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Monument Desecrated near Rehovot: Metal thieves strike again
"Dozens of iron plaques carrying names of fallen soldiers removed from IDF monument by metal thieves. IDF source calls incident 'disgraceful, appalling.' Meanwhile police, army seek ways to tackle problem. Metal thieves removed plaques carrying the names of fallen soldiers from a paratroop corps monument near the town of Rehovot on Thursday night. Police and forensics unit forces were dispatched to the scene Friday, after the act of vandalism was revealed, in a bid to trace any evidence that may lead to the perpetrators.
No Limits?
IDF monument vandalized during holiday, plaques, letters removed, apparently by iron dealers who deal in the material. This is a painful, criminal act, IDF official say. "This is another severe incident in a line of metal theft incidences across Israel we have seen recently," Chief Superintendent Alon Levavi said. The paratroop memorial commemorates the names of all the corps' soldiers who were killed in Israel's wars. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, himself a former paratrooper, has visited the monument many times.
Dozens of plaques removed
However, it appears that the thieves who operated in the place remained indifferent to the memorial's heritage. On Thursday night the offenders arrived at the place, apparently driving a van or a truck. The men cunningly cut off power at the monument, consequently shutting off the lights, to prevent being spotted from the nearby highway. Using a screwdriver they dismantled dozens of metal plaques, and later fled the scene, leaving a barren-walled monument behind. Police sources estimated that the thieves were iron dealers who trade in the metal and export it to China and other places in the Far East, where the material is in great demand. Immediately following the discovery of the incident, the police launched an investigation into the matter.
"We have collected all evidence from the scene. The investigation will now be conducted at the intelligence level, in order to apprehend the thieves," Levavi said.
Tackling a wide-spread problem
Notably, similar incidences, where military monuments were violated by metal dealers, were uncovered in recent weeks. This is a disgraceful and appalling act, a source at the paratroop division told Ynet. "Luckily enough, we held our annual ceremony to commemorate the dead a month ago, before this act of hooliganism took place," the source added. In light of the increasing number of incidences where monuments were damaged by metal thieves, police and the IDF intend to cooperate with local authorities across Israel on providing solutions for safeguarding the memorials. One of the proposed tactics to tackle the problem is by placing hidden cameras in these locations. Meanwhile, the IDF announced it will work to restore the desecrated monuments, and replace the metal plaques with marble plates, which are harder to remove and less attractive to thieves.
Source: Hanan Greenberg. Iron dealers vandalize IDF monument. YNetnews.com (11 November 2005) [FullText]
No Limits?
IDF monument vandalized during holiday, plaques, letters removed, apparently by iron dealers who deal in the material. This is a painful, criminal act, IDF official say. "This is another severe incident in a line of metal theft incidences across Israel we have seen recently," Chief Superintendent Alon Levavi said. The paratroop memorial commemorates the names of all the corps' soldiers who were killed in Israel's wars. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, himself a former paratrooper, has visited the monument many times.
Dozens of plaques removed
However, it appears that the thieves who operated in the place remained indifferent to the memorial's heritage. On Thursday night the offenders arrived at the place, apparently driving a van or a truck. The men cunningly cut off power at the monument, consequently shutting off the lights, to prevent being spotted from the nearby highway. Using a screwdriver they dismantled dozens of metal plaques, and later fled the scene, leaving a barren-walled monument behind. Police sources estimated that the thieves were iron dealers who trade in the metal and export it to China and other places in the Far East, where the material is in great demand. Immediately following the discovery of the incident, the police launched an investigation into the matter.
"We have collected all evidence from the scene. The investigation will now be conducted at the intelligence level, in order to apprehend the thieves," Levavi said.
Tackling a wide-spread problem
Notably, similar incidences, where military monuments were violated by metal dealers, were uncovered in recent weeks. This is a disgraceful and appalling act, a source at the paratroop division told Ynet. "Luckily enough, we held our annual ceremony to commemorate the dead a month ago, before this act of hooliganism took place," the source added. In light of the increasing number of incidences where monuments were damaged by metal thieves, police and the IDF intend to cooperate with local authorities across Israel on providing solutions for safeguarding the memorials. One of the proposed tactics to tackle the problem is by placing hidden cameras in these locations. Meanwhile, the IDF announced it will work to restore the desecrated monuments, and replace the metal plaques with marble plates, which are harder to remove and less attractive to thieves.
Source: Hanan Greenberg. Iron dealers vandalize IDF monument. YNetnews.com (11 November 2005) [FullText]
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