Disguised as a Religious Jew: Police make arrest following shocking break-ins in Gush Etzion

Arrested by Judea region police after a meticulous investigation, the man now faces charges for property crimes and theft of ammunition, spotlighting a sophisticated criminal operation that exploited the trust of local residents.

The suspect’s methods were chillingly systematic. In one daylight incident in Elazar, he donned a yarmulka and sandals—hallmarks of a religious Jew—and roamed the area unsuspected. Attempting to break into a home, he encountered residents and quickly posed as a hiker, asking for water to deflect suspicion. Undeterred, he moved to a nearby empty house, breaking in to steal personal items and ammunition. His ability to blend in allowed him to operate with alarming ease.

In Efrat, his tactics grew bolder. Disguised as a local, he entered a home and looted property, later exiting with a wide-brimmed hat and a Bnei Akiva youth movement bag to avoid detection. In another Efrat break-in, he stole a bicycle, wore a helmet to merge with the surroundings, and raided a house, making off with a bag, a safe containing a gun, and other items. He stashed his haul in the bag, rode toward the town’s exit, then ditched the bike and scaled a fence to escape. Each move showcased his calculated efforts to evade capture.

His final attempt in Efrat unraveled when security forces spotted him employing the same ruse. Realizing he’d been made, he fled, briefly masquerading as a local worker, but was swiftly apprehended on March 15, 2025. The indictment, filed after an in-depth probe, underscores the threat posed by such deceptive tactics in Gush Etzion, where community trust is now tinged with wariness following these brazen breaches.