The General Directorate of Internal Security Forces - Public Relations Division, released the following statement today, Monday: "In the context of the continuous monitoring undertaken by the Internal Security Forces to curb theft operations in various Lebanese regions, the Information Branch managed to track the activity of a gang whose members were executing thefts and attempted thefts of homes, companies, shops, hotels, and restaurants in many areas of Beirut and Mount Lebanon, particularly in: Beit ed-Dine, Jiyeh, Kaslik, Antelias, Naccache, Jdeideh, Rabweh, Hammana, Gemmayzeh, and Achrafieh. The latest incident occurred on 5-6-2024, where a citizen reported that unknown individuals broke into his office located in Rabweh and stole /50,000/ US dollars from a safe in the office. A professional gang has executed numerous theft operations within the Beirut and Mount Lebanon governorates, and the Information Branch has revealed the identities of its members and arrested two of them."
Following this, and as a result of the investigations and inquiries conducted by the specialized units in the branch, the identities of the gang members were established, including:
- M. H. (born in 1981, Lebanese)
- F. B. S. (born in 1980, Lebanese)
It was found that the first has prior criminal records related to theft. On 26-6-2024, after surveillance, the special force of the branch carried out a simultaneous and targeted operation that led to the arrest of the first in Mar Mikhael in a four-wheel-drive vehicle, a "Cherokee," used in the theft operations, and the second in Khalwat - Hammana in his black "BMW" car. Upon searching them and the vehicles, the first was found in possession of two war pistols with magazines and /16/ rounds of live ammunition, tools used in theft operations, two caps, and /3/ mobile phones.
During the investigation, the first admitted to the charges attributed to him regarding the execution of several thefts and attempted thefts alongside another person from homes, companies, shops, hotels, and restaurants in the following areas: Beit ed-Dine, Jiyeh, Kaslik, Antelias, Naccache, Jdeideh, Rabweh, Hammana, Gemmayzeh, and Achrafieh, where his partner would monitor the locations to be robbed and secure the vehicles used in the theft operations. He also added that the second participated with them in a safe theft operation in Hammana, and they would distribute the shares among themselves after each operation. The second also confessed to the charges against him.
The necessary legal measures were taken against them, and they were referred along with the seized items to the relevant authorities based on judicial instructions, with efforts ongoing to arrest the remaining involved parties."
