'Israeli robbery champion' suspected of 8 muggings in 12 hours

A 52-year-old Netanya man known to police was arrested Tuesday after allegedly carrying out at least eight robberies in a 12-hour period.

Undercover detectives arrested the man after they spotted him riding his moped near his home following the last of the eight robberies. He was caught in possession of suspected stolen goods and a knife that he allegedly used to threaten his victims.

A Netanya police spokesman said the first complaint was received at around 3 A.M. from two youths claiming an anonymous man riding a moped had attacked them and stolen their cell phone.

Police began an investigation after receiving reports of another two robberies of a similar nature in the early hours of the morning.

According to the spokesman, Netanya police then received a further five reports of robberies during the day, again similar in nature, and occurring at intervals of one every hour or so.