It would seem like something out a movie, but it happened in reality. In some real-life combination of Grand Theft Auto meets Fauda, a vehicle belonging to an Israeli military official stationed in Europe was stolen right out from under the nose of his security detail. And though the SUV was recovered, the laptop inside was not.
The incident, captured on closed-circuit camera, occurred in an undisclosed European city where the officer was posted as a military attaché to the Israeli embassy. While parked outside a hotel where the officer was meeting with a visiting general from his home country, a thief simply walked up, got inside the vehicle, and drove off.
From the footage, it looks like the perpetrator had an accomplice who distracted the diplomat/officer’s bodyguard, who didn’t realize what was going on until it was too late. With help from Audi, the vehicle (a first-generation Q7) was immobilized and recovered in a predominantly Muslim neighborhood in the city. But a wallet, two uniforms and a computer containing potentially sensitive information were gone.
According to RT, protocol in the Israel Defense Forces forbids leaving computers in the homes or vehicles of military officers. An internal investigation has reportedly been launched into the incident, which could easily see the officer and his bodyguard recalled to Jerusalem and either re-assigned or dismissed.
The Russian news site notes two recent incidents in which sensitive files were stolen from senior IDF officials. Both cases resulted in the officers being discharged from service. The moral of the story: if you’re charged with sensitive information, don’t leave it in your car. And if you do, better make sure the vehicle’s doors are locked, even if your body guard is standing right next to it.