Police foil car theft attempt in Ashkelon after chase and crash

Israeli police and the Lachish District’s special units disrupted an apparent car theft attempt in Ashkelon on Saturday, arresting one suspect after a chase while another escaped. The suspects, described in the report as an irregular migrant, arrived by car at a parking area, approached another parked vehicle, opened its hood, broke in and tried to start it.

After several minutes, they succeeded in starting the car, but officers who had identified the theft attempt moved in to arrest them. When the suspects spotted the police, they jumped back into their own vehicle and tried to flee, damaging two police vehicles in the process. Officers pursued them southward.

The chase ended near Nir Am, where one suspect was detained. The second suspect continued fleeing on foot toward Sderot. Police then launched extensive searches in the area for the runaway suspect, and the investigation is continuing.

Lt. Col. Shahar Levi, commander of the Lachish District’s investigative unit, said his unit would keep acting “with determination and with all the means at its disposal” against criminal gangs involved in car theft, alongside other district units, to prevent property crimes, arrest those involved and improve residents’ security.