Jerusalem, Israel - Young Woman Disguised as Chareidi Stole Purses

Jerusalem, Israel - Police arrested a young woman who disguised herself as a chareidi woman and stole dozens of purses from chareidi and other religious women.

The young secular woman, a Jerusalem resident, would wait beside the entrance to the ladies' room at the Central Bus Station and when a chareidi woman approached she would ask if she had a siddur, or Tehillim or any other sefer in her purse, offering to watch it in her purse for a few minutes while she used the restroom. As soon as she stepped inside the young thief would take off.

In several instances she would leave the purses on a bus, after emptying the contents, causing a few cases where police sappers had to be called in to check the abandoned purse as a suspicious package.

The woman admitted to nearly 50 thefts, but police believe the number is much higher. During questioning she related that while she was employed as a security worker at the Kosel Maarovi several months ago where she noticed that chareidi women did not enter the restroom with a siddur. During this period she admitted to also stealing some purses, leaving the empty purses outside.