Georgian Gang Robbed Over 100 Elderly Israelis for $400K in Public Transit Scam

In a dramatic conclusion to a covert investigation, Israeli police arrested six members of a Georgian crime syndicate suspected of stealing more than 1.5 million shekels (roughly $400,000) from over 100 elderly victims across the country.

According to Central District police, the suspects - men in their 30s - allegedly operated a systematic scam targeting elderly individuals (aged 70–90) on public transportation. Their method was disturbingly consistent: the criminals would board crowded buses, physically “sandwich” their elderly targets to restrict movement, and stealthily pickpocket wallets and phones.

Once in possession of the victims’ belongings, the suspects reportedly used various methods to access and withdraw money from their bank accounts, often draining thousands of shekels before the fraud was detected.

The case was cracked by the elite Central Unit (Yamar) detectives, who pieced together over 100 complaints filed by elderly citizens throughout Israel, including in the Shephelah region, Gush Dan, Ashdod, and Haifa. The investigation involved close cooperation with credit card security teams, public transportation companies, and major Israeli banks.

Authorities say the gang's actions revealed a consistent criminal pattern: one suspect would immobilize the victim by forceful body contact, while an accomplice would extract valuables undetected. Shortly after, the group would carry out unauthorized cash withdrawals from ATMs or make purchases using the stolen cards.

This morning, after gathering sufficient evidence, police launched a coordinated raid on homes in central and southern Israel. All six suspects were taken into custody and will appear before a judge later today for a remand hearing.

The arrests mark a major success in dismantling an organized and highly targeted criminal operation, with police vowing to pursue charges and ensure justice for the elderly victims.