Security cameras at a business in Kiryat Gat recorded a brazen jewelry theft worth tens of thousands of shekels, after a man allegedly took advantage of a moment of inattention by staff. Police said the suspect, a man from Ashdod in his 50s, was later charged following a rapid investigation.
According to the indictment, the suspect entered the store in the industrial zone in late May pretending to be a customer. At the time, a worker was seated behind the counter and another customer was also inside. While the seller was near the back wall arranging jewelry and briefly turned away, the suspect stood by the sales area, looked around, reached quickly over the glass barrier, grabbed a tray loaded with valuable jewelry, and fled before anyone noticed.
After the theft was reported, investigators from the Kiryat Gat police station launched an intensive probe. They collected evidence from the scene, took detailed statements from employees, and used investigative methods and technology to reconstruct the suspect’s escape route. Their efforts quickly led to identifying and arresting him, while building a strong evidentiary case.
At the end of the investigation, the Lakish District criminal prosecution unit filed an indictment with the Ashkelon Magistrate’s Court. The charges include theft and using a vehicle to commit an offense, after it emerged that he used a car both to reach the store and to escape with the loot. Kiryat Gat police commander Chief Superintendent Shai Alali said officers acted decisively and professionally from the moment they received the report, and that police will continue working against property crime to protect residents and business owners.
