Jerusalem Police Under Fire After Suspects Released With Stolen Copper

Border Police officers apprehended three suspects in Jerusalem as they were loading copper coils valued at approximately 100,000 euros onto a van. The suspects were taken to the Sheft police station but were subsequently released along with the vehicle and the stolen goods. The following day, the suspects were arrested again, but the copper coils were no longer found. The incident occurred after the suspects allegedly broke into a logistics center in Atarot and began loading the copper coils, intended for the light rail project, onto a van. Border Police officers intercepted them during the act. According to a report by Liran Levi, head of the criminal affairs desk for Channel 16, there was no duty investigator at the station at the time. The investigating officer, informed by phone, reportedly ordered the release of the suspects, the van, and the copper. The next day, police operated in Judea and Samaria and rearrested the three individuals. However, by this point, the copper coils had disappeared. The police confirmed most details of the event but disputed the claim of no duty investigator, stating an investigator was present and the suspects were questioned before their release. The police did not provide a reason for the initial release of the suspects, the van, and the copper.