Residents of PA (Palestinian Authority) areas throughout Yehuda and Shomron are responsible for 80% of property crimes in Israel, Yisrael Hayom reported.

According to the report, in 2017, involvement of PA residents in car break-ins and thefts in which the perpetrator was apprehended is 49%. Regarding break-ins in homes and apartments, 37%. According to police, 80% of property crimes and involving vehicles are closed and marked “unknown lawbreaker” after the thief was not apprehended.

Despite the lack of success in the apprehension of the perpetrators, according to police intelligence estimates, in the absolute majority of these cases, the perpetrators of the crime are Arabs from Yehuda and Shomron. The police estimate is based, inter alia, on a system of cameras located at the crossings between Yehuda and Shomron and Samaria and the Green Line. In the year 2017, more than 2,000 vehicles were stolen from Israeli citizens and transferred to PA areas.

According to police intelligence estimates, the reasons for the widespread crime emanating from Yehuda and Shomron stem from the fact that even when the police locate an Arab who is suspected of committing any offense, a large backup is required by IDF troops to permit police to enter PA areas in order to operate in them and in most cases, this does not occur. At times, there are PA residents and Israelis involved in the thefts, working together.

According to police estimates, a considerable number of the thefts are perpetrated by PA resident crossing into Israel daily with and without work permits. After their day’s work, they break into homes and vehicles. Police feel there is little they can do for as long as the IDF permits PA residents to cross into “Israel proper”.

Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan is working with Police Chief Roni Alshich to strengthen the interrogation and intelligence mechanisms throughout the Police Shai (Shomron -Yehuda) district. another aspect of Erdan’s commitment to combat this is in two weeks, the Ministerial Law Committee will review a draft law initiated by Erdan which focuses on combating PA illegals crossing into Israel.

Minister Erdan told Yisrael Hayom that “there is no police force in the world that has to deal with such a shocking figure, and this is a particularly difficult challenge that requires a unique response, so I make every effort to strengthen the police in the Shai District to capture the Palestinian gangs.”

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)