IDF colonel filmed stealing game console
Modiin store owner amazed to see senior officer rob device on security cameras. Army launches investigation into incident
The incident, exposed by Israel Radio reporter Carmela Menashe, took place about two weeks ago. Apparently, the IDF colonel came to the store about a matter regarding a different product. After he had left, the store owner was surprised to discover that a console had disappeared.
"The officer came to collect his own console which he had bought in the US and had left with me for repair," Ben Nun said to Ynet. "After I had checked it and realized that I couldn't repair it, I called him and told him to come and get it.
"That day he took advantage of a weak point. He sent the salesperson, a young man whom I've employed for a while, to look for the console in the workshop. But then, when he recognized his console on the counter, in a moment of absentmindedness he took it without telling anyone and a few moments later he took another console that was on display."
However, at that moment, unfortunately for the suspect, Ben Nun was talking on the phone with another customer then in the store who was also a senior officer. "I told the officer that he could take the console on display. A few seconds later, while we were still talking on the phone, he said to me, amazed, 'Yossi, the console has disappeared. It was here a moment ago'."
Apology, denial and investigation
A stunned Ben Nun sent the salesperson to check the security cameras which had clearly filmed the officer putting his own console into a bag together with the console on display. "He even came back empty-handed later, after putting the bag into his car," Ben Nun said.
Ben Nun later confronted the officer during a recorded conversation in which he threatened that if the officer failed to return the console he would turn to the criminal investigation division. The officer admitted to the theft and expressed his remorse, and later returned the console together with a letter.
"I know how to admit to my mistakes and to pay the price, and I'm willing to go a long way to clear my name," the officer wrote in the letter. "I went too far, sometimes I simply lose my senses. That's why I'm just an old colonel."
As a result of the incident, the suspect was called for investigation by his superior officers, but denied any involvement in the theft and even claimed that the store owner was trying to cheat him. After the incident was reported Tuesday morning, the IDF launched an investigation into the affair.
