The General Directorate of Internal Security Forces - Public Relations Division issued the following statement today, Friday: "As part of the daily monitoring carried out by the Internal Security Forces to track car theft gangs across various Lebanese regions, to uncover the identities of the perpetrators and arrest them, and as a result of the surveillance operations conducted by the Information Branch patrols in areas with high incidences of these crimes, a gang was spotted carrying out operations in the Beirut, Mount Lebanon, and North governorates, transporting stolen cars to the Bekaa and then to Syrian territories. Consequently, orders were given to the branch to undertake field and investigative measures to identify the perpetrators. Through thorough inquiries and investigations, the individuals of the gang were identified as Lebanese nationals:
1. A. A. (Born 2000), a repeat offender for belonging to a car theft gang and considered a dangerous individual, armed at all times.
2. A. R. H. (Born 2003)
3. A. T. (Born 1999)
On 11/12/2023, after careful surveillance, the special force of the first branch monitored one of the suspects in the Al-Abda area - Tripoli, where he was arrested in a well-prepared ambush after brandishing a hand grenade at the officers and attempting to flee, but was subdued, and the grenade was seized. Upon searching him, a military pistol, a quantity of hashish, a fake identity card, a fake driving license, and a mobile phone were found. The second and third suspects were also arrested in the Al-Qobbeh area - Tripoli.
During the investigation, they confessed to executing more than /300/ thefts of Hyundai and Kia cars from various regions including Beirut, Metn, Kesrouan, and Tripoli, transporting them to the Bekaa region and then to Syrian territories in collaboration with others; efforts are ongoing to apprehend them.
The legal procedure against the individuals was completed, and they, along with the seized items, were handed over to the relevant authority, acting under the directives of the competent judiciary."
The statement warned that "the main reason for the theft of modern cars, especially Kia and Hyundai models, is that they are not equipped by the manufacturer with an IMMOBILIZER device, which prevents the engine from starting without its key, making it similar to the theft of older vehicles. Therefore, this general directorate warns owners of these types of vehicles to remain vigilant continuously to minimize the risk of their cars being stolen. They can take certain protective measures, importantly: installing devices in a professional manner that are difficult for thieves to access, like an IMMOBILIZER, GPS, or MINI GPS devices, or a secret key to prevent the car from starting, or putting a steering wheel lock. It is also advisable to park the car in secure locations or well-lit areas equipped with surveillance cameras whenever possible, etc."
