offered his services as a security guard - after causing damage himself: this is how contractors in the northern region were blackmailed | Israel today

Igniting businesses and offering security services:

An extortion case against contractors in which engineering tools and temporary structures were set on fire was revealed tonight (between Tuesday and Wednesday) by the police of the Northern District, as part of a struggle between criminals to collect sponsorship fees from construction sites.

According to the Israel Police, the investigation went on for several months. North District investigators from the crime fighting unit in the Valleys area conducted an undercover investigation on suspicion of blackmailing contractors while setting fire to mechanical engineering equipment and buildings at the construction sites.

The background to the events is a struggle for the provision of "guardianship" services and an attempt to take over those sites.

Offered his services as a security guard - after causing damage himself: this is how contractors in the northern region were blackmailed // Photo: Police Spokesperson

The investigation revealed that on November 3, the suspect Dean Shibli, a 22-year-old resident of Shibli, arrived at three construction sites: Tamra Ba'emek, Kfar Yehezkel, and Kibbutz Gazit, and caused an estimated damage of over one million shekels to the engineering tools and trailers, with the aim of getting those contractors to hire him as a guard at the construction sites And not his competitors.

At the end of a strenuous investigation, the investigators gathered enough evidence against the suspect for crimes of extortion by threats and arson in four different incidents, and the North District Prosecutor's Office will file an indictment against him this morning and a request for his arrest until the end of the proceedings.

He vandalized caravans and offered to guard them, photo: police spokespersons

The commander of the North District, Superintendent of Markets Shuki Tahauka said: "We are fighting the phenomenon of collecting sponsorship fees, under the guise of providing guarding services, with all the tools at our disposal. Investigative activity against suspects and organizations, and the prevention of agricultural crime. So far, the phenomenon of 'guarding' has not been given an adequate response in legislation , a fact that is exploited by criminals who take advantage of their reputation to scare the victims, and even cause heavy damages to the contractors. All this with the aim of making easy money while crushing the legs of legitimate security companies that operate according to the law, or competing criminals.

The destruction of the businesses.

"New guard", photo: police spokeswoman

"At the same time, we are not waiting for legislation and are working with all means and creativity to bring about the elimination of their activities and their prosecution.

I hope that the requested change in legislation will be promoted quickly and will allow the police and the law enforcement system to act much more effectively against the phenomenon, which has taken root in certain populations and areas for decades."

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