Ex-cop arrested for breaking into hotel rooms

Tel Aviv Police arrested a former member of the force suspected of multiple burglaries at luxury hotels in the city.

Roni Opaltka, who retired from the police force several years ago, allegedly broke into suites and luxury rooms on nine different occasions.

Security footage from at least three hotels, including the Sheraton, Herod’s and Crown Plaza, showed the former policeman entering hotel suites and robbing them, Maariv reported on Tuesday.

Police suspect that Opaltka, who retired with the rank of superintendent, waited for guests to leave their rooms. He’d then kick the doors open and empty the place of valuables.

The former law enforcer was brought to court on Monday and released to house arrest. Police expressed anger at Justice Dorit Reich Shapira’s ruling, in which she said breaking into hotel rooms was not a dangerous offense, and as such was not one for which Opaltka could be kept in custody.