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A payroll intended for 150 PA (Palestinian Authority) residents working in Israel, amounting to NIS 700,000 was stolen about a week ago in Jerusalem. Police have made an arrest, which led them to the stolen money.

Two PA residents on Derech Chevron, last week pulled over a police car and explained they had just been robbed of NIS 700,000 which they received from an area bank.

Police ascertained the two were driven from the checkpoint near Kever Rachel to a Givat Shaul bank where they deposited checks and withdrew cash for the company payroll. As they were heading back towards the checkpoint with the money, a driver stopped at a kiosk near the crossing point, asking one of them to buy him cigarettes. Then one of the passengers got out the car and the driver pulled up the vehicle and halted. Using a knife to threaten them, they grabbed the money and fled to the waiting vehicle.

Two arrests were made, leading to a third arrest on Tuesday, 13 Iyar. All the suspects are residents of the eastern capital and have connected themselves to the heist during police questioning. The questioning of the suspects led to the revealing of the venue used to stash the cash.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem/Photo Credit: Jerusalem Police spokesman unit)