Man Who Caught Car Burglar Now Faces Assault Charges

A business owner from northern Israel, identified only as Y', is facing assault charges after apprehending a man attempting to break into his car. The incident occurred late at night near Tiberias when Y' heard a loud noise and discovered the suspect inside his vehicle. Armed with a screwdriver, Y' subdued the intruder and called the police.

Responding officers arrested the suspect, who claimed to be mentally ill and admitted to the break-in, stating he was only looking for a cigarette. Security footage confirmed the attempted burglary. However, the situation took an unexpected turn when the alleged burglar accused Y' of assault, despite not sustaining any injuries.

Despite the lack of evidence for the assault claim, police investigated Y' and subsequently filed charges against him for threats and assault. Y' expressed his distress, stating that he and his family are ordinary citizens and that the legal proceedings have disrupted their lives. He feels unjustly targeted by the state, saying, "It's not the burglar suing me, it's the State of Israel against me."

Y's lawyer, Moti Melnik of the Public Defense, emphasized his client's clean record and cooperation with authorities, highlighting that Y' was merely trying to protect his property. The police, however, issued a statement asserting that suspicion of a property crime does not permit violence against a suspect. They claim evidence suggests Y' threatened and assaulted the burglar twice, leading to the indictment against him, while separate charges were filed against the burglar for his actions.