ago, 40 arms were stolen from an Israel Defense Forces base in Hatzor. Eight grenade launchers, 32 M-16 riffles were stolen.
An investigation into the incident found that the facility from which the weapons were stolen was unguarded when the robbery took place.
A committee set up to investigate the incident found that the burglary alarm in the facility was old and failed to set off when robbers stormed the place.
