Israeli Border Police Arrest Two Suspects for Stealing Over a Ton of Watermelons

Last week, Israeli Border Police fighters from the Coastal Settlements Unit arrested two suspects caught stealing watermelons and loading them into vehicles near Ein HaMifratz. The police were initially dispatched to a nearby agricultural area following a report from a farmer about suspects trespassing with a large flock of sheep, causing significant damage to crops. Upon arrival, officers set up surveillance and observed two suspects picking watermelons and loading them into a car, while about 300 sheep were grazing on the farmland.

The suspects were apprehended on the spot, and a large quantity of watermelons was found in their vehicle. Subsequent weighing revealed the stolen watermelons totaled 1,014.5 kilograms. Investigation showed one suspect is an illegal resident from the West Bank, while the other is suspected of employing and transporting him, as well as trespassing with the sheep, damaging crops, and theft. The estimated damage to the crops amounts to several thousand shekels.

The owner of the sheep received an administrative fine of 150,000 shekels for the trespassing, and the vehicle used in the offenses was confiscated. Both suspects were transferred to the Border Police Central Unit for interrogation and were arrested. This morning, indictments were filed against them for the alleged crimes.