Members of Georgian criminal gangs were arrested for stealing phone calls, more than 1M.
The arrest operation was followed by a secret operation conducted by the central unit in the central district, targeting theft, receiving stolen goods and conspiracy.
Six members of the Georgian criminal gang were allegedly targeted at more than 100 elderly victims throughout Israel, and were arrested by detectives in the central region. According to Israeli police, the suspect was accused of stealing wallets and phone calls from the victims and withdrawing more than 1.5 million NIS from his bank accounts.
The arrests were followed by a covert operation conducted by central units in the central district, which spanned multiple regions for weeks, targeted theft, accepted stolen goods and conspiracies.
The investigation shows that six Georgian national-led criminal networks target elderly victims aged 70 to 90 nationwide.
There are more than 100 cases related to the gang, and the complaints come from areas such as Sheflera, Gush Dan, Ashdod and Haifa. The investigation involved working with several professional organizations, including credit companies, banks and security officials in public transportation.
During the investigation, detectives discovered a consistent pattern of crime. Members of the gang often surround elderly victims in their 30s around public buses, trapping them in the “sandwich” formation to prevent escape.
Buses in Central Jerusalem, February 12, 2025 (Credit: Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
When a gang member distracts the victim, another gang steals their wallet and phone. The stolen items were then used to withdraw large amounts of funds from the victim’s bank account, totaling more than 1.5 million.
The suspect was arrested and caught evidence
Detectives from central and southern regions arrested suspects, both living in those areas, after moving the investigation to the open phase Monday morning.
During the arrest, the police seized various relevant evidence. The suspect plans to conduct a court hearing and police will request an extension of his detention.
Major, commander of the Central Region. Yair Hetzroni praised the Central District’s quick response to the case, highlighting the importance of protecting vulnerable citizens. He also highlighted the rapid investigation process that led to the gang’s arrest and urged police to file a lawsuit to the greatest extent.
