A suspect has been arrested for stealing four containers of peanuts, totaling 104 tons, from a factory in Beersheba, Israel. The estimated value of the stolen goods exceeds 2 million NIS, according to Israel Police.
The investigation began following a report of a break-in at a peanut factory in Beersheba on June 15, 2025, during Operation Rising Lion against Iran.
According to police, the suspect, a 45-year-old resident of the Bedouin town of Tel Sheva, allegedly conspired with others, whose identities remain unknown, to break into the factory.
The group planned the theft by disabling security cameras, surveying the area, and marking the target. They also used a vehicle with fake license plates to carry out the theft.
The suspects gained entry to the factory by cutting the chain on the gate, removing iron barriers, and breaking through concrete walls. They loaded four containers of peanuts onto a truck, which was then driven to the suspect’s residence.
Suspect arrested on same day as theft
Local police acted quickly and managed to apprehend the suspect at his home on the same day. The stolen goods were recovered from his residence, and about half of the undamaged peanuts were returned to the factory.
After an investigation by the Southern District's Central Unit, an indictment was filed against the suspect, and a request for detention until the completion of legal proceedings was submitted to the Beersheba Magistrate Court.