Caused irreparable damage to site: Shebahim tried to loot an antiquities site near Beit Shemesh and were caught

Four Palestinian Arab antiquities robbers from the village of Zurif were caught last week while trying to loot ancient artifacts from the Khirbet Umm a-Rus archaeological site, located near Ramat Beit Shemesh.

Three of the robbers were caught inside an underground system of chambers, which served as a storage system from the time of the Second Temple to the time of the Bar Kokhba revolt, causing irreversible damage to the ancient remains at the site. Another suspect, caught above the cave entrance, served as a "spotter" for the squad.

The four were indicted for damaging and causing irreparable damage to the antiquities site and illegally staying in Israel.

_{Photo: Israel Antiquities Authority}