Undercover Police Chase Ends With Arrest of Suspected Phone Thief at Azrieli Mall

Israeli police arrested a Palestinian man from Dahariya on Thursday night after a dramatic foot chase through the Azrieli Mall in Tel Aviv, where he was suspected of a series of cellphone thefts. The operation was carried out jointly by the Shai District and Tel Aviv District police.

According to police, the investigation began after multiple reports of phones stolen from shoppers at malls, beachgoers, and soldiers who were on leave. Investigators said the suspect allegedly targeted victims when they were distracted or exhausted, including during public transportation rides.

After a report of several phones being stolen from a mall in Tel Aviv, detectives quickly reviewed evidence and surveillance footage and traced the suspect to Azrieli Mall. Officers from the Hebron station were operating undercover there when they identified him.

Once he noticed the police, the suspect fled through the mall, running across walkways and escalators in front of visitors. Detectives chased him on foot, and the arrest ended when an undercover intelligence and investigations officer jumped on him and detained him at the scene. The suspect, a man in his 30s and a resident of Dahariya, was transferred to Tel Aviv District police for questioning on suspicion of theft and illegal entry into Israel.