The General Directorate of Internal Security Forces - Public Relations Division issued a statement today, Friday, stating: "On 13/11/2023, a priest reported that unknown individuals attempted to steal 10 sheep from the farm of Mar Maroun Monastery located in the town of Majdal Maouche, and placed them in a white Mitsubishi van. Upon being seen by municipal officers, they abandoned the van and fled in an unknown Hyundai vehicle. Immediately, the specialized units in the Information Branch were tasked with conducting field and investigative procedures to identify and arrest the perpetrators.
As a result of the follow-up, the branch discovered that the van had been stolen from Jbeil on 01/11/2023. Through investigations, it was revealed that the van thieves were also the ones who attempted to steal the sheep, identified as: Z. L. (born in 1982, Lebanese) and R. A. (born in 1982, Lebanese), both of whom had previous convictions for theft.
On 14/11/2023, after careful monitoring and observation, one of the branch patrols managed to arrest them in a well-planned ambush in Aley. Upon searching them, the first was found in possession of a military pistol with a magazine containing seven rounds ready for use.
During the investigation, they confessed to the charges against them regarding stealing the van from Jbeil and using it to attempt to steal the sheep in Majdal Maouche. They also admitted to previously stealing a motorcycle from Souk al-Gharb, selling it in Baalbek, and splitting the proceeds, as well as breaking into two houses in the Hamana area, but not managing to steal anything from within. Legal measures were taken against them, and they were referred along with the seized items to the relevant authorities based on the directive of the competent judiciary."
