On Friday, just before 7:00 a.m., Chaya, a resident of the Gan Varsha area in Bnei Brak in her 80s, was expecting it to be another ordinary day. However, shortly after her husband left for Shacharis, a routine doorbell turned into a terrifying moment she will remember for the rest of her life. Two men, who pretended to be gas company workers, broke into her home, attacked her violently, and stole large sums of money and valuable jewelry.
The police are still working to track down the violent robbers. From the details of the incident, it appears the robbers had been surveilling the house and may have been waiting for the right moment before committing the robbery.
“I heard the doorbell. It was very early, and I didn’t understand who could be coming at that hour,” Chaya recalled in an interview with B’Chadrei. “At first, I ignored it, but they rang again, this time much louder. It raised my suspicions, but I still went to open the door. When I opened it, there were two men in orange uniforms who looked like gas company workers. They said they came to check if everything was fine with the gas system.”
According to Chaya, she knew there was no gas in the house but couldn’t respond quickly enough to prevent them from entering.
“I told them I don’t have gas at home, that I don’t use it, but they just forced their way inside. One of them pressed me against the wall, and the other started asking questions and searching for something. I thought to myself—what are they looking for? Why are they here?”
With a trembling voice, Chaya described the fear she felt: “At that moment, I was sure it was a terror attack. I thought they came to kill me. They looked frightening, and I didn’t understand what they wanted from me. One of them put his hand over my mouth and pressed me hard against the wall, while the other asked where the bathroom was. He followed me, and I started thinking: Maybe he has a knife and he’s going to kill me.”
The two demanded money and jewelry from Chaya while using violence against her. “I told them there was money in the kitchen—5,000 shekels my husband had given me the day before. But that wasn’t enough for them. They started overturning the house—drawers, cabinets, everything. They even stole money that belonged to a gemach, which was kept in a drawer. I couldn’t understand how they knew exactly where to search.”
According to her, it seems the robbers had been watching her family for a long time: “I’m sure someone sent them. They knew my husband leaves early for davening and that I’m home alone. It was planned. They came exactly when I was most vulnerable.”
The ordeal lasted about 20 minutes, during which the robbers took not only money but also jewelry, checks, and cell phones. “At the end, they tried to lock me in my room. I begged them not to do it. I told them that I have a broken back and a broken leg, that I couldn’t handle it. I said, ‘I won’t tell the police. Just take the money and leave.’”
After the robbers left, Chaya turned to a neighbor who called the police. “Five police officers arrived and began investigating. We suspect this is related to a man who did some work for us recently. In another place where the same man worked, a similar incident occurred. We suspect he sent them because they knew too many details about us.”
Following the incident, Chaya wants to send a message to the public: “What happened to me can happen to anyone. Never open the door to anyone—even if they claim to be from the electric company, gas, or any other service. Always make sure they are who they say they are. I want people to learn from the painful experience I went through.”
The Israel Police issued a statement: “Upon receiving the report, officers arrived at the scene, took testimony, and collected evidence. The investigation is ongoing in an effort to uncover the truth.”
{Matzav.com Israel}