Friday, July 31, 2015

Another looting arrest in Israel

BUSTED: Antiquities theft thwarted near Beit Shemesh in late night helicopter chase. 63 coins, 2000 years old, recovered (HAYAH GOLDLIST-EICHLER, Jerusalem Post).
The theft of a trove of ancient coins was thwarted by a joint force of the Antiquities Authority and Yehuda Region Border Police late Tuesday evening in the Beit Shemesh area.

The team of thieves was discovered by Antiquities Authority inspectors observing the area on Tuesday evening, digging and using a metal detector at the archeological site next to Taoz. The inspectors alerted the police who brought in a helicopter to apprehend the suspects.

One was arrested while a second managed to flee the scene, though police know his identity.

[...]
Other looting arrests in Israel this year have been noted here (also involving coins and Beit Shemesh), here, and here.