IDF Steps Up Security After Gun Theft

The IDF will invest more heavily in security measures following a theft of 30 Tavor assault rifles from a base last week, The Times of Israel quoted a senior IDF officer as saying on Monday night.

IDF chief of staff Gadi Eisenkot authorized an expenditure of 15 million shekels ($4.2 million) to make on-base armories more secure.

The new measures reportedly will include biometric scanners, additional cameras and improved locks.

While pilferage of military equipment has been a chronic problem for years, last week’s theft at the Sdei Teiman base in southern Israel forced the IDF to pay more attention.

“This was an incident at another level. It was something we were fighting before, but this decision was made in light of this case,” the officer said.

Meanwhile, the investigation of that theft continues under a court-imposed gag order until July 4.