Netanya Court Acquits Car Owner Who Threateningly Yelled at Police During Break-In
A Netanya resident whose car was burglarized was criminally charged after shouting threats at police dispatchers in anger, but a court fully acquitted him, criticizing prosecutors for turning a victim into a defendant.
A routine police call in Netanya turned into a legal nightmare for a citizen whose car was broken into. Instead of receiving support as a crime victim, he found himself facing criminal charges over angry threats uttered in the heat of the moment.
In March of last year, a Netanya resident stepped out of his Kia Sportage for a brief moment to buy cigarettes, leaving the car unlocked. Upon returning, he was horrified to find a burglar inside attempting to steal his vehicle.
The Heat of the Moment and Police Call
Adrenaline surging, the car owner immediately dialed the police 100 emergency hotline to summon a patrol car. In a state of extreme agitation, he began shouting and cursing aggressively at the dispatcher.
If you do not send a patrol car I will break his bones, he shouted, adding violent and racist epithets while demanding immediate assistance.
While the burglar was ultimately prosecuted and sentenced to actual imprisonment in October 2025, the police prosecution took the unusual step of filing criminal charges against the car owner himself for issuing threats.
Acquittal and Court Criticism
Represented by attorney Guy Ein-Zvi, the car owner did not deny using harsh language, but argued that he had no criminal intent and was merely reacting as a distressed crime victim.
Netanya Magistrate Court Judge Guy Avnon fully accepted the defense's arguments and ordered a complete acquittal. The judge ruled that the indictment turned things upside down by transforming a crime victim into a defendant while completely ignoring the context.
Judge Avnon criticized the police prosecution, represented by attorney Lilach Ginsburg, stating that the citizen should never have been investigated as a suspect, let alone prosecuted.
