Pepper Spray Forces Raiders to Flee Jewelry Store
November 30, 25
(IDEX Online) - Raiders fled empty-handed after staff at a jewelry store activated a pepper spray.
The raiders broke through the front window of the Titanium Jewelry, at a mall in Ofakim, southern Israel, and started smashing display cabinets shortly after the store closed for the day on 25 November.
Staff ran to a back room and pressed the panic button, filling the store with thick smoke and pepper spray.
The spray causes a temporary burning pain in the eyes, a burning skin sensation and breathing difficulties.
The use of defensive pepper sprays is legal in Israel, most USA states, Russia, Czech Republic and Poland, among others, but is banned or heavily restricted in UK, Canada, Netherlands, Greece, Hong Kong, Singapore.
Idan Trabelsi, owner of the store, said it was the third raid since they opened just three months ago.
"It's a smoke masking system that also releases pepper spray while sounding a loud horn," he said.
"I think it's something that should be mandatory in every business in Israel."
No arrests have been made so far.
Screengrab from surveillance TV.