Description

After a year long investigation into the thieves who attempted to steal the Dead Sea Scrolls, the thieves have been indicted.

The Antiquities Robbery Prevention Unit was called the the Cave of Skulls in the Judean Desert after a report was called in. They began surveillance and witnessed thieves using excavation equipment and a metal detector. They caused considerable archaeological damage to the Roman and Chalcolithic layers.

The thieves showed considerable skill, rappelling down the cliff with their equipment. They made some considerable finds, for example they discovered a 2000 year old lice comb from the Roman era.

The thieves were looking specifically for Dead Sea scrolls are were among many antiquities looters who form looting gangs.

The thieves were from a small village called Si'ir near Hebron and were caught and detained immediately after climbing back up the cliff. Their crimes have a prison sentence of up to 5 years.