Yamam Captures Palestinian Suspect After Months-Long Vehicle Theft Investigation

Yamam officers arrested a 34-year-old Palestinian man from Tarqumiyah overnight in connection with the case known as "Does Not Stop at Red," after months of efforts to locate him. Police say he is suspected of involvement in car thefts, breaking through checkpoints, fleeing police, and injuring officers and detectives during escape attempts.

According to the police, the investigation in recent months involved sustained intelligence gathering on a series of vehicle thefts, checkpoint breaches and police pursuits. Over roughly the past six months, the suspect accumulated files in the Jerusalem and Judea and Samaria districts for alleged offenses including illegal stay in Israel, vehicle theft, ramming police cars, breaking checkpoints, and injuring police investigators during one of his flights.

The arrest was carried out under intelligence direction from the "Hatz Yehuda" unit in the Judea and Samaria District, together with special district units and later Yamam fighters. Police said investigators tracked his movements and attempts to avoid arrest, collecting information on his travel patterns and behavior.

Late at night, the operation was carried out using special means, including aerial surveillance and tracking his movements in a family vehicle. Yamam officers raided the car and detained the suspect without injuries. He was transferred to investigators from the "Hatz" unit in the Judea sector for questioning, and police said they will seek to extend his detention later today. They added that additional arrests may follow as the investigation continues.