Israel police will no longer dispatch for theft: Official memo

According to a police memo obtained by Ynet this month, Israel police will no longer send units to respond to reports of theft, except in certain circumstances.  

A police unit will be sent only if the perpetrator is still present, if the property stolen was a weapon, or if the victim is elderly, disabled, or a minor. Otherwise, citizens must now report the theft either online or by visiting a police station.  

The memo cites 50,000 thefts a year and a burden on police vehicles as reasons for the new policy, especially in light of a shortage of officers which began last year. 

According to Ynet, “enforcing COVID regulations” and “public order events” - among other things - “were cited as reasons that led police officers, including border police, to resign from their positions.” 

Another possible explanation for the police shortage is Israel's harsh vaccine mandate. Those who refused the shots were fired from their jobs, isolated from society, and ridiculed publicly by government officials. 

Vaccine injuries have also increased. A peer-reviewed study in May revealed that Israel is experiencing a 25% increase in cardiac events correlated to the vaccine. 

Israel police were sent out in full force throughout the pandemic to enforce harsh vaccine and mask mandates, which the police carried out with equal harshness in keeping with their notorious reputation for brutality. 

Aside from their general approach to protesters, which has sometimes involved shooting children with water cannons, Israel’s police came out in droves to quash protests against COVID-19 mandates. In February, several male policemen were filmed assaulting multiple women at a protest against isolation mandates for children. 

Also in February, police raided the encampment of anti-mandate protesters, tearing down tents and destroying personal property, shoving those people who tried to protect their belongings. A video also shows policemen carrying a young woman away as the bewildered protesters ask what her charge is.