The con artists on the main Jerusalem-Tel Aviv road continue
to find easy prey.
A few months ago, Yated Ne'eman brought to its readers'
attention the story of a prominent Jew who fell prey to con
artists on the Shaar Hagai-Abu Ghosh section of the Jerusalem-
Tel Aviv highway. A group of con artists posing as car
mechanics flagged him down, claiming that water was leaking
from his car's radiator. After consenting to having them check
out the car, the "mechanics" proceeded to remove a few car
parts, replacing them with parts that were later found to be
defective or worn. They then collected substantial fees for
their "work," which actually damaged the car. The poor man
eventually had to have his car towed to a garage.
In spite of the widespread publicity given to such acts and
numerous complaints lodged with the Israel Police, these con
artists are continuing to dupe innocent drivers who don't know
much about cars.
A local newspaper has revealed the identity of the head of the
gang and discussed the police's inability to deal with them.
The article notes that tens, if not hundreds of people have
fallen victim to the gang members, all residents of Abu Ghosh.
The gang works mostly at the Paz gas station at the Shoeva-
Shoresh turnoff and along the section of the highway between
Shaar Hagai and Abu Ghosh. Smooth talkers, they manage to
persuade drivers that their cars are in serious trouble. The
modus operandi is to send the hapless driver in for a
drink at the station snack bar. They then proceed to exchange
the car's functioning parts with their parts.
Owners of the gas station claim that they have repeatedly
tried to stop the gangs through legal channels, by complaining
to police and by posting signs warning the public. Such signs
were removed, of course, and the police has not dealt with the
complaints. Complaints have also been lodged by victims of the
ploy. However in many cases, the injured parties have been too
embarrassed to press charges: considering themselves either
naive or stupid to have let Abu Ghosh residents lead them
astray in a way that, ostensibly at least, seems legal.
The Israel Police have said that they are dealing with the
complaints. In addition, they have brought the matter to the
attention of the income tax authorities, since it is suspected
that the leader of the gang has made millions of
shekalim through his scheme. Although the police
recently arrested him for illegal possession of weapons, this
hasn't put a stop to the mechanics' machinations.
