A "SHARP RISE in thefts of antiquities in 2004" in Israel according to Ha'aretz:

According to [director of the robbery prevention unit, Amir] Ganor, the phenomenon of antiquities theft has taken on gold rush dimensions, with an antiquities site plundered every day on average.

The Antiquities Authority claims that a lenient punitive policy by the courts presents incentive for antiquities thieves. The Knesset recently increased the maximum punishment for damaging an antiquities site from three to five years, but Ganor says that the punishments meted out in the courts today rarely exceed a year in prison.