20 September 2023; MEMO: Israel Police reported this morning that a tank had been stolen from an army training base located in the Elikim interchange and was later found in a scrap yard in northern Israel.
According to the Jerusalem Post, the incident, initially reported to authorities by the Defence Ministry, is under joint investigation by both law enforcement agencies and the Israeli Ministry of Defence.
“From a preliminary investigation of the circumstances of the case, it is suspected that the tank is not active and was stolen from the scene for reasons that are being investigated at this stage,” police said.
“Upon locating the stolen tank, a notification was sent to the Ministry of Defence and the police opened a joint investigation with the Ministry of Defence,” the statement added.
Following the incident, two men from northern Israel, one from Tiberias and the other from Haifa, were arrested as suspects in connection with the theft.
Moreover, a military statement clarified that the tank was the chassis which had been taken out of service many years ago.
“It has no means of armament, and its systems do not function,” the statement said. “The tank was stationed in a firing area, that’s open to any passersby, and was used as a stationary vehicle for soldiers’ exercises.”
It concluded: “The tank was returned to the security system. The investigation of the incident continues, and a command investigation will also take place.”
