[PHOTOS IN EXTENDED ARTICLE]

Following an undercover investigation, police detectives moved in and arrested members of a cellphone theft ring. Suspects in custody were arraigned in the Jerusalem Magistrate Court on Wednesday, 19 Shevat. The three suspects are residents of the eastern capital, Arabs, and are suspected of operating a ring that robbed and stole cellphones from passersby.

Police received a complaint from a young woman who was walking on the Mount Scopus Prominade while speaking on the phone. The younger male followed her and then snatched her bag and fled to a waiting vehicle. Police also received numerous complaints from residents of Beit Haninah and French Hill, both neighborhoods in the northern capital. They stopped their vehicle near the victims, asking if they might borrow their phone for a moment to make a call. When given the phone, they drove off. In one case, the victim hung on to the vehicle and eventually fell off and was lightly injured.

Police received descriptions of the vehicle from victims and learned they actually changed some of the license plate numbers using black tape to avoid being apprehended.

The suspects have already been tied to at least six thefts.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem/Photos: Police spokesman)